ANALYSIS: Lessons Of The Fall & What Lies Ahead For The Big 4 Broadcast Networks

As broadcast network executives were leaving for their holiday destinations last week, most of them were certainly glad to get away, and not only because of� the dreary wet Los Angeles weather. The broadcast networks had little to cheer about this fall, which failed to produce breakout hits of the size of Modern Family or Glee a year ago. This year, the breakout hits were all on cable: The Walking Dead on AMC and Rizzoli & Isles on TNT, which ranked as the top basic cable series of 2010 among adults 18-49 and total viewers, respectively. The biggest new reality hit was also on cable, MTV's Jersey Shore, which launched at the very end of 2009. Here are some notes on the fall season, evaluation of the performance of the individual networks and a look ahead at midseason. - The biggest thing on TV this season has been football, which set ratings records for NBC and ESPN. It dwarfed the entertainment competition not only in live viewing but also in Live+7 where scripted series gain a significant chunk of their viewership. - It's nearly impossible to launch a new series at 8 PM. Two of the 3 new 8 PM series, NBC's Undercovers and ABC's My Generation, are history, while ABC's No Ordinary Family was on a ratings decline until moving to 9 PM where its numbers ... Read More »

Source: http://www.deadline.com/2010/12/analysis-lessons-of-the-fall-what-lies-ahead-for-the-big-4-broadcast-networks/

Tricia Vessey Trista Rehn Tyra Banks Uma Thurman Vanessa Hudgens