There Are More TV Shows Than Ever Before
Yesterday, FX CEO John Landgraf announced the annual tally of the number of original scripted TV series that aired in 2019. That number, which we’ve written about before, has steadily grown year after year as more players enter the TV space. A record 532 original scripted shows aired in 2019, a jump from the 495 shows that aired in 2018. To put that in perspective, there were 210 series in 2009. Flash forward to today, and new streaming services seem to launch every few weeks. In order to imitate the success of traditional cable networks like HBO and FX (who have historically invested heavily
Discovery's Spielberg Docuseries Explores 'Why We Hate'
Earlier this fall, Discovery Channel came out with a six-part docuseries that hones in on a unique topic that isn't normally examined or discussed in depth for television entertainment: the human condition of hate. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Alex Gibney, "Why We Hate" was first born out of a conversation between Spielberg and Discovery CEO David Zaslav about a passion project they could produce that would have a large global reach and impact—something that Discovery's programming is known for. "It's not just an exploration of the origins and stories about hate, but it also has
Streaming the Decade
Back in 2009, binging a TV show usually meant buying each season on DVD and watching every episode on a TV or laptop with a DVD drive. Maybe if the show was new enough, it would have full seasons available for purchase on iTunes. Or perhaps you were able to find old episodes on-demand to catch up on the latest season. But for the most part, the TV watching experience looked a lot like it had for decades; tune in on time or record the episode to watch later. The next decade would change how we watch and even think about TV. Disc drives have mostly been phased out of computers, and many people
Cable's Commitment to LGBTQ Storytelling
National Transgender Awareness Week has begun, and it marks an opportunity to continue recognizing the importance of inclusion and representation for transgender individuals and the LGBTQ community as a whole on television. The latest release of GLAAD's annual "Where We Are on TV" report, now in its 15th year of tracking the number of LGBTQ characters on television, revealed progress in many areas and highlighted places where the industry should continue to improve. Cable still leads the way with the highest number of regular and recurring LGBTQ characters across all three platforms, ahead of
Online Video Usage Up Among Teens
A new survey from Common Sense Media has found an uptick in media usage among tweens and teens, ages 8-18, and further highlights how the next generation is looking to embrace and continue the digital lifestyle. The organization, which promotes safe media usage for children, has been collecting this information since 2003 and comparisons to previous years help to measure and predict trends in children's online behavior. Key findings include: More than twice as many young people are watching online video everyday in 2019 than they did in 2015. This goes for two age groups: Increase in Teen
How the Cable Industry Increased Choice and Quality in Entertainment
A hallmark of the cable industry has been the willingness of providers and TV networks to constantly innovate in order to enhance the quality of entertainment experiences. A recent report quantified the industry’s total economic impact as $450 billion, up $29 billion since 2017. This number includes the infrastructure investments and advanced digital technology needed to introduce new content and services to consumers. These advances drive competition, and provide increased choice, variety, and quality TV content to U.S. households. This commitment to creating and providing choice to consumers
3Q: What’s the Future for TV Networks?
Last month’s Emmy awards showcased all the incredible television from the past year. From shows like Barry, Killing Eve, and Pose to cinema-quality limited series like Chernobyl, Fosse/Verdon, and Sharp Objects, the idea of TV programming has radically transformed over the last decade. Jared Sher, Chief Counsel of Program Network Policy here at NCTA, helps explain what this brave new world means for TV networks as they navigate this thriving and changing industry. How are TV networks working to stay ahead of the curve, amid this “television renaissance”? The key for programmers (TV networks)
Cable TV Continues to Come Out on Top at the Emmys
Last night's 71st Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles was full of several historic "firsts" as beloved shows and talent were recognized for top-notch cinematic programming and powerful storytelling that keep viewers coming back for more. Together with the Creative Arts Emmys, cable networks came away with 61 Emmy wins, which surpassed all broadcast networks and streaming services. HBO took the title for the network with the most awards with a total of 34 out of a record-breaking 137 nominations. In this year's competition, National Geographic came in second for cable networks after HBO with
Viacom and Pluto TV Deliver a Big Win for TV Viewers
Earlier this year, Viacom made a huge move when it acquired Pluto TV, a streaming start up that launched five years ago. To the delight of its viewers, dozens of shows and programs have been added to their TV lineups, and all at no added cost to their subscriptions. Pluto TV is essentially an ad-supported, free-to-consumer streaming service that delivers a wide variety of content categories and channels in a traditional linear TV format. The service now has over 18 million subscribers. As for why the future is bright for TV viewers with this latest venture, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish said in a
Discovery's Shark Week Evolves with New Technology and Jaw-some Views
It's Shark Week, a TV fan favorite and that time of year when viewers and shark seekers galore get to "dive in" with the great creatures that have fascinated people all over the world for centuries. Discovery's 31st edition of the production kicked off yesterday, and viewers are in for a wild ride as the evolving technology behind the annual phenomenon creates a more immersive experience every year. Last summer, NCTA had the pleasure to speak with Discovery about the 30th anniversary of Shark Week. This year, in an interview with NCTA, Discovery Senior Vice President of Production and