TV Networks Adapt to Scripted Show Evolution and Viewer Demands

Television’s scripted landscape continues to evolve, powered by the complex interplay between legacy networks, pioneer streaming platforms and shifting viewer preferences. Networks like The CW, once celebrated for niche favorites like Nancy Drew and Reign, face challenges of maintaining relevancy, while platforms like Netflix grapple with swift cancellations of promising one-season wonders such as Julie and the Phantoms or Ratched. Shondaland’s TGIT era on ABC highlighted the enduring power of appointment television during primetime, but with its migration to streaming, the binge model reigns supreme, as evidenced by hits like Bridgerton.

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.