• by Wayne Friedman , May 15, 2017

Going into the upfront advertising period, Fox, like other TV networks, still struggles with a new proposed TV measurement system that includes digital TV airings of TV programs.

Joe Marchese, the network’s new president of advertising revenue, speaking during an upfront press call, says the network isn’t “comfortable” with Nielsen’s new TCR -- Total Content Ratings.  In regards for the new season, he said “we will be looking for alternatives.” He didn’t go into details.

Fox, like other networks, has seen continued steep audience declines this past season when it comes to the current measurement currency: Nielsen C3, the average commercial minute ratings plus three days of time-shifting.

For example, Todd Juenger, senior media analyst for Bernstein Research, says during the first quarter of this year, average viewership of its entertainment programs -- in time-weighted average audience minutes -- showed a 16% decline.

Through May 7, Fox posted a 1.9 rating/7 share among 18-49 viewers -- averaging 5.99 million overall viewers. Fox is in second place to NBC among 18-49ers,  with much of its gain to that position coming due to airing of the Super Bowl in the first quarter of this year.

For the upcoming 2017-2018 season, Fox will start up four new dramas -- two of which will start in the fall --  as well as two comedies and two live musical events.

Fox is still looking for another big reality TV show,  possibly a music-oriented show to replace its longtime “American Idol.” Commenting on new version of “American Idol” now starting up on ABC in 2018, Dana Walden, chairman/CEo of Fox Television Group said:

“We thought it was too early to bring it back,” she says. “It felt it would be fraudulent to bring back the show that quickly”, especially after all the promotional effort Fox put into the final “Idol” season a year ago. Walden added Fox didn’t’ see the enthusiasm among viewers and that, “we thought it would be better in 2020.

For the fall, “The Gifted,” a family adventure series, will starts on Mondays at  9 p.m. after returning “Lucifer.” Produced with Marvel Entertainment, the show is about a suburban couple whose ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers.

On Thursday at 9 p.m., after “Gotham,” comes a new show from “Family Guy”’s creator Seth MacFarlane “The Orville” is a live-action, one-hour series set 400 years in the future that follows the adventures -- humorous problems of everyday life of The Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship.

“Ghosted” is a new comedy for Sunday at 8:30 p.m., about a cynical skeptic and a genius ‘believer’ in the paranormal, who are recruited to investigate unexplained phenomena in Los Angeles.

Other shows starting this season: “The Resident,” a drama about three doctors at different stages of their careers and a dedicated young nurse; “LA To Vegas”, a workplace comedy about an airline crew and the eccentric passengers; “9-1-1”, a drama about the lives and careers of first responders – cops, paramedics, firefighters.

New musicals for Fox include “A Christmas Story” for December 2017 and sometime after that, a live musical version of  “Rent.”

Following is the Fox fall 2017 prime-time schedule:

FOX FALL 2017 SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          LUCIFER  

9:00-10:00 PM                        THE GIFTED (new)

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                              LETHAL WEAPON

9:00-9:30 PM                              THE MICK

9:30-10:00 PM                            BROOKLYN NINE-NINE

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          EMPIRE

9:00-10:00 PM                        STAR

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          GOTHAM

9:00-10:00 PM                         THE ORVILLE (new)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          HELL’S KITCHEN

9:00-10:00 PM                        THE EXORCIST

SATURDAY

7:00-10:30 PM                        FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM                              NFL ON FOX

7:30-8:00 PM                              THE OT / BOB’S BURGERS

8:00-8:30 PM                              THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM                                  GHOSTED (new)

9:00-9:30 PM                              FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM                            THE LAST MAN ON EARTH