FOLLOW US

For the last few years television viewers have been shrinking. No, not in physical size. We’re all the same height, thank you very much. But we’re shrinking in viewership. With competition from Netflix, Hulu, and other streamable services, traditional TV shows don’t have the appeal that they once used to. Adding in the fact that streamable services cost MUCH less than cable TV, it’s no surprise that major networks are worried about the smaller audiences.

According to the New York Times, the types of show that are still doing okay are shows that involve Doctors, or medical dramas, and shows produced by Dick Wolfe (*cough cough* Law and Order: Special Victims Unit *cough cough*).

Medical dramas have always had large audiences. Back in the day, House, carried Fox. Then there’s ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, which is in its 15th season thanks to its cult like following. This year a handful of new medical dramas popped up on each of the major Networks, hoping for a grand slam with viewers.

ABC has The Good Doctor that follows an autistic surgical resident and his unique medical cases. Also in its second season, the Good Doctor seems to be a favorite with viewers.

Fox is resting easy on Monday nights with their new hit show 9-1-1. In its second season 9-1-1 is now ranked as the fifth most popular entertainment show on television.

NBC is also reveling in ratings with it’s new medical drama, New Amsterdam.

If you’re not a fan of medical dramas, I’m sorry. They seem to be growing in number and staying because American viewers tend to love them.

Although there are some successes, there are more failures. According to the Wall Street Journal, more than 1 million people cancelled their subscription to cable and satellite TV in the last few months. This is a trend called cord cutting. Many consumers don’t see the benefit of traditional television services, and as I mentioned above, are turning to streaming services instead. In fact, cord cutting is becoming more and more popular with 10 million former subscribers cutting there cord in the last 8 years.

When you consider all the variables, the outlook for TV ratings doesn’t look too great. In this writer's opinion, the way television is now, will start to rapidly change in the next few years.