'Event' TV

Not comedy - but a question for writers nonetheless.
Having just finshed watching, and enjoyed Torchwood and before that 'Occupation', I was wondering what people felt about this sort of event TV where all the episodes are shown in one week.
I guess the TV companies do it a) to 'win'the week b) because they don't believe we'll stay loyal over several weeks.
But I sort of miss the wait!
I liked knowing that Monday night was Spooks etc etc
And with so little good stuff about, would it be better to have it spread a little thinner?
As a writer would you prefer it to go out in one lump (does that make it more like amovie?), or be part of people's lives a bit longer??

Purely hypothetical, I realise, but I think it's an interesting development.

It sort-of makes sense to do this during the summer season (traditionally a bit of a fallow and tricksy time in network TV) because it's probably easier to achieve viewer loyality over a few days than over weeks. People are away on holiday, out in the evenings (hopefully) enjoying the long, warm evenings etc. and so less likely to be sticking with a show over this period.

I think in dramas not designed to become ongoing series (like 'Occupation' for example) this can be quite a good way of maximising the interest of the audience. I suppose we also live in a box-set culture now and with Sky+ etc people can lump episodes together as and when they feel like.

As a writer, I think I would be happy with any approach which maximises my material reaching as wide an audience as possible, frankly.

Much as I personally miss the days of "event" television, other than sports, certain single shows and much-hyped events such as reality TV finals, the culture has moved on. In a way, internet forums have sprung-up to compensate for the fact that not everyone has watched the same TV event the previous night. Now people can express that lovely sense of a shared experience online.

I wondered why I'd seen so many ads for Torchwood recently.

I Sky+ all the episodes of the Wire and then watch about 4 at a time over the w/e. Except for this week with stupid Golf! But I know what you mean about having Monday for Spooks, Tuesday for...er, Shameless etc. I like that.

But yeah, I Sky+ everything so it doesn't really matter to me when they're on as long as series link works.

Yeah, I'm a PDR-man too. Very rarely watch anything when it's actually on.

Just finished watching The Wire series 2 this lunchtime. I must be the first person to watch every single episode without the final five minutes...

Dan