2026-27 Broadcast Network Season Preview: Sports Dominance, Scripted Revivals, and New Series Orders
The major broadcast networks have maintained stability in the 2025-26 season, with a focus on sports programming taking up more primetime slots. NBC, ABC, and Fox have dedicated specific nights to sports, potentially impacting the space for comedies and dramas. However, NBC is exploring a revival of pilot season, indicating a willingness to add more scripted shows. Paramount CEO David Ellison's emphasis on linear networks, including CBS, may be influenced by the potential Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition.
The annual guide by THR outlines the returning, canceled, and new shows on the broadcast networks. Renewed scripted shows include "911," "Abbott Elementary," and "The Rookie," while unscripted series like "American Idol" and "Shark Tank" continue to entertain viewers. The upcoming season will see new series like "Boston Blue" and "CIA" joining the lineup, promising fresh content for audiences.
Fox's scripted lineup features popular shows like "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy," along with new additions like "Best Medicine" and "Memory of a Killer." Unscripted programs like "The Masked Singer" and "Hell's Kitchen" offer engaging reality TV experiences. The network's upcoming series orders include dramas like "Cupertino" and "Einstein," adding diversity to its programming slate.
NBC's scripted roster includes hits like "Chicago Fire," "Law & Order," and "St. Denis Medical," catering to a wide range of viewers. Unscripted shows like "The Voice" and "The Wall" provide entertainment and competition for audiences. With no new series orders announced yet, NBC continues to focus on its existing successful lineup for the upcoming season.
In conclusion, the broadcast networks are gearing up for the 2026-27 season with a mix of returning favorites and new additions across scripted and unscripted genres. Viewers can expect a blend of sports, dramas, comedies, and reality shows to keep them entertained in the upcoming television season. Stay tuned for updates as the networks prepare for the end of the season and the upfronts.