Scripted Series Surpass 400 Mark in the U.S.

LOS ANGELES: The combined total of scripted series on broadcast networks, basic and pay cable networks, and OTT services in the U.S. for the year was 409, nearly double from the count in 2009, according to a new study from FX Networks.

Earlier this year, John Landgraf, the CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions, addressed the proliferation of scripted series at the Television Critics Association press tour. He declared it the era of “peak TV,” predicting that the number of scripted series would surpass the 400 mark, while also speculating that the number of scripted series would reach its height either this year or in 2016. Now, FX has researched the exact figures to back up this claim.

At 409, the total number of scripted series in 2015 posted an increase of 9 percent over 2014 (376). Since 2009, the number of scripted series has increased 94 percent, rising from 211 to 409, with a 174 percent growth in scripted series on basic cable (181 vs. 66).

The greatest growth in the number of scripted series has come courtesy of basic cable networks, with a 484 percent increase since 2002 (181 vs. 31).

Julie Piepenkotter, the executive VP of research for FX Networks, commented: “The unprecedented increase in the number of scripted series has reached a new milestone in 2015 with a record 409, nearly doubling the total in just the past six years. This was the third consecutive year that scripted series count has grown across each distribution platform—broadcast, basic and pay cable, streaming—led by significant gains in basic cable and digital services. This statistic is staggering and almost unimaginable from where they were a decade ago.”