We’re used to seeing documentary-style TV shows about interesting people on the cable networks, but never on broadcast. That’s about to change at NBC, which has signed a deal with the production company behind Ice Road Truckers and Deadliest Catch for three new original series.
The series—which will be similar in content and theme—will likely air as a three-hour block on one night, with another option to air two in a row and hold a third as a potential replacement. According to The Hollywood Reporter, ordering all three shows at once gives NBC a discount on the price, and gives the production company, Original Prods., a guarantee that over 30 hours of their programming will be aired.
In addition to the new step of bringing documentary TV to a major network, the deal is unique in that it orders three shows in a block, instantly creating a night of programming. The Reporter article suggests that Friday or Sunday night would be an ideal time for the shows, nights that are usually ignored when it comes to new content. Given the success of these shows on cable, though, plus the power of TiVO, it’s conceivable that any of the shows could build an audience even on nights when no one is at home watching television.
We’ve seen a lot of announcements about new, non-scripted series we’ll be seeing given the writers’ strike, but this is the first one that actually seems to be taking advantage of the situation in order to do something new. I doubt a show like Deadliest Catch could really perform against, say, Ugly Betty, but when the alternative is Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen, I can imagine plenty of people going for real reality television instead. I’m not sure how an entire night of themed programming would work out—it seems all too easy to burn out on “TV shows about people doing awesome things,” especially when every episode is an hour long. But the branding could be really effective: on Friday nights, when you’re bored and at home, you know you can find something entertaining on NBC. And given that or COPS, I know I at least would rather watch the ice road truckers, or whoever will be the stars of these new shows.
