CBS Shakes up its Fall Lineup with Yellowstone as the Strikes Continue

CBS has announced that Yellowstone will join its fall 2023 lineup.

The network and others have faced challenges in scheduling its programs due to the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The strikes, which began on May 2 for the writers and on July 14 for the actors, have disrupted the production and distribution of many shows.

Deadline reports that CBS will broadcast reruns of Yellowstone as part of its fall 2023 lineup, marking the first time the show will air on network television. The schedule shows Yellowstone will occupy the 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm slots on Sundays with single NFL games and the 9:00 pm slot on Sundays with double NFL games.

The move was unexpected, as Yellowstone is currently exclusive to the Peacock streaming service. Sources say that the deal was facilitated by the fact that Yellowstone is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, a sister company of CBS, in collaboration with 101 Studios.

CBS has strategically decided to broadcast Yellowstone as part of its fall 2023 programming. The show, which has already aired on the Paramount Network, will make its debut on network television. It will benefit from exposure to a larger and more diverse audience, especially on Sundays after football games.

CBS will also gain from having a popular and acclaimed show to fill its fall schedule. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement for CBS and Yellowstone and a way to generate more buzz for the show as it prepares for its fifth and final season.

ABC also follows the trend of bringing a streaming series to network television, as it will air all episodes of Disney+‘s Ms. Marvel from August 5 to August 12. This is the first time an MCU show will be broadcast on TV after several productions were halted due to the pandemic.

Networks have also relied on reality TV to fill their schedule, as scripted series are rare due to the strike. For example, CBS’ Big Brother, which usually starts in late June or early July, will not premiere until August 2 this year, making it a key part of CBS’ fall lineup.

The networks are resorting to temporary measures to cope with the shortage of new scripted content, but they cannot sustain this strategy for long. The studios must negotiate with the writers and actors to resolve their grievances and reach a fair and equitable agreement.

The broadcast of Yellowstone on CBS and Ms. Marvel on ABC are novel initiatives, but they will lose their appeal after a while. Without the writers and actors, the networks and streaming services will not be able to produce the original and creative content that drives their success.

About Yellowstone

Yellowstone is an American neo-western drama created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson that premiered on Paramount Network.

The series follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in the United States. The plot revolves around family drama and the bordering Native reservations and national parks.

The series stars Kevin Costner, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham.