PASADENA, CALIF. -- FX continues its edgy, quality programming effort on cable TV — and by a few measures, Emmy awards and TV critic lists. The cabler posted some of its best results in 2016
— but they may have come at a price.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association meeting, John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions, says the network’s first priority
with new programs is not necessarily big business numbers. “We wonder can it be something in the culture. That’s the exciting thing about TV.”
When he started at FX over a
decade ago, Landgraf says 50% of the network’s revenue came from advertising; it’s now 35%. Big ratings aren’t always high on its list; quality, critical reviews and awards
are.
For example, Landgraf, says in 2016, it got 56 Emmy nominations -- and 18 wins -- more than any other cable network.
He adds that FX programming is also high on the “press
inclusions” list, tying HBO for best overall effort, both on 20% of all TV press lists. Netflix is next at 17%, followed by AMC at 6%; Amazon at 5%; and NBC at 4%.
Plus,
FX’s TV advertising revenues were $584.8 million in 2016 -- up 29% from $453.3 million in 2015, according to iSpot.tv.
Last year, FX averaged 1.1 million in prime time,
down 9% versus 2015 -- 12th place among all cable networks. It had 557,000 18-49 viewers, dropping 8% from 2015 -- 7th place among all cable networks.
In recent years,
Landgraf has made news in his TCA appearances by revealing a dramatic increase in the number of overall industry scripted TV shows -- now at 455 for 2016 —by FX Networks estimates. He assumed
this would be the peak and soon decline.
“I was obviously wrong,” he said. “There will be more series this year and more in 2018.” When looking
overall -- including nonscripted programming -- Landgraf says there could be over 1,000 original TV 1,000 shows.
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