Last fall, the five English broadcast networks scheduled a total of 51 hours weekly of non-repeat scripted entertainment during primetime. The breakdown was as follows: Fox (9 hours), ABC (11 hours), NBC (originally scheduled 8 hours, reduced to 7 hours when Dateline replaced Southland prior to its premiere), CBS (16 hours), CW (8 hours).
This season I'd expect the following:
Fox (7-10 hours): I expect to Fox to go all unscripted on Fridays, dropping 2 hours from last fall. The wildcard is what Fox decides to do with the 3 hours that were So You Think You Can Dance?. If it keeps it on the schedule one more fall, that means just 7 hours of scripted programming.
ABC (10-11 hours): I also expect ABC to go all unscripted on Fridays. The question is whether Shark Tank returns on the early fall schedule on Tuesday as it did in fall 2009 or whether that hour goes scripted.
NBC (9-10 hours): I expect NBC to be all unscripted on Fridays as well, but to have scripted shows at 10pm Monday-Thursday to quiet its affiliates (as I would expect ABC and CBS to do). I expect Marriage Ref to be back in fall 2010. Depending on its ratings to finish the spring, it might be scheduled Monday-Thursday leaving 3 other unscripted hours on Friday (almost certainly including Dateline).
CBS (15 hours): Undercover Boss is coming back, but CBS has not announced how many episodes are ordered. That will reduce their scripted shows by an hour if its for a full season. I don't expect any other structural changes in the CBS schedule.
CW (8 hours): I'd expect no changes in the scripted/unscripted balance in the CW schedule.
Estimated total scripted primetime hours: 49-54 hours
The biggest swing factor in those numbers is Fox's decision on So You Think You Can Dance's 3 hours.
What's your guess?
I don't have a guess so much as a comment–the likelihood of SYTYCD coming back in the fall is relatively low considering that the judges said it was too much for them to do back to back.
Even if FOX can't convince the SYTYCD people to do 1 more fall cycle (even though I think FOX can convince them to if they really want it) we will probably see at least 2 of those 3 hours filled with unscripted content to hold the timeslot for X-Factor. Why would FOX want to spend 2 to 3 times more on a scripted show that will ultimately end up getting pushed out of the way after next season anyway. I can see them using 1 of those 3 hours for a new scripted show, or to bring back a bubble show, but I don't see them filling all 3 hours with scripted content. I have a gut feeling they will get SYTYCD to agree to 1 more fall season though.
“…considering that the judges said it was too much for them to do back to back.”
Judging is a tough life
Ahh but here's the beauty in the format for that show, there are so many guest judges that all they have to do is get one of the regular judges to agree and the guests can fill the other 2 or 3 chairs. The guest judges are well know by the shows audience so it's i'd doubt it would have any effect on it's ratings.
I can see the CW moving “Supernatural” to Friday with “Smallville” next season. The CW is likely to pick up 4-5 pilots (depends on LUX and OTH). CBS with stick with their same plan cause they have the least urgency. I don't see FOX bringing back “Dance” in the fall which free up extra slots for new sitcoms and 1 or 2 drama pilots. NBC I can see picking up quite a bit of pilots in the fall. ABC also has a lot of pilots it may pick up.
I can see the CW moving “Supernatural” to Friday with “Smallville” next season. The CW is likely to pick up 4-5 pilots (depends on LUX and OTH). CBS with stick with their same plan cause they have the least urgency. I don't see FOX bringing back “Dance” in the fall which free up extra slots for new sitcoms and 1 or 2 drama pilots. NBC I can see picking up quite a bit of pilots in the fall. ABC also has a lot of pilots it may pick up.
Doesn't The CW have to keep airing repeats of America's Next Top Model though, Alexander? So how could Supernatural move to Fridays where ANTM repeats are usually aired? I do have a feeling The CW may want to launch Betwixt after Vampire Diaries in the fall though.
I think there is virtually no chance that the CW puts another hour of non-repeat programming on Friday. That 9pm Friday slot is going to stay a scheduled repeat slot for them.
I believe the CW will wise up and do away with ANTM repeats on Friday. I agree that they may launch Betwixt after Vampire Diaries.
I don't have a guess so much as a comment–the likelihood of SYTYCD coming back in the fall is relatively low considering that the judges said it was too much for them to do back to back.
Even if FOX can't convince the SYTYCD people to do 1 more fall cycle (even though I think FOX can convince them to if they really want it) we will probably see at least 2 of those 3 hours filled with unscripted content to hold the timeslot for X-Factor. Why would FOX want to spend 2 to 3 times more on a scripted show that will ultimately end up getting pushed out of the way after next season anyway. I can see them using 1 of those 3 hours for a new scripted show, or to bring back a bubble show, but I don't see them filling all 3 hours with scripted content. I have a gut feeling they will get SYTYCD to agree to 1 more fall season though.
“…considering that the judges said it was too much for them to do back to back.”
Judging is a tough life
Ahh but here's the beauty in the format for that show, there are so many guest judges that all they have to do is get one of the regular judges to agree and the guests can fill the other 2 or 3 chairs. The guest judges are well know by the shows audience so it's i'd doubt it would have any effect on it's ratings.
I can see the CW moving “Supernatural” to Friday with “Smallville” next season. The CW is likely to pick up 4-5 pilots (depends on LUX and OTH). CBS with stick with their same plan cause they have the least urgency. I don't see FOX bringing back “Dance” in the fall which free up extra slots for new sitcoms and 1 or 2 drama pilots. NBC I can see picking up quite a bit of pilots in the fall. ABC also has a lot of pilots it may pick up.
I can see the CW moving “Supernatural” to Friday with “Smallville” next season. The CW is likely to pick up 4-5 pilots (depends on LUX and OTH). CBS with stick with their same plan cause they have the least urgency. I don't see FOX bringing back “Dance” in the fall which free up extra slots for new sitcoms and 1 or 2 drama pilots. NBC I can see picking up quite a bit of pilots in the fall. ABC also has a lot of pilots it may pick up.
Doesn't The CW have to keep airing repeats of America's Next Top Model though, Alexander? So how could Supernatural move to Fridays where ANTM repeats are usually aired? I do have a feeling The CW may want to launch Betwixt after Vampire Diaries in the fall though.
I think there is virtually no chance that the CW puts another hour of non-repeat programming on Friday. That 9pm Friday slot is going to stay a scheduled repeat slot for them.
I believe the CW will wise up and do away with ANTM repeats on Friday. I agree that they may launch Betwixt after Vampire Diaries.
I see what you mean but The CW needs to starts making changes for the better.The CW have a few pilots that has potential
Bill doesn't think so… interesting. The Friday ANTM repeats will probably stay. I'm not sure, but I guess they are under contract to air repeats of ANTM or something like that?