What is up with the TV Networks???

I am confused...

Why do television networks (I am looking at you Fox) insist on airing new television shows for only 1 or 2 episodes and then cancelling them?

Why don't networks give shows the chance to find an audience? I don't know about you, but I find a new series normally takes a few episodes to truly get into a groove. Not only that, but in the first few weeks of a new TV season, viewers are playing a balancing act - trying to maintain their loyalty to their favourite returning shows while attempting to "taste test" the new programming.

I caught the first two episodes of Lonestar and was really looking forward to a smart drama that would be able to sustain my interest and keep me invested in the characters. I do admit I PVRed Lonestar while watching my returning favourites live, but I loved the two episodes that aired. Lonestar was quickly becoming one of my favourite shows. THEN Fox pulled the rug out from underneath me and cancelled it...

I have a theory about why new shows usually have lower ratings:

THE NETWORKS KEEP CANCELLING THEM

I am sure there are people out there who don't watch new series at the beginning of the season for fear of getting attached and then it being cancelled. Perhaps if networks were not so trigger happy, the ratings on these shows would be higher...

Just saying...