Peak TV Has Finally Peaked, According to FX's John Landgraf

Peak TV has finally reached its peak—several years later than initially predicted. At the 2015 TCA press tour in Pasadena, California, FX Networks chairman John Landgraf put the phrase "peak TV" into the pop culture lexicon to describe the overwhelming amount of content available on linear and streaming platforms. Now, seven years later, Landgraf predicts the era is coming to an end. During a Tuesday appearance at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, which went virtual due to a spike in the Covid-19 pandemic, Landgraf forecasted: "2022 will be the high watermark. ... It will mark the peak of the peak TV era." Landgraf noted that 2022 has brought a "tidal wave" of scripted programming due to "the bottleneck of Covid-delayed production." By FX's count, the total volume of U.S. scripted originals from Jan. 1 through the end of June is around 357. The FX chairman noted that the number is 16% higher than this time last year, which marked a new high of 559 originals. FX Details ‘Radically Increased’ Content Output Following Global Brand Evolution Landgraf doesn't expect this year's new record will be broken anytime soon. The FX chairman previously predicted the onslaught of TV would peak around 2018 or 2019, which didn't come to fruition. Though he acknowledged the previous guess was "way off" and it's possible that he'll have to "eat crow" again, the FX chairman has reasons behind his new forecast. In addition to the inflated numbers because of the Covid-19 delays, Landgraf noted that many of the major streaming services have already launched. "We've seen a notable set of additions of new streaming services join the party in the last couple of years. And I think that process is complete. So, in other words, I don't see new major purveyors of programming entering the scene as they have been continuously over the past decade or more. And in fact, there are some prior purveyors of television programming that are exiting the scene," Landgraf said. "You're at the point now where you're not really adding new suppliers, but you are, to some extent, subtracting suppliers." However, the FX chairman wants to be clear that he's not predicting a "precipitous drop" in TV volume. "I don't have a crystal ball, and I can't predict the future. But my guess is that since this year is going to be extraordinarily large, it'll end up maybe being the absolute peak," Landgraf said. A sneak peek at what's ahead Though peak TV may be reaching its end, the era has been good to FX, which has seen constant content expansion. Late last year, Disney repositioned FX as a global-programming brand that extends far beyond its two U.S. linear networks. Currently, the FX logo now appears ahead of its shows, much like Disney does with its other brands, including Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar. "I can now say with confidence that the FX original programming initiative has made a successful transition from primarily filling linear cable channels to reconstituting itself as a multi-platform brand whose comprehensive streaming home in the U.S. is Hulu," Landgraf said in his TCA remarks. He went on to praise several of the company's series, including Snowfall, which was FX's most-watched drama series until the premiere of Jeff Bridges' new show, The Old Man, in June. Additionally, Landgraf took time to acknowledge the recently renewed series The Bear, calling the show "arguably" the most critically acclaimed series of the year and "one of the most commercially successful comedies in both FX and Hulu's history." The FX chairman wouldn't share specific numbers, but he said the viewership "likely makes The Bear the most-watched half-hour show [FX] has ever had" as well as "one of the most-watched that Hulu's had." FX has several other entries in the peak TV pile for the second half of the year, including Welcome to Wrexham, The Patient, Fleishman Is in Trouble and Dear Mama. And Shogun, which Landgraf called the company's "biggest and most ambitious production ever," arrives sometime next year. Peacock Stays Flat With 13 Million Paid Subscribers, NBCU Sees ‘Choppy’ Ad Market

TCA Press Tour

Peak TV Has Finally Peaked, According to FX's John Landgraf

The exec who coined the phrase to describe television's overabundance predicts its long-delayed end

Bill Bradley

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Bill Bradley