NBC Considers Cutting Back Programming Hours in Prime Time

[Joseph_Gallant]

I think that there will still be scripted dramas and comedies on ABC, CBS, and NBC if they cut back prime time from 22 to 15 hours a week each (outside of some sports or special events where those networks would have more than fifteen hours of prime time a week), just fewer hours of them.

And I include ABC and CBS because if NBC gives back the 10-11 P.M. ET/PT to local stations in the fall of 2023 (and likely taking back the 11-11:30 ET/PT half-hour to start late-night programs earlier than at present), I think ABC and CBS affiliates will want the same thing, since they'll probably make much more money with an hour of news at 10 (since there would be substantially more revenue from more commercial spots at an earlier hour with only a minimal increase in costs) than with 30 or 35 minutes of news at 11.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Quoting a recent article on Ad Age's website:

https://adage.com/article/media/comcast-looks-cut-1-billion-its-TV-network-budgets/2428006

Here is more this time on how Comcast is planning it's budget at their networks.

Comcast/NBC has a giant albatross around it's neck:

The Olympics.

Once as big a TV event as almost any, the last two Olympics (the 2021 Summer games in Tokyo and this past February's Winter games in Beijing) saw ratings only half of the 2016 Summer games in Rio and the 2018 Winter games in Pyongchang, South Korea, inspite if the fact that there were favorable time differences with the U.S. East Coast that allowed much of NBC's prime time coverage to be live in all four cases (for Pyongchang, Tokyo, and Beijing, many key events were held in the morning, which allowed for live prime time coverage in the 'States).

There may have been reasons like the growth of streaming, being able to see events live instead of waiting for them to be on tape in prime time, family members of athletes weren't allowed to attend because of the covid epidemic, no crowds which for many sports detracted from the excitement, or even, as my girlfriend suggests, going overboard with what she calls "sob stories" (better known as athlete profiles or "Up Close And Personal" segments, although it seems to me there have fewer such features at recent Olympics, and they've been shorter).

The next two Olympics (the 2024 Summer games in Paris and the 2026 Winter games in Milan, Italy) may be worse ratingswise as there will be no live prime time coverage available. NBC will be able to go back to their old formula of "slice and dice", with all of America's gold medals that day being shown in the final hour of prime time.

Ratings for the 2028 Summer games should be much better as they will be held in Los Angeles, and a domestic Olympics should get strong ratings, as almost everything from 11 A.M. through 3 A.M. EDT (8 A.M.-12 Midnight PDT) being live.

And NBC's final Olympics under the current deal will be the 2032 Summer games is Brisbane, Australia. Again, I'd expect many major events will be held in the morning local time for live prime time coverage on the East Coast.

The 2030 Winter games (the last Winter Olympics under NBC's current deal) have yet to be awarded. I would guess that either Salt Lake City or Vancouver will get them (as both cities have hosted Winter Olympics in the past two decades and have facilities already in place) with whichever city losing the 2030 Winter Olympics getting the 2034 games. Plus, a Winter Olympics in North America would mean almost everything gets shown live, which could help NBC's cause.....unless the TV landscape by then is totally unrecognizable from what it is now.

NBC also has a long-term deal with the NFL and a deal just signed with the Big Ten college sports conference. I would think they will at least break even, due to the popularity of football, especially the NFL.

In other sports, NBC has rights to Notre Dame football, some golf tournaments (including the British Open Championship and the FedEx Cup), half of the NASCAR Cup series races (the second half of the season), all of the Indycar races (including the Indianapolis "500"), the English Premiership soccer league, while NBC's Peacock streaming service has late morning or very early afternoon (11:35 A.M. or 12:05 P.M. EDT) Major League Baseball games on Sundays, among others (although some of these events are on the USA Network, CNBC, or Peacock). After a decade and a half, NBC walked away from the National Hockey League after the 2020/21 season.

I don't think any of these are nearly as profitable to NBC as the NFL might be, but then again, I don't think any of NBC's sports properties outside the Olympics are in danger of losing money either.

 

[Mikey Radio]

Comcast/NBC has a giant albatross around it's neck:

The Olympics.

Once as big a TV event as almost any, the last two Olympics (the 2021 Summer games in Tokyo and this past February's Winter games in Beijing) saw ratings only half of the 2016 Summer games in Rio and the 2018 Winter games in Pyongchang, South Korea, inspite if the fact that there were favorable time differences with the U.S. East Coast that allowed much of NBC's prime time coverage to be live in all four cases (for Pyongchang, Tokyo, and Beijing, many key events were held in the morning, which allowed for live prime time coverage in the 'States).

There may have been reasons like the growth of streaming, being able to see events live instead of waiting for them to be on tape in prime time, family members of athletes weren't allowed to attend because of the covid epidemic, no crowds which for many sports detracted from the excitement, or even, as my girlfriend suggests, going overboard with what she calls "sob stories" (better known as athlete profiles or "Up Close And Personal" segments, although it seems to me there have fewer such features at recent Olympics, and they've been shorter).

The next two Olympics (the 2024 Summer games in Paris and the 2026 Winter games in Milan, Italy) may be worse ratingswise as there will be no live prime time coverage available. NBC will be able to go back to their old formula of "slice and dice", with all of America's gold medals that day being shown in the final hour of prime time.

Ratings for the 2028 Summer games should be much better as they will be held in Los Angeles, and a domestic Olympics should get strong ratings, as almost everything from 11 A.M. through 3 A.M. EDT (8 A.M.-12 Midnight PDT) being live.

And NBC's final Olympics under the current deal will be the 2032 Summer games is Brisbane, Australia. Again, I'd expect many major events will be held in the morning local time for live prime time coverage on the East Coast.

The 2030 Winter games (the last Winter Olympics under NBC's current deal) have yet to be awarded. I would guess that either Salt Lake City or Vancouver will get them (as both cities have hosted Winter Olympics in the past two decades and have facilities already in place) with whichever city losing the 2030 Winter Olympics getting the 2034 games. Plus, a Winter Olympics in North America would mean almost everything gets shown live, which could help NBC's cause.....unless the TV landscape by then is totally unrecognizable from what it is now.

NBC also has a long-term deal with the NFL and a deal just signed with the Big Ten college sports conference. I would think they will at least break even, due to the popularity of football, especially the NFL.

In other sports, NBC has rights to Notre Dame football, some golf tournaments (including the British Open Championship and the FedEx Cup), half of the NASCAR Cup series races (the second half of the season), all of the Indycar races (including the Indianapolis "500"), the English Premiership soccer league, while NBC's Peacock streaming service has late morning or very early afternoon (11:35 A.M. or 12:05 P.M. EDT) Major League Baseball games on Sundays, among others (although some of these events are on the USA Network, CNBC, or Peacock). After a decade and a half, NBC walked away from the National Hockey League after the 2020/21 season.

I don't think any of these are nearly as profitable to NBC as the NFL might be, but then again, I don't think any of NBC's sports properties outside the Olympics are in danger of losing money either.

I'd add a few thoughts; some are in-line with what you've already posted:

-The summer Olympic games were delayed so long due to covid, that it seemed we barely got done watching that set of games along with all the hype and hoopla that goes along with them, and it was time almost seemingly right away for the winter games to start. IMO that caused people to be much less enthused and excited about the winter games. As an aside, NBC's coverage of those games was also nearly right up against their coverage of the Superbowl. In fact, if I'm not mistaken Mike Tirico did some flying back and forth to cover both and ultimately left the Olympics early to cover the leadup to the Superbowl

- As you stated, the Olympics were available to stream at your convenience on Peacock, and those with Comcast could watch any Olympic content they wished on-demand and could forward through commercials, long-form interviews and seemingly endless banter and just watch the contests themselves. That definitely impacted NBC's live coverage and prime time numbers. Also, @Joseph_Gallant I believe your GF and I would get along famously, as I also hate all the "sob-stories". I think they 1) Go way to far and spend too much time on the personal interest stories when they could be spending that time bringing viewers more games and contests, and 2) They unfairly focus on just a few athletes, when every one on Team USA has a story, they've all busted @ss to be there and they all deserve their 15 minutes of fame, not just a select few competitors that were hand picked by the network and singled out for nearly constant coverage, while everyone else on the team is largely ignored. To your girlfriend's point, a few winter games ago they interviewed an athlete after his run and were asking questions about a relative that recently died. They literally had the guy doubled over and openly weeping and they still kept it up with the line of questioning with a camera and a mic in his face. It was brutal. That interviewer was released by the network shortly after due to the outrage from viewers. Watching contests on-demand allows viewers to skip all that.

- On a personal note, I still miss Bob Costas and his style of coverage and interviewing.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

There is no point for the networks to spend all this money on scripted drama when they only have one revenue stream, and their rights to this drama are so limited. This has been a problem for a long time. The only difference is now the networks have other outlets within their control where they can run this scripted drams.

Best example is Paramount with Yellowstone and 1886. Back in the old days, this would have aired on CBS. Now that CBS and Paramount are owned by the same company, it makes more sense for it to be on Paramount.

Good point likewise some of FX drama's are appearing on the Hulu app both are Disney owned outlets. If it was the old days some of the drama's airing on FX Cable side/ Hulu on the Streaming side it would have been split between Fox Primetime or ABC Primetime in the past if we are talking pre-cable and streaming. Today the response from Disney is go after Amazon Prime, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock and make them the most watched apps on the TV.

*FX was previously managed by Fox inc before the 2019 deal when Disney Bought the now named 20th Century Studios and got majority control of Hulu as part of the deal.

Find your favorite FX Shows

Watch full episodes and get the latest updates and information on all of your favorite FX and FXX shows.

www.fxnetworks.com

For Scripted Drama I knew Netflix was best known for being the first reported place for Drama to be on streaming once the had to respond to the fact that DVD and VHS Sales were on a downturn back in 2006-2008 approx when the shift happened that sparked them to be where they are at today. Once the shows on Netflix were winning awards then Disney, Amazon Prime, Comcast and Paramount have issued their responses.

 

[crainbebo]

I'd add a few thoughts; some are in-line with what you've already posted:

-The summer Olympic games were delayed so long due to covid, that it seemed we barely got done watching that set of games along with all the hype and hoopla that goes along with them, and it was time almost seemingly right away for the winter games to start. IMO that caused people to be much less enthused and excited about the winter games. As an aside, NBC's coverage of those games was also nearly right up against their coverage of the Superbowl. In fact, if I'm not mistaken Mike Tirico did some flying back and forth to cover both and ultimately left the Olympics early to cover the leadup to the Superbowl

- As you stated, the Olympics were available to stream at your convenience on Peacock, and those with Comcast could watch any Olympic content they wished on-demand and could forward through commercials, long-form interviews and seemingly endless banter and just watch the contests themselves. That definitely impacted NBC's live coverage and prime time numbers. Also, @Joseph_Gallant I believe your GF and I would get along famously, as I also hate all the "sob-stories". I think they 1) Go way to far and spend too much time on the personal interest stories when they could be spending that time bringing viewers more games and contests, and 2) They unfairly focus on just a few athletes, when every one on Team USA has a story, they've all busted @ss to be there and they all deserve their 15 minutes of fame, not just a select few competitors that were hand picked by the network and singled out for nearly constant coverage, while everyone else on the team is largely ignored. To your girlfriend's point, a few winter games ago they interviewed an athlete after his run and were asking questions about a relative that recently died. They literally had the guy doubled over and openly weeping and they still kept it up with the line of questioning with a camera and a mic in his face. It was brutal. That interviewer was released by the network shortly after due to the outrage from viewers. Watching contests on-demand allows viewers to skip all that.

- On a personal note, I still miss Bob Costas and his style of coverage and interviewing.

I didn't even bother watching the CovidLympics. Let alone the fact that even if the pandemic never existed, I can't stand NBC's fluff and feel-good stories, constant tape delays, and annoying commentators. Olympics are much better watched on foreign networks, even CBC in Canada does a better job than NBC.

By the way, 2028 in Los Angeles being 'live'? Heh! VANCOUVER wasn't even live! And for that one, the Canadian coverage went to CTV, and CIVT isn't carried on Xfinity south of Whatcom County, so we were stuck with NBC fluff in western WA.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

We saw that with Netflix a few months back, announcing they lost about 1 million subscribers.

Netflix loses subscribers, but stops the bleeding

Netflix reported Tuesday that it lost 970,000 subscribers in the second quarter of 2022 — a number far lower than its own forecasts, which had projected that the streaming giant would lose two million subscribers.

www.cnn.com

They didn't lose me, because I never subscribed in the first place!

We're also seeing it with subscription radio. The excitement to spend money has slowed down.

I did for quite awhile when I saw some interesting content. When the content seemed to me to get stale and the price went up again I bailed.

I haven't watched anything on NBC in a long time. So I wouldn't notice an absence of NBC from 10pm. I think we are seeing a trend the premium content going to streaming while over the air gets the crumbs. I will never understand the public's appetite for cheap reality shows. One day I fear that will be all that's left on Network TV.

I do over the air and a couple subscriptions. I'm rediscovering some classic TV shows or discovering some I missed.

That's because you are -- in your own wonderful words -- "out of the money demo ... all the way out." Generational changes in popular tastes almost always leave the preceding generation baffled and disgusted.

I can almost go along with you on that point, except I don't remember my parents who were older than average being baffled and disgusted to use your words about what they saw on TV. It's a well known fact it costs less to produce reality shows so the networks love them.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

If NBC starts to rely more on news and sports instead of shows as someone suggested won't the affiliates go nuts and complain as they see the value go down. Sadly I hear from most people that they either don't care enough to watch while others don't trust TV news. Has cable, satellite and digital over the air lessened the threat of stations wanting to switch their network affiliation? After all now most all have signal parity.

 

[Kelly A]

If NBC starts to rely more on news and sports instead of shows as someone suggested won't the affiliates go nuts and complain as they see the value go down.

Technically it's the opposite. Local affiliates have the option to add more local news if they choose. It costs more, but if done right, can be much more profitable because they own the inventory within the newscast(s).

Sadly I hear from most people that they either don't care enough to watch while others don't trust TV news.

"Most people" include your circle of friends and acquaintances? Pretty anecdotal data wouldn't you say?
My bet is these "most people" prefer Fox News.

Has cable, satellite and digital over the air lessened the threat of stations wanting to switch their network affiliation?

Affiliates back in the day that wanted to change was typically due to lack of programming control. As an example; stations who were owned by Mormon-controlled-Bonneville got in trouble with CBS for objecting, and in some cases refusing to carry, certain primetime shows.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Has cable, satellite and digital over the air lessened the threat of stations wanting to switch their network affiliation?

No, it is largely consolidation and DTV subchannels. It takes two to make an affiliation swap happen, and the conditions now are very different than 1995.

Many of the groups today have long-term blanket affiliation deals. So, imagine if Sinclair was unhappy with NBC and wished to terminate their agreement. They might suddenly be operating a couple dozen independent television stations, so that ABC wouldn't need to pay a breakup fee with Gray to move their affiliations to Sinclair.

Of course, If ABC is happy with Gray, they don't have to do anything:
Before DTV, affiliation swaps were pretty common because a station could only have one network. (Cherry-picking shows from a second network notwithstanding) But today, it is totally possible for one station to have two or more broadcast networks. So Gray could keep ABC on their existing dial position, and pick up NBC on a subchannel, while Sinclair gets nothing.

 

[Cool_guy81]

They are already closing shop on the Olympic channel which closes on September 30th.

 

[CTListener]

They are already closing shop on the Olympic channel which closes on September 30th.

Another sign that, despite the wishful thinking of some posters here, Peacock is here for the long run.

 

[anotherguyTN]

If NBC starts to rely more on news and sports instead of shows as someone suggested won't the affiliates go nuts and complain as they see the value go down.

In some cases even the local stations are going all news and talk during local time. WMC in Memphis will be all news and talk in the daytime once Days moves to Peacock.

 

[Cool_guy81]

In Des Moines 1-2pm and 3-4pm and 6:30-7pm will be the only shows on WHO 13 besides News and NBC programming.

 

[bpatrick]

Since there's no PTAR anymore, I don't think there's a legal problem if football
or whatever runs past 10 PM (ET). Affiliates might not like it, but with the ratings
"Sunday Night Football" gets, who would complain?

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I forgot another NBC Affiliate that produces news for another outlet at 10pm it is hearst owned KCRA-TV Sacramento they also produce news for My Network affiliate KQCA Sacramento. It will be interesting how cutting the 10pm from NBC will work out or not. Note in the Sacramento area KCRA news also competes against Nexstar owned KTXL Fox 40 and Paramount owned KOVR CBS 13 for the 10pm spot for newscasts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQCA

https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/kcra-expands-10-p-m-newscast-on-kqca/

But then again Hearst Television has the Very Local app to go after KOVR 13 from the CBS News app for news in the Sacramento area in response. Also Xfinity is one of the internet and TV providers in the Sacramento TV market and they will push the Peacock app from their subscription deals to their internet and TV service.

Internet Service Providers Sacramento, CA + Cable, Wireless & More

Need fast, reliable internet in Sacramento? Explore why you should make Xfinity your Internet Service Provider - Home & Wireless.

www.xfinity.com

Note Sacramento, Baltimore and Boston are the places where Paramount does directly compete against Hearst.

https://www.verylocal.com/apps/

 

[anotherguyTN]

In some cases even the local stations are going all news and talk during local time. WMC in Memphis will be all news and talk in the daytime once Days moves to Peacock.

I was short on time and didn't get to finish my post. Kelly Clarkson will be the only syndicated show on WMC in the daytime. Everything else will be either news and talk from NBC or local news and talk until Wheel of Fortune. But that's still better than filling the local time with trash talk, courtroom shows, and infomercials.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Maybe seek some help for the infomercial obsession?

 

[bpatrick]

I notice that quite a few of these stations which have cut down to one, two, or even no syndicated
shows are owned by Gray Television (WBTV, WAVE, and WSMV have eliminated syndicated programs;
WGCL is down to one; WMC is down to two). Granted that some of their stations carry Wheel and
Jeopardy!, I still wonder how long it will be before Gray drops syndicated programs
completely.

 

[CTListener]

Maybe seek some help for the infomercial obsession?

Informercials are the television equivalent of advertising inserts in newspapers, or better yet, "shoppers," those multi-page advertising-only things that used to come in the mail all the time or were the only reading material available at the laundromat. Like those aggravating little publications, infomercials have little to no entertainment value, nor are they interesting to anyone but someone interested in buying certain merchandise. So why don't people who don't want to watch an infomercial just find something else to watch in that time slot, the equivalent of ignoring the shopper or tossing the insert in the trash? Beats me. Somehow people have gotten it in their heads that TV stations are violating some commandment chiseled in stone ("Thou shalt always entertain.") when they choose to air a program-length advertisement instead of a series, game show, movie or sporting event. The stations are under no such obligation, nor have they ever been.

 

[gr8oldies]

Informercials are the television equivalent of advertising inserts in newspapers, or better yet, "shoppers," those multi-page advertising-only things that used to come in the mail all the time or were the only reading material available at the laundromat. Like those aggravating little publications, infomercials have little to no entertainment value, nor are they interesting to anyone but someone interested in buying certain merchandise. So why don't people who don't want to watch an infomercial just find something else to watch in that time slot, the equivalent of ignoring the shopper or tossing the insert in the trash? Beats me. Somehow people have gotten it in their heads that TV stations are violating some commandment chiseled in stone ("Thou shalt always entertain.") when they choose to air a program-length advertisement instead of a series, game show, movie or sporting event. The stations are under no such obligation, nor have they ever been.

The occasional infomercial can still be entertaining. Nobody could light a car on fire like Mike Levy.