Sci Fi TV Network Scorecard: NBC

Network Scorecard: Scoring the networks based on their history of airing and supporting sci fi and fantasy television shows.

Network Overview

NBC is one of the oldest broadcast networks, having aired sows as far back as the mid-40’s (the horror/mystery anthology Lights Out arguably counts as the oldest genre series to air on U.S. television). Over the years it has aired quite a number of well-known sci fi and fantasy shows (Star Trek, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Quantum Leap) and also had also had its fair share of high-profile cancellations (same shows). Over the past ten years, the network has been receptive to adding sci fi/fantasy entries to its schedule, but few of them have lasted very long (see the full list of shows below). The show with the longest tenure over that period was the supernatural drama Grimm which hung around for six seasons. But that one hardly counts as a genre powerhouse. Among the high-profile cancellations that occurred during the past ten seasons were Constantine, Revolution, Hannibal, Timeless, and just recently Manifest. The longest-lived of those were Manifest and Hannibal, both of which had three seasons.

What Type of Sci Fi Shows Does the Network Air?

As with most of the broadcast networks, NBC tends to greenlight genre entries that offer a twist on a more established Prime Time television formula. The procedural drama is the most common with Grimm, Manifest, Debris, Hannibal, and more incorporating that format. The Lost-style serialized drama with elements of mystery is common as well and is mixed with the procedural elements as we saw with Manifest and Debris or the used as the main formula as we saw with Revolution. The network has managed to throw out a few original ideas, though, most notably the fantasy comedy The Good Place. And it did allow that show to run for four seasons and wrap up its storylines. But for the most part it has preferred to play things safe and only two genre shows have lasted for four seasons or longer over the past ten years. NBC has one new show of interest on the schedule for the upcoming season–the Lost-like La Brea–but recent history suggests its chances of survival are not good. And in general, the Big Four broadcast networks seem to be shying away for genre entries of late.

How Quick is the Network to Cancel Sci Fi Shows?

The general thinking in the sci fi community is that the broadcast networks cancel sci fi and fantasy shows more often than other scripted programming, but the numbers do not always support that, especially for this network. First season shows overall were cancelled 66% of the time over the past ten years by NBC whereas freshman genre entries had only a slightly higher cancellation rate of 67% (the numbers are similar for the other Big Four broadcast nets). It just seems that sci fi shows are cancelled more often because there are fewer of them. The fact is that the broadcast networks just cancel a lot of shows, regardless of the genre. Of the 88 scripted series that debuted during the 2011-12 season or later on NBC, only 16 (18%) were sci fi/fantasy. And you can see from the numbers below that the cancellation rate over the first two seasons is not much different than the general population, though the chances of surviving for four seasons or more are lower as well.  [Note: The numbers below have been updated to include the Summer shows Reverie and The InBetween.]

NBC New Scripted Programming 2011-12 Season thru 2020-21 Season

Network Score

I give NBC a score of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). The network has been receptive to adding sci fi and fantasy shows and has even taken some chances (The Good Place, Dracula, You, Me, and the Apocalypse). It is no more likely to cancel genre entries over their first two seasons than it is with other scripted programming. Though they rarely last for four seasons or more. And in general, NBC acts much like the other Big Four broadcast nets and focuses primarily on the same-day ratings. Shows that do not perform well based on those numbers are more likely to get cancelled, even if other factors like delayed viewing or fan support suggest that standing by the show may ultimately prove profitable for the network. I expect more shows of interest to hit the schedule in future seasons (like La Brea), but fans may be reluctant to invest in them because the survival chances of any new show on the Big Four nets is low.

Sci Fi/Fantasy Shows Over the Past Ten Years

This is a list of the sci fi and fantasy shows that have debuted on NBC since the 2011-12 season sorted by how many seasons they lasted. Note that the network is not currently carrying any genre entries over to the upcoming 2021-22 season.

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