From Deadline:
https://deadline.com/2026/05/cbs-fire-country-shorter-season-5-more-scripted-2026-27-1236878176/
Cutting the episode order for "Fire Country" is particularly telling -
if they are cutting a show like that back from a "full season" (which
these days is down to just 20 episodes anyway), it means the networks
can no longer "afford" traditional broadcast TV seasons.
And a couple of the "NCIS" series are also getting cut down, and not
even to 13 episodes, but 10.
I have been waiting for this to happen for a long time - the second the broadcast nets' season episode orders to converge on what streaming is
doing (most of whose TV seasons are simultaneously not long enough but
also unable to adequately have enough story to fill out 6-10 episodes!)
then broadcast loses its only competitive advantage over streaming
(aside from live sports) and will very likely cease to exist.
It's looking like we are almost there, folks.
Here in New Zealand, some shows are made available online first, and
then on free-to-air broadcast TV at a later date (sometimes only a few
weeks later, as broadcast schedules have room).
From Deadline:
https://deadline.com/2026/05/cbs-fire-country-shorter-season-5-more- scripted-2026-27-1236878176/
Cutting the episode order for "Fire Country" is particularly telling -
if they are cutting a show like that back from a "full season" (which
these days is down to just 20 episodes anyway), it means the networks
can no longer "afford" traditional broadcast TV seasons.
And a couple of the "NCIS" series are also getting cut down, and not
even to 13 episodes, but 10.
I have been waiting for this to happen for a long time - the second the broadcast nets' season episode orders to converge on what streaming is
doing (most of whose TV seasons are simultaneously not long enough but
also unable to adequately have enough story to fill out 6-10 episodes!)
then broadcast loses its only competitive advantage over streaming
(aside from live sports) and will very likely cease to exist.
It's looking like we are almost there, folks.
On 2026-05-03 03:06:05 +0000, Ian J. Ball said:
From Deadline:
https://deadline.com/2026/05/cbs-fire-country-shorter-season-5-more-
scripted-2026-27-1236878176/
Cutting the episode order for "Fire Country" is particularly telling -
if they are cutting a show like that back from a "full season" (which
these days is down to just 20 episodes anyway), it means the networks
can no longer "afford" traditional broadcast TV seasons.
And a couple of the "NCIS" series are also getting cut down, and not
even to 13 episodes, but 10.
I have been waiting for this to happen for a long time - the second
the broadcast nets' season episode orders to converge on what
streaming is doing (most of whose TV seasons are simultaneously not
long enough but also unable to adequately have enough story to fill
out 6-10 episodes!) then broadcast loses its only competitive
advantage over streaming (aside from live sports) and will very likely
cease to exist.
It's looking like we are almost there, folks.
The number of episodes in a season has nothing to do with broadcast TV,
since all the shows also play online anyway via various catch-up or streaming services. If it actually had anything to do with broadcast TV, then the shows would *only* be playing online. Reducing the number of episodes is just a cost-cutting exercise.
Here in New Zealand, some shows are made available online first, and
then on free-to-air broadcast TV at a later date (sometimes only a few
weeks later, as broadcast schedules have room).
Most British shows have always had much shorter seasons than US shows.
On 5/3/26 12:53 AM, Your Name wrote:
On 2026-05-03 03:06:05 +0000, Ian J. Ball said:
From Deadline:
https://deadline.com/2026/05/cbs-fire-country-shorter-season-5-more-
scripted-2026-27-1236878176/
Cutting the episode order for "Fire Country" is particularly telling -
if they are cutting a show like that back from a "full season" (which
these days is down to just 20 episodes anyway), it means the networks
can no longer "afford" traditional broadcast TV seasons.
And a couple of the "NCIS" series are also getting cut down, and not
even to 13 episodes, but 10.
I have been waiting for this to happen for a long time - the second the >>> broadcast nets' season episode orders to converge on what streaming is
doing (most of whose TV seasons are simultaneously not long enough but
also unable to adequately have enough story to fill out 6-10 episodes!) >>> then broadcast loses its only competitive advantage over streaming
(aside from live sports) and will very likely cease to exist.
It's looking like we are almost there, folks.
The number of episodes in a season has nothing to do with broadcast TV,
Thanks for showing that you 1) didn't read my post at all, and 2) don't
know what you're talking about (in terms of U.S. TV).
since all the shows also play online anyway via various catch-up or
streaming services. If it actually had anything to do with broadcast
TV, then the shows would *only* be playing online. Reducing the number
of episodes is just a cost-cutting exercise.
Here in New Zealand, some shows are made available online first, and
then on free-to-air broadcast TV at a later date (sometimes only a few
weeks later, as broadcast schedules have room).
Most British shows have always had much shorter seasons than US shows.
Again, which has nothing to do with American TV and the U.S. model of
TV production.
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