TV show totals set a new record in 'peak' era
PASADENA, Calif. — The number of scripted TV series hit a new high in 2017, according to annual tally by researchers at FX Networks.
The combined number of scripted shows available on broadcast, basic-cable and pay-cable networks and streaming services reached 487, CEO John Landgraf said at the Television Critics Association Friday.
Landgraf has questioned whether TV can accommodate an ever-growing number of TV shows, both for financial and creative reasons.
The 2017 total of 487 scripted series represents a 69% increase from 2012 (when FX counted 288 shows) and is up 7% from last year (455 shows).
The total includes a record 153 series on broadcast networks (up from 146 in 2016), 175 on basic-cable (down from 183), 42 on pay-cable (up from 136) and 117 on streaming (up from 90).
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