As the industry was rocked last year by layoffs, budget cuts, runaway production, a decline in volume and an overall malaise, one mantra kept popping up: “Survive ‘til ’25!” It was a bit of a hopeful rhyme, as Hollywood looked for some light at the end of this turbulent tunnel.
Well, 2025 is here. And there indeed are some hopeful signs in the air: The broadcast networks are coming off a promising fall, boasting several new breakout performers (“High Potential,” “Matlock” atop that list). A bevy of hit shows are finally returning to our screens with new seasons after a long delay — more on that in a moment. The post-Hollywood strikes shakeout seems to be stabilizing. And there’s a sense that maybe we’ve seen the worst of things — after all, how much more can the industry cut without hitting bone?
Maybe don’t answer that. Because let’s face it, “Survive ‘til ‘25” was always a bit too optimistic. This generational shift of how content is produced, delivered and consumed is still in mid-transition. There’s plenty of lingering legacy media (you know, the stuff that actually made gobs of money in the glory days) still holding on. And now there’s a new Trump administration that promises to stir plenty of chaos and anxiety in the coming year.
There are plenty of burning questions facing a business in transition; as we hit the quarter century mark (already!), here are a few of them to keep in mind on the TV side this year.
What will happen to basic cable?
This promises to be the most anticipated question of the year, as NBCUniversal sheds its once-mighty cablers like USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, Syfy, E! and Golf Channel into a separate entity — currently dubbed “SpinCo” — while Bravo remains in the parent company with NBC and Peacock. Will those channels, which have already been neglected and stripped for parts, find new life now that they need to exist on their own? Or will they continue as zombie channels, as SpinCo simply siphons their dollars until the ad business completely collapses? Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery has split its assets into two, with the cable network business in its own bucket. But studios chief Channing Dungey has just taken over those channels, and many of them still supply necessary programming for the company’s streamer Max. Not all of them, however, and WBD could stand to lose a few long-dead channels. And then there’s Paramount Global, saddled with so many lifeless channels. The company’s new parent Skydance has got to figure out what to do with these once-mighty outlets, now on autopilot.
What will Paramount look like under Skydance?
Speaking of Paramount and its floundering cablers, CBS has ironically become the company’s crown jewel. Like we mentioned, broadcast is still doing OK, and CBS chief George Cheeks is still seen as the most likely survivor of the three-headed Paramount Global CEO structure once Skydance fully takes over. What that means for the businesses currently led by Chris McCarthy (like those lingering cablers) and Brian Robbins (in TV, that translates to Nickelodeon) is TBD.
What’s next for Netflix’s live ambitions?
Netflix will enter 2025 having just showcased NFL on Christmas day, followed by the kickoff of weekly WWE “Monday Night Raw” events on Jan. 6. Coming sometime in the spring will be a new live talk show from John Mulaney. Netflix’s live ambitions were particularly ramped up after its blockbuster Jake Paul/Mike Tyson fight — is there a way to match (or even top) that in 2025? And what’s the plan for a followup to the successful “The Roast of Tom Brady”?
What chilling effect will Trump have on news, late night and entertainment?
ABC News’ $15 million legal settlement with Donald Trump over a libel claim against something said by star anchor George Stephanouplos sent shivers throughout journalism, and an emboldened Trump appears ready to wage a full-on attack on what’s left of the media. There’s a chill in the air among anyone who dares criticize the incoming leader. And although late-night hosts joke about being targeted, the perceived danger is real, not to mention the true sense of dread and exhaustion over what the next four years may bring. And there’s the fear that Trump’s promised retribution against critics might come in all sorts of forms, as he has the potential to block mergers and acquisitions and even broadcast license renewals depending on his whim.
Will long hiatuses impact interest in returning shows?
Don’t entirely blame the 2023 Hollywood strikes for the tremendously long hiatuses of some hit franchises. Sure, the work stoppage caused some production delays and scheduling issues. But in many cases, there also were some creative issues at play. Either way, plenty of shows that haven’t released new episodes since 2022 are finally returning in 2025: “Severance,” “The White Lotus,” “Wednesday” and “Stranger Things” are among those series that have been off the air for two years or more. Do audiences remember these shows? Are they ready to welcome them back? In most cases, viewers will hopefully be happy to see that their favorite shows survived ‘til ’25.
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