• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, January 19, 2024

In what appears to be the first significant crash in the supply of original scripted U.S. TV series since the industry first began benchmarking so-called "Peak TV," the number of seasons released in 2023 fell 24% from 2022, according to an analysis released this morning by Ampere.

While there was a material 7.3% dip in the supply of original scripted series released in 2020, according to FX Networks -- which began benchmarking the Peak TV phenomenon in 2009 -- that was attributed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the TV production supply chain, and it quickly bounced back in succeeding years.

"2021 and 2022 are the high watermark of 633 - the pinnacle of Peak TV," the Ampere analysis reads, adding: "The number of series ordered was in an even more precipitous decline than releases. And due to the time lag between series being green-lit and hitting screens, this number is unlikely to rise in 2024."

The Ampere analysis shows the crash in new series releases is across-the-board among television distribution platform type, but commercial FTA (free-to-air) broadcasters saw the biggest percentage decrease: -57%.