I'm not sure that cartoons are covered by the same union.
They are.
I seem to remember something about that advantaging Fox from the last time. Anyway the cartoon lead time is very long.
That is what Fox had an advantage with, the long lead time, the season was already written and in production.
Upfronts are in two weeks. I have heard less rumors than ever about shows. I doubt 40% of the broadcast schedule is actual filmed programming this year,
more reality shows, for example ABC has already announced Dancing with the Stars is coming back after a year at Disney+…………
yay.
and streaming is cutting production to the bone in an attempt to become profitable.
The only one that is doing major cuts is HBO, Disney+ is doing little cuts but still having the shows that brings subscribers to the service, for example, this year and next, there will still be 3 Star Wars Shows each year, 3 Marvel shows, then Paramount+ will have 2 Star Treks each year and the 2 Cartoons, Yellowstone spin off next year ( which costs $30 million a episode), along with new seasons of Tulsa King, Kingstown, Seal Team, etc.
Peacock up'ed their budget ( and that service is just awful), Netflix also increased theirs.