Why is quality derided?

On the recommendation of my friend Kootch, I've been watching, on DVD, a television show which was cancelled even before it really got off the ground -- Freaks & Geeks. Before that I watched another old, cancelled show, Wonderfalls, which I found to be quite unique and enjoyable. And with very little research, I'm certain I could go on and on, listing high-calibre, quality, intelligent, witty shows that get cancelled before they even get a chance to reach their audience. Why?

Why are quality shows so often cancelled from a network's run? Obviously these shows are having productive lives on the store shelves in DVD packs. People are talking about them and seeking them out.

I understand the nature of a business and that a network isn't going to lose money just to show a program that is good. They need to be able to sell advertising, and advertisers aren't going to pay great sums of moola for advertisements on a show that isn't reaching a lot of people. So where were all the fans of these shows back when it was originally aired?

Is it possible that people who appreciate high quality television don't watch television?

I really liked Wonderfalls and Freaks & Geeks, but I watch them, generally, about 11pm. That is when I have a little time to myself.

I'm a Trekkie from way back, and there was a time when I wouldn't miss a Star Trek show for anything, and I did enjoy Enterprise, but I can honestly say that I saw no more than ten episodes during it's run.

I don't make time to sit and watch a television show, and I wonder how many people still do. I am more apt to sit down when I have the chance, and see what's on. Mythbusters has been fun, but if I miss an episode, oh well. Coupling is probably my favorite show which might still be in production, but the scheduling on BBC America is so horrific, I usually just lok for the next season to come out on DVD (Coupling is the only show in recent memory that I have sought out in order to watch it at it's scheduled time).

So we seem to have a Catch-22. I want shows like Freaks & Geeks and Wonderfalls, but I am not likely to support them when they appear on the network line-up.

I know that there are things such as TiVo to supposedly help so we can record our favorite shows and watch them when we want, but heck, there's been VCRs for nearly 20 years as well, and I've found that I'm just not committed enough to television to make the effort. I think that in general, television, the medium, does not support quality programming. People are not likely to tune in to a program which makes them think or reflect. Some things, I guess, just have not changed.