TV Predictions for 2010

2009 is closing as we welcome in 2010. For some, 2010 will be FOX-less. No AI, No NFC games, No 24 and House. But what else will happen over the next 265 days? Well, here is how I see it.

ABC:

1. I See a major executive change for ABC this year.
   It may be the top, or near the top. ABC has not had many new hits and its current development has not been stellar. Someone will pay as their current shows age and a lack of new hits to replace them.
2. ABC, as they always do, will keep a show for the 2010 fall season that is not deserving.
   Could Scrubs see another renewal? I don't think so, but ABC will feel forced to keep a show like The Forgotten or Flash Forward because of development problems.
3. ABC will relaunce THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY.
   ABC will bring back the series brand for Friday or Saturday nights. The 2hour block will be a combination of the classic Disney theatrical movies and some original programs.

CBS:

1. CSI (The Original Series) will NOT be on at 9pm Thursdays come the Fall of 2010.
   CBS will need to move its decade long flagship series off the #1 spot of its 2010-11 schedule. CSI will move to a 10pm slot and make room for The Mentalist at 9pm. But, I will say this will only happen if William Peterson does not come back as a regular. You never know.
2. CBS will create at least 4th hour of comedies, on a 3rd night.
   CBS will have a few more comedies in the development process to chose from and either THE BIG BANG THEORY or TWO AND A HALF MEN will move to a new night to anchor the hour, along with a new series.
3. CBS Corp will get a major cable network.
   CBS Corp does have Showtime, but it does not have a network like FX, USA or TNT. sometime on 2010, CBS will acquire a cable network that is seen in at least 50 million homes.

NBC:

1. NBC will continue to be a 4th place network.
   Not much of a stretch with this prediction, but I do not see them gaining on either CBS or ABC.
2. NBCU will eliminate at least one affiliate market and go straight to cable in that market.
   With Comcast as majority owner of NBCU, I predict that Comcast will pick at least one market to eliminate an affiliate and become a "Cable Network" in that market. It will be a market that Comcast has a high penetration into homes and not be a major market.
3. Either Jay Leno or Conan O'Brien will not have their current show by the end of the year.
   The ratings for both shows are not doing well. One, if not both will be gone. But, I am 0nly prediction one.

FOX:

1. FOX will rate higher than 4th on Friday nights in the fall of 2010.
   FOX will finally address Friday Nights and schedule a more aggressive line up for the night.

The CW:

1. The CW will have an Ownership change by the end of the year.
   Something will change with the ownership of The CW. Either CBS or Time Warner will buy out the other or an aggressive 3rd party comes in and buys it from both. The most likely scenario is that TW will buy out CBS and take full control. But, lets not rule out the total shut down of the network.
2. Dawn Ostroff will NOT be president of The CW.
   Her inability to grow the ratings, program bad remake after bad remake will finally take its toll. The Network will look to new leadership and a new direction.
3. The CW will have at least one week that it rates LOWER than ION.
   Ion TV has started to see ratings growth over the fall of 2009. In those major repeat weeks of the season, or even during the summer, the CW will have a lower ratings average than ION for one week.

CABLE TV:

1. A Major Cable network will be sold to a new Owner.
   I think we will see one of the larger Corporations sell off a cable network, or two, to raise cash. The more likely candidates would be either the Viacom owned MTV Networks or NBCU. There are also the groups that own the Discovery channels and the History/A&E networks that could be bought by one of the big boys.
2. Name and format change for a Cable Network.
   Again, not much of a stretch with this prediction. It seems that every year at least one cable net changes its name and its programming direction (Court TV to Tru TV).
3. The New APPLE TV will launch in 2010 with at least 3 Broadcast Nets.
   APPLE is wanting to launch a TV service that will make all programming by participating networks available on demand, for a flat monthly fee. Rumors have Disney/ABC and CBS very interested in participating in the service. But as we have learned with the "Apple Tablet", just because it is rumored does not mean it will be launched.
4. My Network TV will have one night of original programming, outside of Fridays.
   I know MyTV is not a cable network, but I didn't know where else to put this.
   News Corp will not give up on the network, but as the economy does get stronger in 2010, The network may venture back into programming its won original programs. Look for a revival of series like JAIL, STREET PATROL and VICE Squad or a Magic Series.

Well, That is about all I can think off that may/will happen in 2010. I am sure there will be big happening that will come out of the blue. But what are your thoughts on TV for 2010?