--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that, especially with cable, it's…" description: "\"I think that, especially with cable, it's an avenue to be creative. I think why people are drawn more now to cable shows than ever is that they take mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/jeffrey-donovan-20607_advertising_i-think-that-especially-with-cable-it-s_2901546.jpg" --- # I think that, especially with cable, it's an avenue to be… ![“I think that, especially with cable, it's an avenue to be creative. I think why people are drawn more now to cable shows than ever is that they take more risks, they're creatively pushing the envelope. I think that the networks have to answer to a bigger advertising calling, whereas the smaller…” quote by Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/jeffrey-donovan-20607_advertising_i-think-that-especially-with-cable-it-s_2901546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/jeffrey-donovan-20607_advertising_i-think-that-especially-with-cable-it-s_2901546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/jeffrey-donovan-20607_advertising_i-think-that-especially-with-cable-it-s_2901546.jpg) > “I think that, especially with cable, it's an avenue to be creative. I think why people are drawn more now to cable shows than ever is that they take more risks, they're creatively pushing the envelope. I think that the networks have to answer to a bigger advertising calling, whereas the smaller cables have lower ceilings that they can bump their heads on.” [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cable TV allows creators more freedom to experiment, leading to riskier, more innovative content compared to network TV constrained by advertisers. **In simple terms:** Cable gives creators freedom to be daring. Key Takeaway Embrace creative risk in smaller platforms. Themes creativity risk media innovation Mood enthusiastic optimistic Type observational analytical When to use this quote - producing a pilot - pitching to cable networks - budgeting for niche audiences - marketing daring shows Key Concepts television economics creative freedom advertising pressure Questions to Reflect On - How does creative freedom affect viewer loyalty? - What risks are worth taking in storytelling? A Different Perspective Network constraints can limit audience reach and funding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pushing the envelope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushing-the-envelope/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think cable TV in the United States is amazing right now. It's reinvented television, really. What's going on in the States with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-taylor/i-think-cable-tv-in-the-united-states-is-amazing-right-now-it-s/) [Robert Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-taylor/) > [I've been watching a lot of cable shows like 'The Wire' and 'Breaking Bad' and 'Downton Abbey.' I love how real the moments are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/i-ve-been-watching-a-lot-of-cable-shows-like-the-wire-and-breaking/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [I can tell you from personal experience it gets a little tiring having to make the rounds on cable shows to explain 'what's up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-can-tell-you-from-personal-experience-it-gets-a-little-tiring/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [The networks have to answer to their sponsors. That's the difficult thing you learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-smart/the-networks-have-to-answer-to-their-sponsors-that-s-the-difficult/) [Jean Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-smart/) > [There are shows, a lot of small cable shows like Breaking Bad, where in the general population nobody watches them really, but everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-collins/there-are-shows-a-lot-of-small-cable-shows-like-breaking-bad-where-in/) [Misha Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-collins/) > [I have been very fortunate in that I'm not doing all network shows or all cable shows, television has really become a year-round process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-that-i-m-not-doing-all-network-shows-or/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [Cable shows do 13 episodes. I get that. I can wrap my head around 13 episodes. You make them all, you post them all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/cable-shows-do-13-episodes-i-get-that-i-can-wrap-my-head-around-13/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [It's ridiculous that we let broadcast and cable shows compete against each other at the Emmys. They are not the same animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/it-s-ridiculous-that-we-let-broadcast-and-cable-shows-compete-against/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [When I did 'Ugly Betty' it was very similar to working on 'Mad Men' - great group of people in their own little world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/when-i-did-ugly-betty-it-was-very-similar-to-working-on-mad-men-great/) [Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/) > [It's the cable shows that are really the most interesting - 'Mad Men,' 'Breaking Bad,' those shows are really the premiere shows on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/it-s-the-cable-shows-that-are-really-the-most-interesting-mad-men/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [“Lucy, who apparently had no idea his girlfriend's father held him in such low regard, agreed with Noonan that he was pushing the envelope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/lucy-who-apparently-had-no-idea-his-girlfriend-s-father-held-him-in/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Certainly, network television in general relies a little bit too much on keeping people focused and emotional and scared and pushing the envelope by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/certainly-network-television-in-general-relies-a-little-bit-too-much/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I like pushing the envelope. But I don't like to do it just for the sake of doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-like-pushing-the-envelope-but-i-don-t-like-to-do-it-just-for-the/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Here I am just trying to fund myself to play a sport, but the greater picture is that I'm a female athlete really pushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-knight/here-i-am-just-trying-to-fund-myself-to-play-a-sport-but-the-greater/) [Hilary Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-knight/) > [The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/the-arts-can-open-the-door-to-the-imagination-pushing-the-envelope-of/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) ## More by Jeffrey Donovan > [I don't think an actor's job is to be recognized. I think an actor's job is to facilitate the writing in a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/i-don-t-think-an-actor-s-job-is-to-be-recognized-i-think-an-actor-s/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [If someone grabbed me, I'd probably be able to choke them out in about eight seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/if-someone-grabbed-me-i-d-probably-be-able-to-choke-them-out-in-about/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [When you're dealing with espionage and covert affairs, sometimes the secret is more exciting than the knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/when-you-re-dealing-with-espionage-and-covert-affairs-sometimes-the/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [Believe it or not, I don't own a TV. Crazy huh? I'm not a big movie-goer either. I just feel like I'm watching work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/believe-it-or-not-i-don-t-own-a-tv-crazy-huh-i-m-not-a-big-movie-goer/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [I'm very shy in real life; I can't really hit on girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/i-m-very-shy-in-real-life-i-can-t-really-hit-on-girls/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [Guns make you stupidbetter to fight your wars with duct tape. Duct tape makes you smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/guns-make-you-stupidbetter-to-fight-your-wars-with-duct-tape-duct/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [Believe it or not, I don't own a TV. Crazy huh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/believe-it-or-not-i-don-t-own-a-tv-crazy-huh/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [There was no theater program or anything where I'm from. So junior year in high school I started the theater program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/there-was-no-theater-program-or-anything-where-i-m-from-so-junior/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [As much as they'll let me I do my own stunts and I do all my own fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/as-much-as-they-ll-let-me-i-do-my-own-stunts-and-i-do-all-my-own/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [We had to make ends meet. My parents were divorced, so my father wasn't really in my life. We grew up like most kids,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/we-had-to-make-ends-meet-my-parents-were-divorced-so-my-father-wasn-t/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [There's not much out there that people are fighting for that leaves them with nothing but honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/there-s-not-much-out-there-that-people-are-fighting-for-that-leaves/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [The most fun I've had on 'Burn Notice,' I think it would have to be working with China Chow and Lucy Lawless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/the-most-fun-i-ve-had-on-burn-notice-i-think-it-would-have-to-be/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [It's very, very technical, what we do in film. While all of the lights are there and all of the crew members and directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/it-s-very-very-technical-what-we-do-in-film-while-all-of-the-lights/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [I have a green thumb. I really like to get into the shrubs, the bushes, and really cultivate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/i-have-a-green-thumb-i-really-like-to-get-into-the-shrubs-the-bushes/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [What would surprise a lot of people about me... I'm a gardener! I have a green thumb. I really like to get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/what-would-surprise-a-lot-of-people-about-me-i-m-a-gardener-i-have-a/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) [Explore all 30 Jeffrey Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) ## More Advertising quotes > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest-it is much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gossage/advertising-justifies-its-existence-when-used-in-the-public-interest/) [Howard Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gossage/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [We have the capital, the resources, and the technology that we need to build a mobile advertising platform across the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-tewari/we-have-the-capital-the-resources-and-the-technology-that-we-need-to/) [Naveen Tewari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-tewari/) > [“Never run advertising until the major publicity possibilities have been exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/never-run-advertising-until-the-major-publicity-possibilities-have/) [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [I like Valentine's Day. The trouble is the florists and the candy-makers and the card people are all advertising so much, you don't dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-like-valentine-s-day-the-trouble-is-the-florists-and-the-candy/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I happened to be spotted by a modeling agent who offered me a part-time job at 16. Everything happened very quickly after that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-happened-to-be-spotted-by-a-modeling-agent-who-offered-me-a-part/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/they-say-that-madison-avenue-will-only-pay-high-dollars-in/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) > [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. 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But I'm still writing and I have this Gap advert lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-m-supposed-to-be-taking-time-off-but-i-m-still-writing-and-i-have/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [Any seeming deception in a statement is costly, not only in the expense of the advertising but in the detrimental effect produced upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wanamaker/any-seeming-deception-in-a-statement-is-costly-not-only-in-the/) [John Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wanamaker/) [Browse all 1,942 Advertising quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that, especially with cable, it's an avenue to be creative. I think why people are drawn more now to cable shows than ever is that they take more risks, they're creatively pushing the envelope. 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