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Carissa’s Corner: Broadcast TV Is Changing — So Are We

It gets old hearing “thanks for reading,” but it means more now than ever.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that Google search results aren’t what they used to be. The same handful of big players dominate the top, and often, the content doesn’t even match what you were looking for.

The world of independent publishing is disappearing — fast.

(Carissa’s Corner)

Big business is erasing us through search manipulation, social media shadowbans, and the elevation of forums and mass-produced content over voices like ours here at TV Fanatic.

You may have noticed some changes on our site lately — new trending and comment widgets, a growing team of writers (many coming from broader outlets like MonstersandCritics.com), and more diverse coverage. 

These aren’t just updates; they’re part of our fight to stay alive in a digital space that’s increasingly unfriendly to independent thought.

We’re also doing what we’ve always done best: speaking for you — calling out networks for prioritizing profits over loyalty, for treating longtime fans like they’re disposable.

And now we’re entering a new phase.

As of today, we’ve seen three of the four major broadcast networks reveal their fall TV schedules, and frankly? It’s bleak.

  • NBC will only air two nights of scripted television — the rest is dominated by sports, especially as they ramp up for their NBA deal.
  • FOX offers just one night for dramas and one for (mostly animated) comedies.
  • Even CBS, long the home of traditional scripted lineups, is now committing one full night to unscripted reality.
  • ABC’s schedule hasn’t dropped yet, but we already know it leans heavily on unscripted fare.

That means if you’re someone who still watches TV the old-fashioned way — cable or over-the-air — your access to scripted drama and comedy is going to plummet.

And that means we, at TV Fanatic, are in flux too.

We’re going to be covering more streaming content. We’re going to be covering more (gasp) reality TV. And yes, we now have passionate reality TV fans on our team — because this is where the industry is headed, whether we like it or not.

But here’s the good news: we’re not just going to follow — we want to lead. And that means we need you.

  • We want to know what you’re watching.
  • What you care about.
  • What you wish more people were talking about.
  • What shows still deserve better, even if the networks have moved on.

So talk to us. Comment. Share. Sign up for our newsletter. Visit daily. Help us shape what comes next.

We’re not just surviving — we’re evolving. And if we do it right, we’ll come out stronger, together.

And this is just the beginning.

I’ll be using Carissa’s Corner more frequently to speak directly to you — our readers, our people. 

It’s a space where we can skip the press releases and straight-to-series breakdowns and just talk about what’s really on our minds. Sometimes, it’ll be about the industry, and sometimes, it’ll be about the community. But it’ll always be real.

Thanks for being here. Let’s keep going — together.

Bruno Santos

Thursday 5th of June 2025

Finally, someone is raising the resistance flag. We love watching drama TV shows. It's frustrating to follow a good show and have it canceled, while other garbage shows survive [The Cleaning Lady, Alert: Missing Persons Unit].

Michael

Tuesday 13th of May 2025

Yes. TV has been changing and some of us ended up being way ahead of the game. They started reality shows, expected us to watch, and to quote the Critical Drinker, we said "NAH it'll be fine." They stopped putting shows out on DVD, and we stopped caring about them. they started making shows that were woke, left leaning, that said womyn didn't need no man, and tried to push a message on us, and we stopped watching. They tried political messaging, shows that pushed interracial and gay relationships heavily, and children choosing to be gender confused, and we didn't watch. they started with criminals and illegals having more rights than legal American citizens, and off the TV went. Some of this had been going on for awhile, but it was more subtle, so we didn't care. Now we are covering the View and not the Five or Greg Gutfeld? I wish those luck that want to pay for streaming. If my Dad wasn't paying for Netflix or amazon, I wouldn't have them(and I watch very little of them). People are so desperate for free TV that ratings mean nothing now. I own tons of stuff on DVD, and lots of it I haven't watched or I have forgotten so many episodes that a lot of them would be new. Free movies are wonderful. Roku is wonderful. I just have to buy a new remote.

Sweet Amy

Tuesday 13th of May 2025

I grew up on a farm, we had CBS, and occasionally NBC, but they were snowy channels. We had an antenna on the roof, rabbit ears, and no remote. I have been a lifelong fan of broadcast TV. Back then I loved shows like The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Carol Burnett Show, and Charlie's Angels. Nothing has changed, I still love my scripted dramas, and the few comedies worth actually watching now. I watch a ton of TV, I love it! I get invested in the shows, the characters almost feel like friends, and it is a huge comfort to me. I know that may sound stupid, or pathetic, but growing up mostly a latchkey kid probably has a lot to do with it.

Anyway, here are all the broadcast shows that I watch currently. The NCIS trio, the Chicago trio, the Law & Order trio, and the former FBI trio, Tracker, Found, Will Trent, High Potential, Brilliant Minds, The Rookie, The Hunting Party, The Cleaning Lady, Alert: MPU, George & Mandy, Elsbeth, Matlock, Fire Country, 9-1-1, S.W.A.T., Sullivan's Crossing, Murder in a Small Town, Shifting Gears, and Watson. I do watch a number of streaming shows too, like When Calls the Heart, When Hope Calls, The Way Home, Shrinking, Virgin River, Ginny & Georgia, Sweet Magnolias, Criminal Minds, Landman, Tulsa King, Lioness, Daredevil, Paradise, The Night Agent, and The Lincoln Lawyer.

I do not like reality TV. I may watch Dancing with the Stars in the fall, but only because I love Robert Irwin, and I would love to see him win, just like his sister Bindi did 10 years ago. Once in a while I will watch a game show like The Price Is Right, but I still miss Bob Barker. Personally, I think shows like Big Brother, Survivor, and The Kardashians are stupid, but that is just my opinion. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, and I respect that. I am one of the few Americans that does not like football. I like basketball, but no one will ever compare to Michael Jordan in my eyes. Tennis and Gymnastics have always been my thing, but they don't get much love from broadcast networks. I am not at all happy that NBC is devoting an entire night to basketball over the next 11 years, and am upset that they cancelled Found, and The Irrational to make room for it. If they keep this up they should rename their network The National Basketball Channel/NBC. With the slew of reality shows, and increased primetime sports coverage, I fear it won't be too long before any scripted shows left will start using AI/robots, and don't even bother paying flesh & blood actors and actresses.

Sweet Amy

Tuesday 13th of May 2025

@Carissa Pavlica, I giggled, and nodded my head when I read your reply. I love that you can relate to how I feel.

I watched Vega$, and I definitely understand the love of Robert Urich. He was hot! ❤️ I loved Simon & Simon. I met Jameson Parker in the mid-80’s at a small organic tomato farm (Longwind Farm) in East Thetford, Vermont. He was even more handsome in person! ❤️

I really love the old TV shows, so if broadcast networks are going to continue down this dark path, I will be binging those as well.

Carissa Pavlica

Tuesday 13th of May 2025

It's almost like you're describing me. Same shows as a kid. Hate reality. Survivor (the desperation to be seen? OMG) and those others? Embarrassing as hell. Football? Hell no. I think basketball is particularly egregious. Super tall men throwing a ball into a hoop barely over their heads on a court that takes about three strides to cross. Where's the game in that? Sooooo boring. It's a super scary world for me right now, which might be why I'm watching Vega$ on DVD. Dan Tanna was HOT. And he's comforting as hell for the three seasons I've got with him. Just bought Simon & Simon. If TV wants to let me down, then I'll let it down, too. I'll retreat to my happy place, and drag the rest of you kicking and screaming with me. LOL

The Ultimate Fangirl

Monday 12th of May 2025

I still watch broadcast shows, but I'm also watching a bunch of British shows (including 99% of what PBS airs on Sunday nights). Ad also trying to find time to watch my ever growing DVR space of unwatched Great Performances and Nova episodes, The Newsroom, The Pacific and Sex and the City episodes. (all 3 are old HBO shows).

I've mostly moved on from just about every cancelled show I've had on broadcast. But 2 that ended on cliffhangers, Scorpion and Whiskey Cavalier, still stick with me. (Scorpion was just 1 Season away from hitting episode 100, and Whiskey was by far 1 of the best ABC shows I had ever watched!)

Sweet Amy

Tuesday 13th of May 2025

@The Ultimate Fangirl, I loved Scorpion and Whiskey Cavalier! Whiskey Cavalier should deserved many more seasons, but I miss both of them a lot.

Azarkhan

Monday 12th of May 2025

It would be cool if you could find someone to cover K-world and other Asian shows.

Bruno Santos

Thursday 5th of June 2025

@Azarkhan, I can't digest K-Shows at all.

Azarkhan

Thursday 15th of May 2025

@Janet, I love how K-shows seamlessly weave together elements of romance, comedy, drama and fantasy as in “Alchemy of Souls”. Plus while K-shows are often romantic they are never vulgar, which is refreshing. “Crash Landing on You” is a great example of that.

Cindy

Thursday 15th of May 2025

@Azarkhan and @Janet, I am a recent convert to Kdramas and yes they are really good.

Janet

Wednesday 14th of May 2025

@Azarkhan, I agree with you. I am completely addicted to Kdramas. They have so many genres. Legal, thriller, police procedurals, horror, melodrama. A lot of people would also love them if they could just be encouraged to not let tne subtitles deter them. I watch hours and hours of Kdramas. I am a older American and maybe not the demographic of this page but am an avid reader of tv news

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