A surprising shift is happening in the world of television. This year, the major broadcast networks revealed their 2026-27 lineups, and there’s a notable increase in scripted series compared to last season. It’s a shift that has caught many off guard, especially as streaming services, like Netflix, were banking on reduced support for scripted content.
In a recent presentation, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, highlighted a trend where many companies are focusing heavily on sports, cutting back on scripted shows. In past years, this was largely true, especially during the pandemic and the Hollywood strikes of 2023. However, 2026 is shaping up differently.
Significant Changes Across Networks
CBS is introducing three new dramas—Cupertino, NCIS: New York, and Einstein—along with a new comedy, Eternally Yours. They also canceled a couple of shows, resulting in an overall increase of 1.5 hours of scripted programming.
NBC is adding two dramas, The Rockford Files and Line of Fire, and two comedies, Sunset P.I. and Newlyweds. Like CBS, they’re also cutting one of each, leading to a net gain of 1.5 scripted hours.
Fox is bringing in two dramas, Baywatch and The Interrogator, and dropping one comedy, adding another 1.5 hours to their slate.
ABC stands out this year by adding The Rookie: North without canceling any existing scripted shows. Last year, they had a difficult season, cutting several programs while adding only a few. This year marks a turnaround.
Ari Goldman, ABC’s SVP of Content Strategy, expressed excitement over renewing all their scripted series, something no other network has achieved going into upfronts week.
What’s Behind This Scripted Comeback?
The reasons for the rise in scripted programming are not crystal clear. Some suggest that networks are recalibrating after last year’s pullback. For instance, NBC struggled with cancellations, losing five dramas and two comedies to make space for sports programming.
Rob Wade, Fox’s CEO, referred to the impact of the 2019 Disney acquisition of Fox assets. This deal changed their production model and allowed them to rebuild their scripted slate steadily over time.
However, the broadcast networks are not expanding their total hours of programming. They’re balancing sports, scripted content, and reality shows within a fixed number of primetime slots. This means CBS, for example, is adding new content but also cutting back on existing shows, which leads to moderate net gains.
Goldman confirmed that while they’re excited to add shows, some existing series may see their episode orders reduced. This reflects a broader trend across networks to benefit from increased episode libraries for streaming and international distribution.
Industry Insights and Impacts
With a rise in scripted shows comes a boost for the creative community. More job opportunities will open up for writers, actors, and production crews. This is crucial for the industry, especially as it recovers from pandemic losses. A vibrant scripted slate means more jobs, supporting families, and health coverage for workers.
The shift shows that while streaming services are influential, audiences still crave well-crafted stories. With networks recognizing this demand, we may see a renewed focus on quality content in the years to come.
For the latest data on television programming trends, check out Nielsen Ratings and stay informed about how this landscape continues to evolve.
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