Skip to main content

Streaming services blast past networks for the most scripted TV shows in 2018

Hill House from the Netflix original series 'The Haunting of Hill House'
Netflix

There is more television out there than ever, and streaming services are leading the charge. In its annual report, FX Networks reports that a staggering 495 original scripted TV series aired in 2018, with almost a third coming from streaming networks like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple.

That figure topped 2017’s total, which came in at 487 original scripted series, and set a brand new record for the number of scripted originals on the air. It’s not the only milestone in FX’s report, either. For the first time since FX started releasing these figures in 2014, streaming services aired more shows than basic cable or broadcast networks.

Recommended Videos

In 2018, streaming services produced 160 original scripted series, up from 117 the year before, making Netflix, Hulu, and the rest responsible for a 32 percent of all shows. By contrast, traditional networks aired 146 original scripted series, basic cable contributed 144, and premium cable networks like HBO and Showtime produced 45.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

That’s a lot of TV, but it’s still short of FX’s original estimates. In 2017’s report, FX CEO John Landgraf predicted that 520 scripted originals would hit the airwaves and the internet in 2018.

According to FX, the amount of original scripted content on streaming services has increased by an incredible 385 percent since 2014. For other types of outlets, the numbers aren’t quite as rosy. The output from broadcast networks fell one percent in the same time frame, while the number of original cable series shrunk almost 23 percent from its 2016 peak.

Expect those trends to continue for the foreseeable future. As the Hollywood Reporter observes, cable outlets like TV Land and E! stopped producing scripted originals in 2018, joining channels like A&E and MTV in a move away from expensive scripted programming.

Meanwhile, the number of streaming services continues to rise, as does the number of series that they produce. In 2019, Disney plans to launch Disney+, a streaming service featuring shows based on Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, among other content. AT&T has announced plans for a three-tiered on-demand streamer that would feature, among other content, TV shows from Warner Bros. and HBO. Apple is making a big push into original scripted content, too, with a series based on Isaac Asimov’s Foundation novels, a team-up between former Alias collaborators Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams, among multiple other titles.

In other words, there’s quite a bit of TV coming in the next year or two, and the marketplace doesn’t show signs of slowing down, so make sure that you have the right streaming device and the best TV that you can afford. You’re going to need them.

Chris Gates
Former Digital Trends Contributor
<a href="https://kecsukorejo.kendalkab.go.id/asset/-/situs-slot-resmi/">situs slot resmi</a>
The 10 most popular streaming services, ranked by subscriber count
The Netflix home screen.

When you're comparing the best streaming services, there are plenty of metrics to go by. Comparing them only by their number of subscribers isn't exactly a fair fight. After all not all streaming services are available worldwide. The number of subscribers doesn't exactly address the "worth" of a service, much less whether the app is easy to use. It doesn't even touch on whether the catalog of programming is good, or has what you want to watch on it, which is truly the best metric out there.

However, when we look at total subscriber counts, we can see how each service does from a global perspective. Considering we're looking at everything from streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu, to newer services like Apple TV Plus. For this post, we're not talking about free (FAST) streaming services or live TV streaming services, but the big VOD services.

Read more
The Digital Trends guide to FAST streaming services
Amazon Freevee.

When it comes to the best streaming services, your mind probably goes right to video-on-demand (VOD) services like Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video. They're super popular, and have tons of paying subscribers. However, they aren't the only streaming services worth checking out.

If paying for too many streaming services is biting into your budget, then it might be time to check out free advertising-based streaming television (FAST). But what are these magical "free" TV services? Let's find out.
What is FAST TV?
Think of it like the streaming version of broadcast TV, or watching cable at home. Shows have a set schedule, and everyone using the service is watching the same thing, using ads. Unlike live TV streaming services that you pay for, such as YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV, there's no up-front cost to the consumer. Everything on these services is supported by advertising — you just won't have access to the "good" channels like you would with paid streaming services.

Read more
Max streaming service: Price, movies, shows, and more
A reminder that HBO Max is becoming Max on May 23, 2023.

The Max streaming service (sometimes still referred to as HBO Max) is one of the best video streaming services available today with a massive catalog of the best new movies, best new shows, and original programming. It's got everything from classic HBO series like The Sopranos, alongside new favorites like the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon. Max is regularly adding new programming too, like the upcoming adaptation of Salem's Lot. Alongside everything HBO has to offer, Max also includes a horde of Discovery-branded content. There are also the rumors that Paramount+ could eventually merge with Max, which would result, of course, in even more programming! 

At the end of the day, Max is one of the most bountiful streaming platforms in town. The app can be accessed from just about any smart TV, streaming device, or web browser too. But how much will a Max subscription cost you? And is Max available outside the U.S.? This Max streaming service explainer includes the answers to both those questions, along with plenty other Max intel. 

Read more