Streamers’ US scripted orders plummeted 40% in four years

Streamers reduced their US scripted commissions by 41% between 2022 and 2025 but orders from linear TV remained more resilient, according to data revealed today.

US-produced linear orders fell 26% from 1,773 shows in 2022 to 1,304 in 2025, but streamers almost halved their greenlights over the same period, with scripted commissions down from 1,144 to 678.

The findings from UK data firm Ampere Analysis also highlighted the impact of the 2022 surge of scripted orders, showing that US linear orders actually rose 11% between 2023 and 2025, up from 236 to 232.

The renewal of reliable comedies such as The Simpsons and American Dad helped to support linear’s relative strength veruss streamers, Ampere said.

Free-to-air (FTA) channels fared better than pay TV in the US, with greenlights from the embattled cable sector down 33% between 2022 and 2025 (1295 to 877).

In contrast, free-to-air broadcasters such as NBC, ABC, and CBS saw series orders drop 13% over the same period, from 408 to 352.

Ampere noted that thematic pay-TV channels such as Food Network and HGTV had particularly struggled to maintain ordering levels.

Elsewhere, the report underlined the reliance on trusted IP, with 52% of new scripted series orders from US broadcasters being franchise-based since 2024.

It also underlined that development cycles are evolving, with US commercial FTAs shifting away from the traditional seasonal development cycle of Q4 script orders and Q1 pilot orders, towards year-round development and ‘straight-to-series’ orders.

Eric Kurtsel, research manager for SME Media at Ampere Analysis, said the findings highlighted the importance of broadcast TV despite streaming’s growth.

“Post-peak TV, broadcast networks are taking a disciplined approach to primetime commissioning, focusing on proven genres and franchises that can connect with audiences across platforms.

“Viewers continue to engage with broadcast series on streaming platforms, suggesting their value extends beyond linear television and reinforcing broadcast TV’s foundational role in today’s content ecosystem.”

George Evans, Ampere’s senior researcher, added: “With streaming players now accounting for a greater share of content spend globally, free-to-air linear commissioners in the US have adopted a more flexible approach to ordering, putting fewer titles through the development and pilot process and instead working more responsively year-round.

“By responding more dynamically to audience appetite and leaning on scripted franchises with established fanbases, broadcast TV can continue to prove its worth in the seemingly streamer-dominated US market.”