Some critics have labeled the last few
years the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television.” But are we reaching a “peak,”
as some researchers argue, or will this surge of creativity continue? And can
the marketplace sustain the growing amount of TV content? Limit:
12 responses
ReplyDeleteLast year, 455 original television shows aired, up 8% compared to last year and 137% compared to a decade ago (Goldberg). This record breaking number put streaming services such as Netflixn and Amazon on the map for television content. Netflix topped the list with 43 original shows, and experts have coined the past years the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television”. I didn’t even realize how many shows there was this year until I saw the number; I’m still trying to catch up on shows from 2015! These numbers show just how strong the television industry is right now, the rise in SVOD original series has made viewers excited again about new shows. FX CEO John Landgraf predicts though, that scripted series will reach their peak in 2019. He reasons that the decline will happen due to the “rising cost of making television and the increasing difficulty of monetizing it” (Holloway). The cost of producing a television show and marketing it has risen 20% in the last five years. This cost needs to be supplemented with viewers and high ratings. But, people are no longer watching TV the same was they use to. As technology advances, networks are going to have to continue to create new content that is compelling and accessible to consumers. According to a recent Nielsen study, we are watching more TV than ever and “SVOD penetration is about to surpass DVR penetration in US households” (Lynch). People are more inclined to watch a full season of episodes or have the option of watching previous seasons. Viewers are no longer watching shows live; they are either streaming them off sites like Hulu (or the networks website) or watching them the next day on demand.
Networks like NBC have stacking rights for a majority of their shows, which keep consumers wanting more (Lynch). We might start to see a decline in content like Landgraf predicts but I do not think that it will negatively impact the industry. As networks continue to pump out content at rapid speed, it starts to become difficult for consumers to keep up and to distinguish “the great from the merely competent”. It’s almost like a catch 22, networks can create less content to keep budget down but may not reach the demand of consumers. I do think that Networks will do what they can to keep up with the change in how people consume media in order to sustain viewers.
DeleteGoing into the New Year I think that Netflix is going to push the boundaries even more with content. Last year Netflix spent $6 billion on original series, Orange is the New Black saw 23 million streams in the first 35 days of release (Ahmed). I support networks creating original content that push the boundaries of what we are use to seeing on TV such as Stranger Things and feel that it is only going to get better from here.
Ahmed, Tufayel. “These are the top 25 original streaming shows of 2016.” Newsweek. N.p., 10 Jan. 2017. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Holloway, Daniel and Cynthia Littleton. “FX’s John Landgraf Sounds Alarm About Potential Netflix ‘Monopoly’, Overall Series Growth.” Variety. Variety, 09 Aug. 2016. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
Lynch, Jason. "Advertisers Beware – Audiences Are Taking Longer Than Ever to Watch TV Shows," Ad Age 2 Aug. 2016. Web.
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ReplyDeleteIn the past few years there have been several great scripted television shows from broadcast, cable, and streaming services. These shows have captivated audiences and even become huge phenomenon throughout the social media and television-viewing world. The television industry is entering into new a phrase of creative content that is preforming well and will continue to surge as the years progress on.
ReplyDeleteWith the large increase of scripted original content from 2015 to 2016 and within the last five years, “Peak TV was once again far from peaky in 2016, with a record 455 scripted original series across broadcast cable, and streaming sources,” (Goldberg 2016). This means that networks believe that they still have ability to continue to create even more creative scripted originals in the upcoming years. According to Goldberg, “It now seems clear that, at a minimum, the peak will be in calendar 2017…we could well see the growth trend carrying over into the 2018 calendar year,” (Goldberg 2016). Therefore, many networks, but mainly streaming services are going to continue to produce their creative content despite some critics saying there is “too much TV”.
With both cable, broadcast and streaming services creating multiple original scripted content each year it can be hard for viewers to keep up with each show due to how many “must-see shows” are released each season. This notion of keeping up with new shows or having to much content to watch can potentially have a negative effect on older televisions shows in the future, “Now that nearly every show is a good or great show, it’s quite possible that new shows could get the short shrift,” (Gibbs 2016).
Additionally, many viewers may find their new favorite show that they want to keep up with weekly and eventually just lose interest in older shows that have been on for a while.
DeleteAlthough some people think this surge in creative original scripted content could ultimately lead to too much television many streaming services, such as, Netflix feel that the creativeness of original scripted content should continue. According to the Gibbs article Netflix content Chief stated, “We don’t think there’s too much [TV]. And if there is, someone else is going to have to slow down because we have big plans…” (Gibbs 2016). Netflix isn’t going to slow down the creative content because they know they have the viewership and funds in order to keep producing well-reviewed content. As well, creative original content, “Growth will continue to be overwhelmingly fueled by the streaming services,” (Goldberg 2017). This means that streaming services especially Netflix’s are aware that rise in scripted original content over the past year is largely in part due to their shows.
Ultimately, The surge in creative original scripted content is a good progress for networks and streaming services to attract more viewers and ratings. However, I do believe that the peak on this content is coming within the next year or so from cable and broadcast television because they already having a hard time competing with streaming services original content. Overall, it really comes down to finding great writers and actors to help networks and streaming services to creative quality creative television.
Works Cited
Gibbs, Adrienne. "Year-End Peak TV Debate: Is There Too Much TV?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 27 Dec. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 5 Jan. 2017. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
When it comes to scripted shows, it feels like broadcasting and cable channels definitely play a different game than their online streaming competition, like Netflix and Hulu. Network channels face a unique challenge in that they are forced to appeal to the masses while maintaining ratings from week to week. This challenge may inhibit networks from investing in unique, creative shows. From my observations, it seems like most network channels have stuck to a formula of similar programs that consist of game shows, talent contests like America’s Got Talent, and unscripted reality shows like Survivor and Big Brother. I don’t associate high-production scripted shows with the big network channels like CBS and Fox. Again, speaking from personal experience, I’ve found that streaming sites like Netflix are goldmines for original, creative scripted content.
ReplyDeleteWith this in mind, I was surprised to read that there has been an “explosion” of scripted television shows from 421 in 2015 to 455 in 2016, an 8% increase in only a year. (Goldberg, 2016) The biggest gains came from streaming services like Netflix, YouTube Red and Seeso, all of which have promised even more scripted output in 2017. FX Networks executive Julie Piepenkotter said, "Growth will continue to be overwhelmingly fueled by the streaming services." (Goldberg, 2017) I believe scripted shows will continue to increase, especially on online streaming sites.
Online streaming sites are better positioned for the success of scripted shows. For one, the success of shows on streaming sites, like Netflix, are not chained to weekly ratings. This affords them more creative freedom and the ability to invest in more niche shows that may not appeal to a mass audience. Streaming sites are more convenient for the consumer, especially since they can watch shows at their own pace. Delayed viewership is now “the new normal,” according to AdWeek, which poses obvious challenges to advertisers. (Lynch)
DeleteBroadcasting and cable shows do not have this flexibility and many consumers may find it difficult to keep up with the rapidly growing number of scripted shows. On the flipside, network channels are finding it difficult to break through the overabundance of choices out there. Moreover, scripted programming often come with high production costs that networks may not be able to support. However, streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are willing to shell out significant sums for scripted shows. For example, Netflix reported that it will spend 6 billion on content for 2017 making it one of the biggest spenders in media in the category. (Castillo)
I think the peak of scripted shows will eventually taper off within 2018 as the market becomes too saturated with this genre. I anticipate that online streaming sites will experience the most growth for scripted shows because of the delayed viewership trend and greater budgets for high-production shows.
Works Cited
Castillo, Michelle. "Netflix Plans to Spend $6 Billion on New Shows, Blowing Away All but One of Its Rivals." CNBC. CNBC, 18 Oct. 2016. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 5 Jan. 2017. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
Lynch, Jason. "Advertisers Beware – Audiences Are Taking Longer Than Ever to Watch TV Shows," Ad Age 2 Aug. 2016. Web.
Many critics believe that in this “Platinum Era of Scripted Television” we are reaching a “peak”. However, I do not think we have reached it yet, but we most likely will within the next few years. According to Lesley Goldberg, “New research from the cable network that coined the ‘Peak TV’ term indicates the peak hasn’t hit yet” (“Scripted Originals Hit Record”). In 2016, the number of scripted originals increased from 421 in 2015 to 455 (“Scripted Originals Hit Record”). And this increase is coming from online services such as Netflix, Amazon and YouTube Red. While cable’s number of scripted original series decreased by one from 2015 to 2016 and broadcast dropped by five, streaming services exploded from 46 in 2015 to 93 in 2016 (“500 scripted shows?!”). With this shift toward online streaming services growing, I definitely think the marketplace can definitely sustain the growing amount of TV content since there are now so many different platforms for the content to be distributed. And this is good since the numbers are predicted to go up even more to around 500 scripted original shows in 2017 (“Scripted Originals Hit Record”). Therefore, we definitely have not hit the peak yet. However, I believe we will very soon.
ReplyDeleteThese days there are so many TV shows out there that there is almost too many. There is way too many for one person to ever be able to consume. Even TV critics are struggling with the amount of content out there. TV critic Tim Goodman stated last year, “Perhaps some truly great series won’t be on the list because I never had the chance to see them. Apologies in advance for that, but for ever TV critic I know, this is the new reality” (Goodman). There is just too much content. With all the content out there consumers are becoming really overwhelmed and taking a lot longer to watch their shows and “Delayed viewing is now ‘the new normal’…” (Lynch). People have so many shows to watch in one night that they can’t keep up with them all. Given that a huge revenue stream for network and even cable television is advertisements, this delayed viewing can become a problem possibly leading to a decrease in content since the networks can’t get the funding. Also, even though there are so many shows are out there, a lot of them are horrible (Goodman & Fienberg). I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed so many shows come and go in recent years. I feel like most shows these days get cancelled after one or possibly two seasons because they don’t have the viewership numbers. In fact, last year there was only one breakout hit in NBC’s This is Us (Goldberg). Now this small viewership could be because there’s so much content people can be really picky, because people don’t have time to watch everything, and/or because the shows are just terrible or completely unoriginal. I feel like there is so much of the same. It’s like instead of being creative, content producers simply take from what’s popular and give it a new twist. I mean how many singing competition shows are out there right now? How many superhero programs? I’ll tell you, a lot! Too many even. A show concept does well once and suddenly every network tries to make there own version. So, while there is a lot of TV shows out there, a lot of them are going to end after one season or are just a copycat of something else.
DeleteWorks Cited
DeleteGoldberg, Lesley. "28 TV Chiefs Reveal Their Most-Wanted Stars and How Trump Will Influence Shows," The Hollywood Reporter 27 Jan. 2017. Web.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs"," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim and Daniel Fienberg. "The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 23 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim. "The Best TV of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 14 Dec. 2016. Web.
Lynch, Jason. "Advertisers Beware – Audiences Are Taking Longer Than Ever to Watch TV Shows," Ad Age 2 Aug. 2016. Web.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIn the past few years the content available on both traditional broadcast networks and streaming services has jumped. More unique shows are appearing and audience members are taking notice. “A record 455 scripted original series aired in 2016,”(Goldberg). Traditional networks are not the only ones coming up with more original content but streaming services such as Amazon, Hulu and Netlfix “represent 93 series, with the streaming originals category growing 1,450 percent since 2011.(Goldberg). Even with the increase in original shows I am not sure this would be the “peak”. Even with the high jump of original content “ the number of basic cable originals dipped (down seven), as did premium cable (off one) as well as broadcast (off five), while streaming exploded (from 46 to 93)(Goldberg). While original content is being produced new shows are very expensive to produce and market. Traditional networks cannot possibly spend as much on new content as on streaming service. The only network that has the capability of spending more on content is ESPN, which spent 7.3 billion on content in 2016 while Netflix spent 6 billion. They are not coming up with original content though and do not contribute to the scripted television totals. ESPN spends the money on the vast amount of live streaming of games.
ReplyDeleteNetflix however spent the most out of its “scripted original” competitors. Amazon was “estimated to spend 3.2 billion by the end of 2016 on content.”(Castillo).
DeleteStreaming services have the availability to spend more because they are making more money. I think in upcoming years network will begin producing less original content and look for quality programming instead. Just because they released all new content this year does not mean that the series will be picked up gain. While steaming services may not be releasing as many shows in a year they are producing more quality shows that create a fan base and sustain themselves for seasons to come. I do not think that there is as much of a market in the future for networks to keep creating new shows. More and more people are shifting to streaming services and abandoning traditional cable packages. Networks such as NBC who also stream on Hulu have an advantage unlike many others but still are not putting the same money strictly streaming services are putting into new content. I believe the market place can sustain this growing content available because people are consuming shows so differently now they like to have variety and the ability to binge watch.
This may have been the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television ” however, this is not the peak and in the next few years the market is going to grow even more with original content. Streaming services are going to be putting more and more money into their content and get the big name stars to participate creating a new era of television that never goes onto traditional cable.
Https://www.facebook.com/CNBC. "Netflix Plans to Spend $6 Billion on New Shows, Blowing Away All but One of Its Rivals." CNBC. CNBC, 18 Oct. 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
"Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
"500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
In 2016, a record 455 scripted original series aired. A recent study from FX Networks found the annual total jumped another 8% year-over-year and from a decade ago…137% (Goldberg). Netflix tops the list for subscription services and how much original content means to them and their success. Netflix had a total of 43 originals with an estimated cost of $6 billion spent on these shows. The trend of scripted original shows has been going upwards every year since 2009. As cord-cutters are becoming more prevalent, more networks will devote more time, resources, and money into original shows to compete with Netflix.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of “Peak TV” came from FX president John Landgraf, who coined the term (Goldberg). We are yet to hit the peak and scripted originals do not look like they are ready to slow down, by next year we will probably see the number hit 500 originals. From the 2016 findings by FX, the number of basic cable originals dropped, as did premium cable, and also broadcast. Streaming services exploded from 46 to 93 (Goldberg).
Because the entertainment market is so broad, multiple companies and services are going to be successful. HBO is growing year by year and they are Netflix’s main competition but both services provide different content so most people feel the need to have a subscription to both. The growth of international subscribers has slowed down for Netflix, competition is growing stronger, and low prices are no longer the stand out for Netflix. SVOD platforms are still taking consumers away from basic cable, but to counter, cable channels are now trying to diversify and fight against cord cutting. YouTube and Hulu for example are looking to offer linear cable streaming in 2017 as part of their subscription packages so they can offer small packages of content for lower prices (Mezzera).
I personally do not see the peak coming soon because of the amount of people leaving basic cable and heading towards subscription-based services. With more and more services devoting their money to scripted originals, I think it is safe to say the peak TV will not be coming within the next few years because more and more services become available every year and people like having the option to different platforms and content.
Works Cited:
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 5 Jan. 2017. Web. 11 Feb. 2017.
Mezzera, Pina. "Five Years Into the Future of SVOD." Todotvnews. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
Some critics have labeled the last few years the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television” because of the increase in online-streamed shows and its high level of success. People have also questioned whether we are reaching a “peak” and if this “peak” will continue.
ReplyDeleteAccording to President of FX, John Landgraf, in Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds, “I wrongly predicted that we’d hit the peak in 2015 or 2016. It now seems clear that, at a minimum, the peak will be in calendar 2017 – and there is enough inertial momentum here that we could well see the growth trend carrying over into the 2018 calendar year” (Goldberg). I agree with Landgraf because scripted television is fairly new in the technology world and its success thus far is tremendous. I don’t think the surge will end because the way people watch TV is always changing and it’s heading in the direction of less commercials.
Last July a study was conducted with people ranging from ages 18 to 64 who also watch at least one hour a week of television programming on any device. Eighty percent of them stated that they are watching television much differently than they did several years ago and 86 percent said they are much more comfortable using technology to access TV shows than they used to be (Lynch). According to Wurtzel in Advertisers Beware – Audiences Are Taking Longer Than Ever to Watch TV Shows, “Delayed viewing is now ‘the new normal’. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed said they no longer need to watch new episodes of shows when they first air, while 42 percent said they prefer to time shift their viewing even when they can watch programs live” (Lynch). This is another example that supports my thoughts on this “peak” excelling. People are busy and can’t always watch their favorite show during its normal air time. As a college student with a hectic schedule, I am definitely in favor of streaming services such as Netflix.
However, I do think the only concern is the marketplace and whether it can sustain the growing amount of TV content. There are constantly new shows being produced and this could lead to an overwhelming surplus of content. The surge in streaming services also creates a great amount of financial risk because when shows start to leave television, there’s pressure on how much money the actors, writers, producers, and the rest of the talent will make (Erlichman). As stated in The ‘Golden Age of TV’ Has A Lot of People Worried — Here’s Why, “In a world of four networks and three hours of prime time, one more show would have been too much TV,” said Sarandos during our October interview. But now – when people have their own personal favorites – the economics of those shows and the economics of their distribution are unique to those shows, so there’s no such thing as too much TV” (Erlichman). I agree with this statement because society is always going to want more. Technology is constantly evolving and people learn to evolve as well. They appreciate but can also take for granted just how advanced we have become, and will never not be in favor of more shows being produced. Streaming services do have to be careful with how they manage their companies, but I think the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television” will continue to thrive.
DeleteWorks Cited
Erlichman, Jon. "The ‘Golden Age of TV’ Has A Lot of People Worried — Here’s Why." Fortune. N.p., 18 Jan. 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
Lynch, Jason. "Advertisers Beware: Audiences Are Taking Longer Than Ever to Watch TV Shows." – Adweek. N.p., 2 Aug. 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
I’d like to argue against some of the researches and say that we are not reaching a peak when it comes to original scripted content. The graph displayed in Lesley Goldberg’s “Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds”, clearly shows the upward trend of new original series since the early 2000s. Admittedly, there has been a decrease in the percent change of new series in the last few years, however the core data still shows that in 2016 there was a record of 455 original scripted series. “… The biggest gains came from such streaming services as Netflix, YouTube Red and Sesso, all of which have promised even more scripted output in 2017” (Goldberg). I do not want to entirely dismiss the researchers who believe we are at a peak; however, I feel the term peak is not the correct term to use. I feel that there is the possibility we are reaching a sort of plateau because of the transitional phase the media industry is going through. More and more TV shows are being picked up by SVOD services like Netflix and there has also been a shift for people to watch TV shows after the initial airing. In a study conducted by Alan Wurtzel, “Delayed viewing is now “the new normal” (Lynch). With over 86 percent of respondents saying they are more comfortable using technology (Laptops, tablets, smartphones) to access TV shows than watching a show live, it is no wonder why Netflix has been doing so well and cable TV providers are going to have to adapt to the fierce competition. I believe that cable providers will in the future mimic the business model of shows like Netflix and instead of spending money on reality TV shows, they will turn to what their competitors are doing, spending a lot of money on original scripts.
ReplyDeleteAccording to an article by Todd Spangler, “Netflix is driving toward having half the content on its streaming service be original productions over the next few years” (Spangler). Once cable providers being to focus on original series, the plateau or slowdown in the increase of new series will once again jump to new heights. It really does come down to whether or not there will be an oversaturation in the marketplace, and I would guess there is the possibility for oversaturation but we will not know until we reach it. The silver lining in this is that only the best shows will survive, which will ultimately benefit us as the consumers.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 5 Jan. 2017. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.
Spangler, Todd. "Netflix Targeting 50% of Content to Be Original Programming, CFO Says." Variety. Variety, 20 Sept. 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
The idea that television has reached its peak with amazing shows is obviously up to the interpretation of the consumers. In recent years, television has provided consumers with great shows. With the help of social media, the shows can stir up a lot of buzz and get people really intrigued into what may happen next in a show. For the show Game of Thrones, there is actually a YouTube serious that just records the reactions of people when they watch the show (Guillaume, 1). Some people think that because so much great content has come out that people are excited about, that this must mean that there is going to be a downfall and producers can only create so much creative content. According to Goodman, where the show is broadcasted effects the quality of the show (Goodman, 1). This is because network shows are forced to appeal to large audiences and Goodman believes this takes away from the overall creativity of the shows. Goodman also discusses the best of network television and how it is shows like Speechless and Parenthood that win in this category because they are shows that people can relate to (Goodman, 3). They are things that can dramatically really happen and that is why people enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the creativity on television is honestly only going to improve. Especially with the streaming services and alternative ways to view like DVR. It is going to cause producers to think, “What can I create to make it binge-worthy”? Also with these services people can view the shows on their own time so if a show is a guilty pleasure it can be made so that nobody even knows you are watching. As years go on, more and more unthinkable things happen in our day-to-day lives and producers of television can use these things that are changing in our world as inspiration for a new scripted show. As peoples ideas evolve so will the content that is produced. I cannot imagine people running out of ideas for scripted television any time soon because there is so much out in the world that still needs to be explored, and people are only getting more created because they are not faced with as many pressures for their ideas having to fit a mold.
The surge of creativity in scripted television is going to continue as long as the consumer will let it. According to Nielsen, consumers are watching more television than ever before, and adults watch an hour more each day than they did in 2015 (Lynch, 1). According to an FX study, the surge in scripted television has no plans for slowing down and the numbers are only increasing. More and more shows get added to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. There were 455 scripted television shows in 2016 and studies estimate that there will be around 500 in 2017 (Goldberg, 1). The marketplace is sustaining the amount of content through streaming services and alternative watching options. Now there are Netflix original shows and Amazon original shows. New scripted television will continue to utilize these resources, that way the content is online, making the opportunities endless of what to watch. It is not like every show needs a time slot on a certain channel anymore. Because of the way people are watching, there will be enough room for all of content in the future.
DeleteGoldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds," The
Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals
to All-Time Highs"," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim. "The Best TV of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 14 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim. "The Best Network TV of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 18 Dec.
2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim and Daniel Fienberg. "The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2016," The
Hollywood Reporter 23 Dec. 2016. Web.
Guillaume, Jenna. "23 Hilarious Reactions To The End Of "Game Of Thrones" This Week."
BuzzFeed.16 May 16. Web.
The term “Peak TV”, as coined by Landgraf to describe the tremendous increase in scripted originals in 2016. As critics were estimating 2016 to be the peak year of scripted TV originals, charts and existing media trends research indicates that we haven’t yet reached the peak. Looking at Leslie Goldberg’s “Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016,” it is possible to notice the upward trend for scripted originals overall. There is a 7% increase from 2015 to 2016, but it’s interesting to see that this increase amounts to 71% between 2011 and 2016. Undoubtedly, this is due to media trends shifting towards on-demand services.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, there is a consistent increase in the overall number of scripted TV originals and this may lead to a tendency to embrace the term “Peak TV.” But it’s also important to notice the outlets these originals appear on. While the overall number increases, there is a significant shift towards online services throughout the years. The “peak” number for ay cable remains to be 37, and has decreased in 2016. The same trend follows in broadcast where its peak was in 2015, not in 2016. What essentially bring scripted original series to an all-time high is online services like Netflix and Hulu. This makes sense, considering Netflix’s dependency on original series. The streaming service makes the most profit out of its loyal audience who love the convenience of binge-watching their favorite Netflix originals at one sitting. This also explains why Netflix outnumbers all other networks when it comes to the number of scripted originals. In Lesley Goldberg’s “500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs,” the relevant chart shows Netflix taking the lead among networks like ABC, CBS and FOX with 43 scripted originals.
The distinction between the overall growth of scripted originals and the media outlet in which they grow is a crucial one to grasp in order to get an accurate understanding of “Peak TV.” I don’t disagree with the critics who choose to name this trend as a “peak” as I would choose to call it a “resting period” or a “plateau.” I don’t think that the marketplace can sustain the current amount of originals, and that is exactly the reason why TV networks are cutting back on them. But it should also be kept in mind that the marketplace is shifting towards streaming services, which are showing a consistent increase in the number of their originals.
The decreasing of original shows in TV networks while they are consistently breaking a record number every year, remains to be a concern contributing to SVOD’s victory over traditional TV. However, according to Alan Wurtzel, the president of research and media development for NBCUniversal, “there's not enough stuff on Netflix that is broad enough and consistent enough to affect [us] in a meaningful way on a consistent basis." This indicates that a big network such as NBC doesn’t view a high number of originals as a strong enough factor for viewers to abandon traditional TV and their linear viewing habits.
Overall, I think that the overall number of originals in the marketplace may have hit its peak, but this doesn’t stop non-traditional outlets like Netflix and Amazon from going in full-speed with their scripted originals, at least for this year.
Works Cited
DeleteGoldberg, Lesley. "Scripted Originals Hit Record 455 in 2016, FX Study Finds," The
Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals
to All-Time Highs"," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Lynch, Jason. "Advertisers Beware: Audiences Are Taking Longer Than Ever to Watch TV Shows." – Adweek. N.p., 2 Aug. 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.
Television saw a record year last year in terms of scripted originals. According to an FX Network study, 2016 saw 455 original scripted series, an increase from 2015’s 421, showing that the, “annual tally jumped another 8 percent year-over-year and a whopping 137 percent from just a decade ago,” (Goldberg). The majority of this year’s scripted originals came from streaming services like Netflix, YouTube Red and Seeso, which have all promised more original output in 2017. Though we are in an era of Peak TV, television does not seem to have actually peaked, “The phrase "peak TV" was coined by FX Networks CEO John Landgraf last year to describe the "overwhelming" increase in scripted series, but it seems as if the glut of scripted television shows still hasn't peaked yet,” (Lynch).
ReplyDeleteWith the number of original series continuously increasing over the past decade, you would think that this surge of creativity would be on the verge of dying out. However, the increased use of new platforms, such as SVOD services, has created room for more creativity. John Landgraf, CEO of FX, has admitted to wrongly predicting TV to hit its peak in 2015 or 2015 and said, “It now seems clear that, at a minimum, the peak will be in calendar 2017 — and there is enough inertial momentum here that we could well see the growth trend carrying over into the 2018 calendar year." This had a lot to do with companies like Netflix putting loads of money into creating original content. The expansion of TV platforms creates more space for more original content. “The sheer number of decent shows currently on offer is a big part of the whelm, but compounding that is the wide variety of forms good TV now takes and the vast profusion of places it can be found,” (Paskin).
I think the main reason creativity has not run out is due to our ever-changing society. We’ve seen a pull away from the typical all-white cast to shows about anything and everything breaking barriers about race, sex, and other social issues our country faces. These issues are seen in dramas and comedies. Tapping into real world issues and topics gives so much space for creativity. I do not see television reaching its peak anytime soon. There is always room for creativity.
The growing amount of television can be sustained in the marketplace. If anything the era of Peak TV and the expansion of platforms has helped shows stick around longer. In an article entitled, What Does “Peak TV” Really Mean?, Willa Paskin names her top ten tv shows of 2015. She continues on to discuss how most of the shows on her list would not exist if it weren’t for this time of Peak TV. “Catastrophe and Transparent air on Amazon, a platform that wouldn’t exist unless TV was rapidly proliferating; USA’s Mr. Robot and Lifetime’s UnReal arrived on channels trying to make a Peak TV splash;… and Jane the Virgin and Empire are shows about people of color, who are finally starting to get their TV due because the hunt for larger audiences has incentivized networks to expand their minds,” (Paskin). As original content increases in his way, it also decreases. Shows get canceled that are not able to keep up with the changes of consumers, so in turn the marketplace sees a balance even though we have only seen an overall increase over the last decade.
Works Cited
DeleteGoodman, Tim. "The Best TV of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 14 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim. "The Best Network TV of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 18 Dec. 2016. Web.
Lynch, Jason. "With 455 Scripted Series Released This Year, 'Peak TV' Has Yet to Actually Peak." Adweek. Adweek, 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.
Paskin, Willa. "What Does “Peak TV” Really Mean?" Slate Magazine. N.p., 23 Dec. 2015. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteTo some, the surge of creativity will continue when it comes to scripted television. In a recent study that FX conducted it found that there were “455 scripted original series aired in 2016 …the annual tally jumped another 8 percent year-over-year and a whopping 137 percent from just a decade ago.” (Goldberg) Critics think that the growth of scripted TV in 2017 will be mainly fueled by streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube Red. Netflix this year had 43 originals this year and with an estimated $6 billion spent on them it is no surprise it is ahead with all of the broadcast networks. (Goldberg)
So does the peak of scripted TV only apply to network TV ? With Netflix being at the top some have said that broadcast and cable shows have declined and their peak was met a couple years back. “…the content deluge as resulting in an increasingly fractionalized and distracted audience; overwhelmed by the number of options and ramping up the difficulty for networks to get attention for quality shows.” (Hibberd) In the list of the worst TV shows of 2016, they even say “We tried not to gang up on anyone broadcast network and a point will be made below that bad/disappointing cable and streaming fare is somehow a worse crime than a heinous network show.” (Goodman, Fienberg) This could be for many reasons, one could be that broadcast and cable TV doesn’t have the budget to compete with streaming.
Part 2
DeleteOr they just don’t stack up to streaming at all. Which is why when Goldberg made his list of his top TV shows he even went as far as separating cable and broadcast TV into separate categories because they couldn’t even be compared.
As far as the marketplace being able to sustain the growing amount of TV content I think that it soon might get out of hand. With so many shows coming out it has grown harder and harder to get people’s attention. You may start a show and you won’t finish it because you don’t have the time. Or you might lose interest after the 3rd season because nothing new is happening. And let be honest not everything needs more than 3 seasons. But since the 3rd season good rating they will make another one and it won’t be as good or lacks a plot. The market still will be able to grow but with too many options they also might be wasting money.
Work Cited
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim and Daniel Fienberg. "The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 23 Dec. 2016. Web.
Hibberd, James. “Peak TV gone wild: Recorded 455 scripted shoes aired this year,”Ew.com 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
According to FX Research, 266 original scripted shows in 2011; while 2016 brought a record breaking 455 scripted shows. This 71% growth over 5 years is significant. This growth is what defines the Platinum Era of Scripted Television. With an enormous 137% increase within this past decade, I believe scripted television is far from its peak. With millenials coming into the workforce I believe thousands of original ideas will be produced within the next upcoming years. With Netflix only being about 10 years old, it leads the video outlets with 43 new original series on this past year. As original series are just becoming more and more popular, I feel the peak is years away. While the growth has been drastic this past 10 years, the growth should continue as it slows down before reaching peak. This past year demonstrated an 8% (34 scripted shows) jump from the previous year. According to the Wall Street Journal, “the amount of original scripted fare on streaming services has gone from six to 93 in 2016. That figure will contine to rise next year as CBS Corps.’s online streaming service “All Access” introduces at least two new scripted series – a “Star Trek” series called “Discovery” and a spinoff to “The Good Wife” called The Good Fight.” Netflix premiered “Fuller House”, a spin off of beloved series “Full House”, in hopes to please viewers. Turns out the spin off was a huge bust and actually ranked top 10 worst TV shows of 2016. I guess CBS will try again to launch a spin off, testing the viewer’s loyalty.
ReplyDeleteWe know the marketplace continues to grow substantially, but what does that mean for the future? Can the marketplace sustain the growth of TV content? According to Joe Flint, the substantial growth has led to more option for TV viewers and work for actors. Flint suggests this poses a threat to traditional ratings and making it tougher for an individual show to win over a large audience. John Landgraf, FX Networks Chief Executive, labeled the era “Peak TV.” Peak TV has brought concern among many media executives. The elation of growth within TV content is coincided with the concern of potential dangers. There are questions if there will be enough viewers or creative talent to sustain the level of content. This can be supported by Tim Goodmans top 10 worst and best TV shows of 2016. Goodman explains the difficulty of completing a list of top 10 best TV shows. Goodman goes on to argue that it is nearly impossible to watch every scripted series out there. With 455 new script TV shows in 2016 and only 365 days in a year, no wonder it’s difficult to rank these original series. Goodman then describes the difficulty of making a top 10 worst TV shows of 2016. 455 new TV series comes with hundreds of really bad shows. He explains many of the bad shows didn’t make the list because typing out all the titles would be detrimental. The future can only tell what the marketplace can handle, but can the hundreds of bad TV series be an indication of a future fall off?
Flint, Joe. "Peak TV Still Going Strong With 455 Scripted Shows in 2016." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.
Goldberg, Lesley. "500 Scripted Shows?! How Netflix, Amazon Are Sending Originals to All-Time Highs"," The Hollywood Reporter 21 Dec. 2016. Web.
Goodman, Tim and Daniel Fienberg. "The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2016," The Hollywood Reporter 23 Dec. 2016. Web.