27th Annual TV Preview: Overview
THE 2022-23 SEASON | BY CHERYL KLEAR, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Welcome to the 27th edition of the Harmelin Media Annual TV Preview. 2021 saw the broadcast networks start to embrace their identity as part of holistic media companies instead of just “TV.” That change has been fully realized this year as the media companies presented their broadcast, cable and streaming offerings as one entity during this year’s upfront presentations in May. As streaming viewing continues to escalate, the networks have shifted to use all their properties to give consumers options to view their content whenever and wherever they choose.
Those viewing options increased in 2021 as the number of premium scripted original TV shows on broadcast, cable and streaming platforms increased by 5%, to 559. That’s 5% more than in 2019, due to all the content provided from the streaming services and after a decline in 2020 due to COVID production delays.
The cost of that content continues to rise. While several of the streaming services were opposed to including advertising, that is slowly changing with the addition of ad-supported options on HBO Max, Disney+, and coming soon to Netflix due to their drop in subscribers. The ad-free model and ability to binge shows on demand has continuously fueled the growth of the streaming services. However, with the increased competition from all the streaming services, there is now discussion on releasing shows weekly as the broadcast networks, cable companies and premium subscription services such as HBO and Showtime have done for years. This would keep subscribers longer.
While the streaming services have the challenge of keeping subscribers, the broadcast and cable networks have their own viewership woes. With hit shows ending such as NBC’s This is Us, ABC’s black-ish, CBS’s Bull and Magnum P.I. (although Magnum will find a new home in 2023 with NBC’s announcement of its pickup) and AMC’s The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul, they’ll need to replace those loyal viewers through the new fall programming.
Some of that new fall content includes NBC’s reboot of Quantum Leap; ABC’s spin-off of The Rookie: Feds starring Niecy Nash-Betts (Claws), and Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry) starring in Alaska Daily, CBS’s East New York with Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue) and So Help Me Todd with Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River). FOX will finally debut Monarch starring Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise), which was originally supposed to be released in 2021. FOX will also expand its relationship with Jamie Foxx, host of Beat Shazam! and who will now be an executive producer on Alert, focusing on LAPD’s missing person unit.
This year we are covering new shows by media company and new shows by non-ad-supported streaming services:
We hope you enjoy this issue with our previews of the upcoming television season.
Download our full 2022-23 TV Preview here. For more information contact us.