Many have called this a Golden Age for television, bringing back memories of Must See TV of the ‘90s.

The big difference between the ‘90s and now, however, is the drastic amount of original series available to watch. With so many new shows starting up each year, it’s simply impossible to keep up with it all.

And that’s causing problems for networks – because with so many original shows on the air at one time, how can viewers possibly choose? How can everything be “must see”?

Many of these shows end up lost on DVRs. TiVo recently found that users record roughly 85 hours of programming per week. Only 20 percent of that content is viewed within three days. After the next two or more days, two-thirds of those episodes remain unseen. And that isn’t accounting for non-linear series, on Amazon, Netflix or Hulu, where viewers leave episodes and entire series on queues and lists for months at a time.

The TV industry is beginning to seriously worry that the amount of scripted programming is hovering over the edge of what’s good for anyone – viewers and creators alike.

“There definitely is way too much scripted programming,” said Nick Grad, president of original programming for FX Networks, which found that there were 371 scripted series in 2014, almost twice the number available in 2009.

And that number is only growing. Networks, seeing lower ratings due to more fragmented audiences, see original series as a way to lure in viewers, inspired by networks like AMC, who created an entire hit brand based on its unexpected scripted success.

The problem is that those shows are still being talked about and being added to people’s queues, so all of those veterans compete with every new show on the market for viewer time and attention. This fall’s Supergirl and Minority Report will compete against each other, but also against the Mad Mens and the Breaking Bads of the world.

Some networks, such as BBC America, are focused on creating a fandom instead of trying for higher ratings. The fandom for shows like Orphan Black, for example, can create word of mouth that brings in new fans over time and can create a successful brand for individual shows regardless of ratings.

Read more at Broadcasting & Cable.

Brief Take: Many programmers are still convinced that no matter how many series premiere each year, quality will always break through. But when there are so many quality shows coming out, how can anyone break through?

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