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After a rebound season last year, the big four broadcast networks have largely stayed the course in 2025-26. Stability is the play across the big four broadcasters (as it has been for quite some time), and that doesn’t look to change too much going into 2026-27.
One thing that did change this year: Sports programming has begun taking up more real estate in primetime, with NBC giving Tuesdays and post-NFL season Sundays to the NBA (to be followed by baseball in the spring and summer), ABC making Monday Night Football more or less a permanent feature of its fall lineup and Fox continuing to devote two nights (Friday and Saturday) to sports year round.
That means less space for comedies, dramas and unscripted shows, which could squeeze some marginally performing series out. On the other hand, NBC is also leading a small-scale revival of pilot season this year, suggesting the network is open to adding more scripted shows to its roster. New(ish) Paramount CEO David Ellison has also talked up the importance of linear networks (the company owns CBS) — though the company’s would-be acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery could have a big effect on the studio side of the TV business.
Below is THR’s annual guide to what’s returning, what’s not and what’s new at the broadcast networks. Bookmark this page for updates as the end of the season and the network upfronts approach.
