While the broadcast TV space is shrinking with every passing season, something surprising has been happening over the last few years. It has been commonly accepted that broadcast television, colloquially known as Network TV, is perceived as appealing to older people. With ever-increasing options on streaming and cable, young people’s attention has been diverted away from culture-defining shows available on networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC.
However, there has been a shift. More and more young people are turning to Network TV as the TV boom ends and streaming platforms tighten their belts accordingly. Viewers as young as 10 are seeking out broadcast shows, and this trend has been evident in the current popularity of shows like 9-1-1, High Potential, and The Rookie. “Network television has become comfort food for the anxiety generation,” Alexi Hawley, The Rookie’s creator and showrunner, wrote in a Variety article while dissecting this phenomenon.
The development of an interdependent relationship between traditional and modern media has accelerated this trend significantly. The Rookie has found a huge audience on TikTok, where clips from the show have gone viral, prompting users to check out the show on a streaming service or even watch it live. Hawley goes on to describe what he calls “The Anxiety Generation” and why they are attracted to the comfort of dozens, if not hundreds, of episodes of the same show. “‘Anxiety generation’ is not specific to Gen Z or Millennials, rather kids growing up and coming of age over the last 20 years,” he says. These kids have borne the brunt of a chaotic world and have turned to TV, Network TV especially, for solace and comfort.
Shows Like ‘The Rookie’ Are Easy to Get Lost In, Says Alexi Hawley
Network shows produce more episodes than a typical streaming show. Sometimes, a single season of a network series may have more episodes than a streaming show’s entire multi-season run. “It’s in the sheer number of episodes. That factor is key. You can disappear in a show that has 100-plus episodes, rewatching whole seasons or jumping around from favorites to favorites while doing homework, putting on makeup or cooking dinner. You can’t do that with streaming shows — at least not yet,” Hawley says. From rib-cracking comedies to dark procedurals and light-hearted family dramas, Network TV offers unrivaled comfort as viewers become familiar with the characters. He explained:
“With so many episodes in a season, writers don’t have to be so precious about every moment. With more stories to tell, it’s easier to find small character beats to mine, giving actors more space to explore. Episodes can “breathe” in a way that builds the world and invites you in.”
