Streaming soon might be the only place for scripted programming

[Bruce]

Fall Schedules for the Networks are being released, shows exactly what I have been posting about, scripted shows is on the way out, Cable Networks like TNT, TBS and USA have already ceased that content, AMC has cut the budget about 50%, SyFy has only three shows planned ( which will be simulcast on USA), FX has cut their budget a little, but thanks to Hulu, has a bunch planned, etc, etc.

Now, the NBC Fall Schedule is out-

The October schedule, features less than a third (31.8%) scripted programming — which could be the lowest ever for NBC — and one new series, the unscripted On Brand with Jimmy Fallon.

NBC Sets 3-Part Rollout Of Fall 2025 Schedule Dominated By Sports & Unscripted As NBA Joins, ‘Voice’ Shrinks, ‘Hunting Party’ & ‘St. Denis’ Move

NBC has unveiled its work-in-progress fall 2025 schedule through October, dominated by sports & unscripted and The Voice shrinking to 1 hour a week.

deadline.com

 

[b4pjoe]

This will be a disaster for NBC:

The 2024-2025 NBA regular season saw a slight decline in TV viewership, averaging 1.53 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and TNT. This was a 2% decrease compared to the previous season's average of 1.56 million. While ABC experienced a double-digit viewership increase, ESPN and TNT saw declines, according to data from ESPN Press Room.

 

[Bruce]

Fox's schedule is out, only two nights of scripted content-

Tuesday-2 hours/shows.

Sunday-4 Shows, all cartoons, only 2 hours

The rest are reality and College Football on Friday/Saturday nights.

Fox Fall 2025 Schedule: Reality & Sports Rule 5 Nights As Monday Goes Unscripted, ‘The Floor’ Succeeds ‘The Masked Singer’

Fox has unveiled its fall 2025 schedule. Reality and sports dominate five nights with unscripted Monday; The Floor is taking The Masked Singer's slot.

deadline.com

 

[savarese04]

This will be a disaster for NBC:

how do you figure? the ESPN/TNT drop can be attributed to cordcutting. If ABC is trending up double digits, it stands to reason that NBC could capitalize on the same. It seems the issue is not that people are unwilling to watch basketball, it's where the games are shown.

 

[Bruce]

how do you figure? the ESPN/TNT drop can be attributed to cordcutting. If ABC is trending up double digits, it stands to reason that NBC could capitalize on the same. It seems the issue is not that people are unwilling to watch basketball, it's where the games are shown.

Actually that number 1.53 million viewers is terrible, translates into 612,000 households, out of 131 Million here in the United States.

That is less than 0.5% of all households watching.

 

[b4pjoe]

how do you figure? the ESPN/TNT drop can be attributed to cordcutting. If ABC is trending up double digits, it stands to reason that NBC could capitalize on the same. It seems the issue is not that people are unwilling to watch basketball, it's where the games are shown.

Same reason as what Bruce stated...1.53 million viewers is terrible. Even if they can match ABC's 2.68 million viewers that is still terrible.

 

[Bruce]

Same reason as what Bruce stated...1.53 million viewers is terrible. Even if they can match ABC's 2.68 million viewers that is still terrible.

The one thing I have noticed about a lot of sports fans, they just assume since they watch it, means everyone else is also.

But most sports (MLB, NBA, NHL), specially regular season sports, get extremely low ratings.

Even the World Series last year, averaged almost 16 Million viewers, which is 6.4 Million Households, that means a little over 124 Million Households did not care or watch.

 

[ncted]

The one thing I have noticed about a lot of sports fans, they just assume since they watch it, means everyone else is also.

But most sports (MLB, NBA, NHL), specially regular season sports, get extremely low ratings.

Even the World Series last year, averaged almost 16 Million viewers, which is 6.4 Million Households, that means a little over 124 Million Households did not care or watch.

Yeah, regular season sports [other than football] don't get particularly stellar ratings, yet are pretty much the most expensive thing on TV.

 

[Bruce]

Yeah, regular season sports [other than football] don't get particularly stellar ratings, yet are pretty much the most expensive thing on TV.

I have always been amazed at that, I have read these data points for many years, where RSNs receive $6-10 in per sub fees ( depends on the area), yet only 1-3% of the total audience.

I posted here a few times, that even the NY Yankees average rating is in the 2% range, while crap cheap programming like Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, that aired at the same time (7-8pm), doubles the ratings.

 

[Jimbo]

I have always been amazed at that, I have read these data points for many years, where RSNs receive $6-10 in per sub fees ( depends on the area), yet only 1-3% of the total audience.

I posted here a few times, that even the NY Yankees average rating is in the 2% range, while crap cheap programming like Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, that aired at the same time (7-8pm), doubles the ratings.

Oh, theres a lot more Crap on than Wheel and Jeopardy ... that I'm sure get lower ratings.

Its really sad how short attention spans have gotten.

 

[Bruce]

Oh, theres a lot more Crap on than Wheel and Jeopardy ... that I'm sure get lower ratings.

Its really sad how short attention spans have gotten.

That is not my point, it is the high per sub fees for sports cable channels, when only an extremely low percentage of the audience are watching.

Of course there are other things on, but those cable channels are not receiving $10 in per sub fees, except ESPN, which also makes my point.

 

[Jimbo]

That is not my point, it is the high per sub fees for sports cable channels, when only an extremely low percentage of the audience are watching.

Of course there are other things on, but those cable channels are not receiving $10 in per sub fees, except ESPN, which also makes my point.

What are you gonna do about it, Players demand the money and or Owners out bid for players, Sports networks want thier games and the prices are high ... it been out of line for ages.

Regular season games have always been low ratings unless its the Top teams, even then, I don't know how good they are.

NFL has the advantage over baseball because they play so few games in comparison, so each NFL/College Football game mean more.... so rating should be better.

 

[ncted]

What are you gonna do about it

Go out of my way to not pay for it while I can. Unfortunately, it seems like all the streaming services have sports now, so my efforts are probably in vain. If you want sports, it should be an up-charge IMHO.

 

[Bruce]

What are you gonna do about it, Players demand the money and or Owners out bid for players, Sports networks want thier games and the prices are high ... it been out of line for ages.

And it is putting the RSNs out of Business, with the current 1Q Report, Comcast, Altice, Fios Charter, DirecTV and even Fubo, all services carrying the RSNs, lost about 1.7 Million subscribers, that is a lot of per sub fees the RSNs cannot afford to lose.

By the end of the year, it is expected Cable/Satellite alone will lose a total of 6-7 Million, again, that is a lot of per sub fees lost.

NFL has the advantage over baseball because they play so few games in comparison, so each NFL/College Football game mean more.... so rating should be better.

While yes, the NFL receives better ratings, the Sunday Night Football game ( one of their highest rated games per week), still only averages 8-12 Million Households per game, so about 120 Million Households are not watching.

 

[navychop]

Sooooo- is Wrestling considered to be a "scripted show?"

 

[Bruce]

Sooooo- is Wrestling considered to be a "scripted show?"

'duh.

 

[Bruce]

ABC Fall schedule is out, only 5 hours of new scripted shows during Prime Time, out of 21 hours.

ABC Fall 2025 Schedule: ‘9-1-1’ Block, ‘Shark Tank’ Moves, ‘The Rookie’ & ‘Will Trent’ Held Again

ABC has unveiled its fall 2025 schedule with a 9-1-1 Thursday block and Shark Tank moving to a new night.

deadline.com

 

[Bruce]

CBS with the win, 13 hours of new scripted material, probably because of Paramount+ now having 78 Million subscribers and the streaming division is now profitable, which helps.

https://parade.com/tv/cbs-fall-schedule-2025-2026

 

[Jimbo]

ABC Fall schedule is out, only 5 hours of new scripted shows during Prime Time, out of 21 hours.

ABC Fall 2025 Schedule: ‘9-1-1’ Block, ‘Shark Tank’ Moves, ‘The Rookie’ & ‘Will Trent’ Held Again

ABC has unveiled its fall 2025 schedule with a 9-1-1 Thursday block and Shark Tank moving to a new night.

deadline.com

I don't mind that networks only have so many hours of New shows, that generally means they have shows that people watch and they keep them going. (weather they are profitable or not.)

 

[Bruce]

I don't mind that networks only have so many hours of New shows, that generally means they have shows that people watch and they keep them going. (weather they are profitable or not.)

Just making a observation, if you want scripted content, streaming is the best option.

You will get the scripted content from paid Live TV, along with the exclusive streaming shows/movies on services like Hulu, Peacock and Paramount+, etc.

Also, being in1080P/4K, which Cable/Satellite does not offer you, the CBS shows in 4K looks so much better for example.

Also, I hate paying twice for the same thing, if I watch CBS on P+, no need to have Paid Live TV, ABC/Fox/FX on Hulu, NBC/Universal on Peacock, Warner/Discovery on MAX, etc.