Why Is ABC Hoarding So Many Scripted Exhibits for Midseason?

By now, you’ve probably already seen ABC’s fall 2026 schedule and doubtless have a number of ideas about the way it’s been structured. I do know I do.

On paper, ABC’s 2026 to 2027 lineup creates an odd contradiction. It one way or the other feels each crowded and underutilized on the similar time.

The factor that stands out to me is just not a scarcity of scripted programming. If something, ABC appears to be like prefer it has extra scripted sequence within the pipeline than it really plans to air within the fall.

With the order of a Texas-set Gray’s Anatomy spinoff, ABC now has six scripted sequence lined up for midseason.

That slate contains Excessive Potential, The Rookie, The Rookie: North, Shifting Gears, and Will Trent, alongside the brand new Gray’s Anatomy extension.

And that’s the place I begin to query the technique.

If you zoom out, ABC’s fall schedule nonetheless carries solely a handful of scripted hours, whereas a good portion of its lineup is being held again for midseason.

Mondays are clearly off the desk because of Monday Evening Soccer, which instantly removes considered one of broadcast TV’s greatest actual property blocks.

However even with that constraint, there are nonetheless open home windows throughout the week, together with Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, the place further scripted launches may realistically sit.

As an alternative, ABC appears to be concentrating a big portion of its scripted slate in midseason, nearly as whether it is attempting to batch its launches fairly than unfold them throughout the 12 months.

I perceive the logic behind that in principle. A concentrated rollout could make advertising and marketing extra environment friendly, scale back competitors between new reveals, and provides every launch a clearer highlight.

However from a viewer perspective, and perhaps that is simply me, it additionally creates a visibility downside.

If you’re launching six scripted sequence in a compressed window, it turns into troublesome for every one to get sufficient area to ascertain itself.

Excessive Potential Is on a Harmful Trajectory on ABC

That concern feels even sharper with Excessive Potential, which is heading into its first midseason return.

It has not been off the air lengthy but, however by the point it comes again, the hole will begin to matter extra when it comes to viewers reminiscence and momentum.

For a more recent sequence nonetheless constructing a constant viewer base, even a single cycle off the air can interrupt that behavior loop greater than networks are likely to assume.

On the opposite aspect, you might have reveals like The Rookie and Will Trent, which have confirmed they will land in nearly any slot ABC offers them and nonetheless discover an viewers.

These are the sorts of dependable performers most networks would profit from utilizing extra persistently throughout the 12 months fairly than selectively.

Then there may be the Gray’s Anatomy universe, which operates in its personal class fully.

It stays one of many few broadcast franchises that also carries weight throughout each linear and streaming, at the same time as conventional scores matter lower than they as soon as did.

Which is why I don’t absolutely purchase the concept its spinoff essentially must be held for midseason safety.

A sequence with that stage of built-in consciousness may probably land nearly anyplace on the schedule and nonetheless generate consideration.

What retains standing out to me is the broader sample. ABC is just not brief on scripted content material. It’s brief on scripted presence throughout the complete broadcast 12 months.

And that’s what makes the technique really feel barely off.

Broadcast tv retains speaking about consistency and ordinary viewing, however the scheduling nonetheless treats scripted programming like one thing to be rigorously portioned out fairly than steadily delivered.

Perhaps there are completely rational inside causes for it.

Funds management, danger administration, promotional bandwidth. All of that issues extra behind the scenes than it does on a schedule grid.

However from the place I’m sitting, it nonetheless appears like ABC is sitting on a stronger scripted slate than it’s really utilizing in actual time.

What are your ideas on the state of affairs, TV Fanatics? Do you consider that ABC may have slotted in some extra scripted sequence to its fall schedule?

Nonetheless right here? You’re our form of folks.
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