Network Scorecard: Scoring the networks based on their history of airing and supporting sci fi and fantasy television shows.
Network Overview
CBS is arguably the oldest broadcast network having first aired programming (though not a regular schedule) in the early 1930’s during the early experimental phase of this new television thing. It is best known as the home of the original Twilight Zone (as well as the 80s revival) and has aired other notable genre entries such as The Wild Wild West, Beauty and the Beast (the 80s version), Ghost Whisperer, Jericho, and Person of Interest. But this network is also notorious for being averse to genre programming, and for pulling the plug quickly on shows that do not perform up to its lofty standards (CBS cancelled the quasi-sci fi series Eleventh Hour in the 2008-09 season despite ending the year in the TOp 25). Over the past ten years, it has typically been the most-watched network based on total viewers, and its audience skews towards the older demographic (people in their 40s, 50s, and above). Those viewers tend to respond well to shows that fit the Prime Time-friendly formula and not so much to those that take chances.
What Type of Sci Fi Shows Does the Network Air?
More so than any other network, CBS sticks close to formulaic shows that usually fit within the procedural or sitcom genres. Cop shows and/or crime dramas have dominated the network’s schedule for years, especially those with lots of letters in the name (CSI, NCIS, FBI, SWAT, etc.). Next to that, sitcoms fill out most of the rest of the scripted lineup. There is definitely not much room for sci fi and fantasy entries, and the few that make it to the schedule of late usually have to adhere to the formulas above. Shows like MacGyver (which barely counts as a genre entry), Evil, Person of Interest, and Ghost Whisperer all heavily incorporated procedural elements. CBS did make a stab at the superhero genre with Supergirl a few years back but quickly shuffled that off to The CW (which it partially owns) when the viewership numbers came in below expectations. The network has given sci fi entries more of a chance in the Summer months over the past decade with shows like Under the Dome, Extant, and Zoo, and those have typically lasted longer than a single season. But none count as strong sci fi entries and almost all of its Summer sci fi shows have been cancelled after a couple of seasons or more without the chance to wrap up their storylines.
How Quick is the Network to Cancel Sci Fi Shows?
If you include the CBS Summer shows, then the cancellation rate of genre entries by the network does not look too bad. 50% were cancelled after the first season with an additional 14% cancelled after the second. For all scripted shows on the network, the cancellation rate is 45% after one season and 15% after two. But the Summer shows had streaming deals that kept them going (often despite low ratings) and if you take them out of the equation the numbers are much worse. Of the eight genre entries that have debuted on the network during non-Summer months since the 2011-12 season, six (75%) did not make it past their first season on the network (which includes dinging the CBS for shuffling Supergirl and Evil to affiliated networks). The two that were not cancelled after one season–Person of Interest and MacGyver–did manage to stick around for five seasons each.
CBS New Scripted Programming 2011-12 Season thru 2020-21 Season
| All Scripted Shows | ||
| Series Count | 74 | |
| Cancelled after 1 Season | 34 | 45.9% |
| Cancelled after 2 Seasons | 11 | 14.9% |
| Cancelled after 3 Seasons | 5 | 6.8% |
| 4 Season or More | 17 | 23.0% |
| Sci Fi/Fantasy | ||
| Series Count | 14 | |
| Cancelled after 1 Season | 7 | 50.0% |
| Cancelled after 2 Seasons | 2 | 14.3% |
| Cancelled after 3 Seasons | 2 | 14.3% |
| 4 Season or More | 2 | 14.3% |
Network Score
I give CBS a score of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). It is true that the network has tried to get some sci fi entries on its schedule in the Summer months, but the quality of those was specious at best and all were eventually cancelled. During the regular season, the network requires most genre entries to stick close to Prime Time-friendly formulas, and even then rarely keeps them around long. Network decision-making still adheres closely to old school thinking that focuses heavily on the same-day ratings, and genre entries usually end up on the wrong side of that. Even when a show like fan-favorite Limitless followed the procedural formula and produced decent numbers for its timeslot (along with strong delayed viewing gains), the network was unwilling to support it. CBS does not greenlight many sci fi/fantasy shows (with fewer and fewer in the Summer of late), and those that do hit the schedule have a low chance of surviving.
Sci Fi/Fantasy Shows Over the Past Ten Years
This is a list of the sci fi and fantasy shows that have debuted on CBS 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 since Evil was shifted over to Paramount+ and MacGyver was cancelled.
| Series | Start | Seasons |
| MacGyver | 2016-17 | 5 |
| Person of Interest | 2011-12 | 5 |
| Under the Dome | 2012-13 | 3 |
| Zoo | 2014-15 | 3 |
| Extant | 2013-14 | 2 |
| Salvation | 2016-17 | 2 |
| A Gifted Man | 2011-12 | 1 |
| Angel from Hell | 2015-16 | 1 |
| Blood & Treasure | 2018-19 | 1 |
| Braindead | 2015-16 | 1 |
| Evil | 2019-20 | 1 |
| Intelligence | 2013-14 | 1 |
| Limitless | 2015-16 | 1 |
| Supergirl | 2015-16 | 1 |
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