As the network continues to place a high priority on its streaming service, NBC is exploring giving local TV stations the opportunity to air its 10 p.m. prime time program.
According to Variety, the changeover might happen in 2023 and put an end to a timeslot that has hosted famous shows like ER and Miami Vice – and during which favorites like Law & Order and Dateline are still broadcast.
The idea of turning over 10pm to local stations has been brought up before, but NBC now seems to be taking the idea more seriously as it invests money in its streaming service, Peacock.
The organization has not yet made a choice and has not even discussed it with its affiliate board, which is made up of representatives from all of the US television stations that are connected with NBC.
Scripted dramas like New Amsterdam, Chicago PD, Law & Order: Organized Crime, and the newest Quantum Leap revival are presently airing in that time period.
Even though it presently airs programs like Law & Order, NBC is considering eliminating its 10–11 p.m. hour and giving it back to regional television affiliates.
The position was previously held by ER, which debuted in 1994 and provided the public its first close-up view of Hollywood star George Clooney.
Between 1984 to 1990, Miami Vice, starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas, aired at 10 p.m. on NBC.
The coveted 10 o’clock spot is still held by Dateline, whose host Keith Morrison is shown in the picture, but that may soon change.
Although there are no indications that such shows have been canceled, they may be moved to a later time slot to open up a primetime slot or moved to Peacock.
According to reports, the choice was made to reduce expenses since eliminating the time slot will allow NBC to save tens of millions of dollars on rising content prices.
The decision may have an impact on NBC’s well-known discussion programs, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
To compete with rivals like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, Fallon’s program might be shifted from 11:30 p.m. to an earlier time like 11 or 10:30 p.m.
“We are constantly looking at solutions to ensure that our broadcast business remains as robust as possible,” a network spokesperson said. Our competitive advantage as a company is our capacity to deliver audiences their preferred content across broadcast, cable, and streaming.
According to reports, Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, is in charge of the negotiations that could result in the transfer of the position by 2023.
To compete with rivals like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon’s show may be shifted from 11:30 p.m. to an earlier time like 11 or 10:30 p.m.
The change has been seen within as well, with NBC strengthening Peacock, its streaming service, as streaming continues to draw sizable audiences.
Although networks like NBC, ABC, and CBS have traditionally devoted 3 hours a night to their own programming, network television’s appeal has declined in recent years, pushing executives to adapt.
The conversations about the time slots are reportedly being led by Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.
Additionally, Lazarus recently shortened the runtimes of late-night NBC shows by eliminating the 1:30–2 AM time period and returning it to affiliates.
In the past, primetime programs were a major source of revenue for networks, but lately, advertisers have flocked to streaming services like Hulu and HBO Max.
Internally, there has been a noticeable shift as NBC strengthens Peacock, while ABC and CBS have Disney+ and Paramount+, respectively.
The networks initially had a lot of competition from cable, but now they are up against streaming services that are continuing to steal viewers.
Local stations have filled the time gaps left vacant by the networks with their own shows, newscasts, and chat shows. The additional airtime would undoubtedly be welcomed by these stations because it generates advertising income.
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