Does older equal better when it comes to classic television. In a short answer: no. However, there are great differences between the way television was produced many years ago as opposed the way it is produced now. In a word, the whole thing centers on matters of appeal.

What is noticeable in the older programs is there are certain significant points that are far better than what you see today - primarily in the production values and the acting areas.

In terms of production values, TV series had much healthier budgets in the 1960's and while it was great to look at, it was also a detriment to the ability of the program to make a profit. This is why there was great emphasis on shooting live on tape in the 1970's and reducing the amount of 'action' on the melodramatic shows. Even popular shows like BUCK ROGERS and THE INCREDIBLE HULK faced production hassles due to battles with the budget. The Hulk, for example, was cancelled while still doing well in the ratings mainly because CBS Universal just didn't want to deal with the excess budget anymore. (It turned out to be a dumb move as the show would have still earned them a profit for a few more years)