Posted on 05/15/2014 12:46:24 PM PDT by PoloSec
A few things happen every year at the broadcast upfronts, the annual week in which broadcast network execs unveil their new TV lineups to advertisers: they trot out a bunch of new shows (most of which will be canceled a year later), they try to wow attendees with fancy statistics that mean nothing (We’re number one in, um, engagement!) and they pay lip-service to the notion of extending the traditional September to May television season to a year-round programming cycle. +
This year’s upfronts, which wrap up today, May 15, followed a similar path, save for one important change: the networks are finally serious about programming year-round, and they’re actually putting their money where their mouths are. +
“In the course of just two years, we have completely redefined summer,” said CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler, who discussed her network’s “most aggressive summer schedule ever.” FOX and NBC made similar pronouncements as they unveiled plans to attack the summer months in a big way after decades of hibernating. “June is just as important as January,” echoed FOX Broadcasting Chairman Kevin Reilly. “We really, really want to be a 12-month network.” +
To that end, FOX is running “limited series” 24: Live Another Day through mid-summer, and premiering new drama Gang Related on May 22. Next season, it is holding back several shows to deploy next summer; if 24 does well, it could also return. NBC also announced a “year-round” lineup, premiering new shows Undateable and Crossbones at the end of the month, and making plans to roll out several shows next summer as well. And CBS is following up last year’s summer hit Under the Dome—which turned out to be the year’s most-watched new series—with another high-profile summer entry: Extant, starring Halle Berry and produced by Steven Spielberg. +
This represents a complete reversal from how the networks operated for decades: once the official TV season ended in May, they coasted on repeat airings all summer. As cable began filling the summer void in the ‘90s and gaining traction with its original programming—Sex and the City’s early popularity had much to do with the fact that viewers had few other options, and the media had no other summer shows to write about—the networks would occasionally follow suit. But whenever those summer experiments unexpectedly hit paydirt (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 1999, Survivor in 2000, American Idol in 2002) they were quickly moved in-season. +
In recent years, as network repeats became less-watched and, therefore, less lucrative, the networks would half-heartedly claim to be interested in summer original programming, but instead would fill those months with reality shows and cheap series imported from Canada. Once again, cable took advantage of the lull: USA and TNT owe much of their recent successes (including Burn Notice, The Closer, and Rizzoli & Isles) to their summer time slots. Last summer, a new outlet joined the fray: Netflix rolled out both Arrested Development and Orange is the New Black during the summer months, and dominated much of the TV buzz. And when Netflix viewers weren’t streaming Arrested or Orange, they likely were binge-watching other shows on the service. +
But as broadcast ratings continue to erode, those networks can no longer assume that their viewers will stay loyal and return in the fall. So when CBS took a chance on adapting Stephen King’s Under the Dome as a “limited series” last summer, and it became the highest-rated scripted summer series in 21 years, the network kept it in the same spot this year (it returns June 30). With the addition of Extant and other summer shows, CBS will have 90 hours of original programming this summer. +
Now, said Nina Tassler, “we roll out our shows all year long.” It’s about time.
The network shows are trash, no matter what time of year they premier.
This is not new. They often have new shows in summer.
What rock has this guy been living under? The TV schedule has been year round for a long time. Yeah the broadcast networks lean towards the lower rent schedule in summer, but even they’ve been putting dramas in the summer schedule for a few years.
I remember network television.
Summer used to be the exclusive domain of comedy/variety replacement series featuring The Starland Vocal Band, or Pink Lady and Jeff.
I second that.
AMC’s “Turn” has been really impressive. Being history based makes for a limited run but its really nice to see solid pro American patriotism on the screen.
Turn has become my favorite short term show.
I wish AMC would pick up James Riley’s “Courage New Hampshire”. It takes place a few years earlier which leaves room for a longer series about the growing resistance and rebellion.
Riley wrote a great critique of Turn.
http://www.colonybay.net/w/index.php/2014/05/take-turn/
And who would have thought two cover song singing Japanese women who cant speak English and a forgetful comedian would actually be more entertaining than 99% of what we watch today?
perhaps it’s what CNN will try next
About 5 yrs too late for me. TV; no have.
Thank you Øbama !
another job well done you pos
One thing they need to do is to stop the practice of split seasons with such a long gap that the viewer loses interest or forgets the story arc. It kills viewer loyalty and promotes cancellations IMO.
I haven’t watched a network show, beyond a Sunday morning show(and those are bad too) , in many years.
I don’t have to, I have FIOS
Ya, I remember summer replacement series being on TV. What is this guy talking about?
I’m about ready to throw in the towel on TV.
Too many sex jokes on comedy shows, too many homosexual characters, too many dumbed down plots, too much political correctness.
I’m reading more books, and getting news from the internet. I enjoy sports, but, don’t really sit down and watch an entire game anymore. I think I’m good with just a good book and an internet connection.
Some 29 programs were cancelled last year and nearly 40 have been cancelled this year. Several were pulled only after a couple of episodes were aired.
If the content of the summer venue are similar, many of them may not survive very long either.
Networks are having a difficult time determining what gains an audience and what doesn’t.
“I remember network television.”
Me too, they cancelled every show I liked.
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