So let’s see. First the networks gave up on Saturday night — now showing reruns and newsmagazines and sports. Then they mostly threw in the towel on Friday nights. And now NBC is considering dropping 1/3 of it's primetime programming.
We’re seeing the slow end of broadcast network television as we know it (or soon — knew it). I would be surprised if there are broadcast networks in three-to-five years. And if there are, they will just be replaying content that originated on their streaming services (or, in the case of Fox — Tubi). New NBC shows will premier on Peacock first, not the other way around.
Cable channels are also in a precarious place. Cable customers no longer want to pay for channels they don’t watch so they bundle. As a result, a lot of the niche and fringe cable channels could soon go belly-up. I'm waiting for the Hallmark Channel to show their Christmas movies all year long.
It’s the wild wild west out there, folks. Industry folks were certain streaming was the future, but once Netflix suffered a stock free-fall earlier this year, suddenly streaming no longer looks like such a sure thing.
So what WILL be the future of delivering entertainment to your TV, phone, car, whatever? Now THERE’S a cliffhanger.
from By Ken Levine
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