How Yellowstone Became a Rare Linear Smash Hit, 4 Seasons In

Inside fall TV’s biggest success story, which is morphing into a massive ViacomCBS franchise

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As the TV industry reconfigured itself in the past year to revolve around streaming, and cord-cutting accelerated during the pandemic, it seemed that the door had closed on linear scripted hit shows that could draw huge audiences. That went double for basic cable, where most of the highest-profile series had long since shifted to streaming services.

But Yellowstone never got the memo—and has become fall TV’s biggest success story, and a rare linear smash hit. This month, Season 4 of the Paramount Network drama—starring Kevin Costner as the patriarch of a family that controls the country’s largest contiguous ranch—debuted to staggering numbers.

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