Very few people at the Big Four broadcasters have had much to laugh about recently when it comes to the sorry state of the network sitcom.

Now, it’s cable’s turn to cry.

The broadcasters’ consistent failure over the past several seasons to launch new comedies that connect with audiences and demonstrate prolonged staying power means that cable networks face a reality where there are barely any comedies available for off-net syndication.

And by “barely any”, we mean “just one”: ABC’s 20th Television-produced Last Man Standing, according to Ad Age.

One additional network comedy, Universal Television’s The Mindy Project, has racked up an episode count that puts it about a season shy of the traditional period when a series starts being pitched for syndication.

Beyond those two: tumbleweeds.

Cable networks are now facing a costlier new normal where they have to foot the bill for more original programming to plug the time slots that would have been filled by syndicated comedies.

Two potential causes for optimism for the cable networks: investing more in originals could end up boosting a network’s brand in the long run, as viewers start associating cable networks with great content that they can’t just stream on Netflix or Amazon.

A trio of three broadcast comedies that could appeal the cable channels also sits on the distant horizon of late 2017: The Goldbergs (Sony Pictures Television), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Universal TV), and Mom (Warner Bros. TV).

Read More: Ad Age

Brief Take: Cable networks—such as TBS and USA—that want to focus on comedy face an uphill battle when it comes to tying their brands to comedy in the near future. They’ll either have to turn to originals, which present a challenge to launch and promote, or keep running aging comedies. Meanwhille, the pressure is on the studios to come up with the next big break-out sitcom.

Tags:


  Save as PDF