Getting more real
Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/3/2000
As shown in the chart below, movies, reality programming, newsmagazines and game shows (in the form of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) have gobbled up a lot of prime time real estate on the Big 4's fall schedules since 1996, limiting slots for sitcom and drama producers.
The figures below don't count the XFL, which begins on NBC this winter, or any of the offerings on UPN, The WB or Pax. The figures also omit ABC's Monday Night Football.
The only reality shows scheduled for this fall are Fox's Cops and America's Most Wanted, but with the success of Survivor and the buzz surrounding Big Brother, networks are hunting new reality formats, possibly for midseason placement.
Hours in: | '96 | '97 | '98 | '99 | '00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sitcoms/Dramas* | 57 | 57 | 57 | 55 | 48 |
Reality/Newsmags/ | |||||
Game Shows | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Movies | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 16 |
*Category includes animated series and variety shows. | |||||
Source: TN Media |
