Why are TV shows these days only 10 episodes?

[nec1912]

In the 90's to 2012 TV shows where at the very least 20 episodes some even more!!

Why only 10 episodes for lot of TV shows today?

The internet and streaming is killing the TV so they cannot do 20 episodes any more?

[Monterey Jack]

Personally, I prefer the 10-13 episode template for TV show these days...a lot less filler that way.

[alvarez468]

It depends if you ask me, I like shows that are 20 plus if the driving force isn't just one major enemy or a single plot device they are working towards.
For example I wish walking dead wasn't 16 episodes long, don't get me wrong I love walking dead but there is some fluff there sometimes. If they were to cut it down to 10 episodes the seasons could be more solid.

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[Foggy]

Originally Posted by nec1912

In the 90's to 2012 TV shows where at the very least 20 episodes some even more!!

Why only 10 episodes for lot of TV shows today?

The internet and streaming is killing the TV so they cannot do 20 episodes any more?

Because they found out the longer shows run, the more viewers they lost as it went on, plus as TV shoes get bigger, budgets have to be reigned in, leading to tighter season.

[Gamma_Winstead]

The internet and streaming are making shows more viable than ever. The big four (five if you include CW) are still 22-25 episodes a season.

[sk33tr]

i remember when fall was the time for new seasons and new shows.

summer was the time of reruns.

now, they have spring seasons, summer seasons, fall seasons, and winter seasons. i'm not complaining too much about that as i like that i can get new episodes of shows year-round. but sometimes i miss those longer seasons as i don't like waiting another year to finish a certain story-line when there are only 10-12 episodes to a season.

also, a hour show is now closer to 30 minutes than they were 10-15 years ago. there are WAY too many commercials. i realize they have to pay for the shows and advertising is their main way to collect money. but geez, there are as many commercial minutes as there are show minutes in an episode now. which makes me even more thankful for my dvr.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by sk33tr

i remember when fall was the time for new seasons and new shows.

summer was the time of reruns.

now, they have spring seasons, summer seasons, fall seasons, and winter seasons. i'm not complaining too much about that as i like that i can get new episodes of shows year-round. but sometimes i miss those longer seasons as i don't like waiting another year to finish a certain story-line when there are only 10-12 episodes to a season.

also, a hour show is now closer to 30 minutes than they were 10-15 years ago. there are WAY too many commercials. i realize they have to pay for the shows and advertising is their main way to collect money. but geez, there are as many commercial minutes as there are show minutes in an episode now. which makes me even more thankful for my dvr.

There have been episodes of the walking dead and other "hour long" shows that are only 39 minutes. That's 21 minutes of commecerials. Enough for an entire episode of a half hour sitcom!

[sk33tr]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

There have been episodes of the walking dead and other "hour long" shows that are only 39 minutes. That's 21 minutes of commecerials. Enough for an entire episode of a half hour sitcom!

argh! i know. and it just pisses me off.

man, the amount of stuff they could fit in if they actually showed about 40-45 minutes of actual show content.

[nec1912]

Originally Posted by sk33tr

argh! i know. and it just pisses me off.

man, the amount of stuff they could fit in if they actually showed about 40-45 minutes of actual show content.

Well my biggest concern is networks don't have cash any more for 20 episode per season any more. And especially if it is not broadcast primetime networks.

Also the hay days of running two spin off shows going on at the same time are over and never will come back ever again. Like CSI Miami, CSI New York or stargate SG-1 and stargate Atlantis.

Well I have heard netflix sponsoring shows most shows are still tied to networks.

And with so many people canceling cable TV these days I'm surprised networks can stay in business!!

The TV being filled up with cheap reality TV these days just make the problem worse. I don't think we will ever go back to the golden time of TV of 90's and 2000's.

[imsounoriginal]

Yeah I was gonna say, it's the budgets. Episodes are becoming more expensive, studios/networks only have so much money to go around. And frankly I prefer shorter seasons with stronger stories over longer seasons that meander a bit too much. Something like a sitcom is fine with 22 episodes, but narrative series I prefer being in the 10-12 range.

[whiteberry]

It's because it's cheaper to produce. An actor gets paid per episode so a 10 episode season will be significantly cheaper to make than a 25 episode season.

[MorrisJay]

Rick and morty has even less episodes it's not fair

[Erzengel]

Originally Posted by MorrisJay

Rick and morty has even less episodes it's not fair

Quality over quantity.

[surfdude12]

Less episodes = More Seasons = More Boxsets = More $$$$$

[Todd Tomorrow]

The shorter seasons were brought in by premium channels like HBO and Showtime. They spent more money and care on fewer episodes instead of the sausage factory approach of Network TV. Hence what is known as The Golden Age of Television was born, where the quality of TV now outstrips that of Hollywood movies, attracting major talent behind and in front of the camera. The streaming services adopted that model because it worked and then Network TV caught up. There still are Network TV shows with longer seasons, but they rarely get the he same acclaim as shows with fewer episodes.

This should be in the TV forum, btw.

[philzilla]

Cost - risk calculations.