ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX may not be teams in a major sports league. What if they were, though, and could trade shows? These four hypothetical scenarios break down trades networks could make in such a universe, where networks swap shows in their quests to fill their unique needs and win the ratings war. In this scenario, the network takes full ownership of the series, which will stream on the network's corresponding streaming service.
Trade A
CBS gets The Voice from NBCNBC gets FBI and CIA from CBS
Advantages for CBS: They get a major unscripted IP to join their schedule alongside Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother without having to develop one of their own. While FBI provides value on their schedule, it is also aging.
Advantages for NBC: Now that NBC has major NBA and MLB packages, they have less of a need for a declining The Voice to struggle head-to-head with ABC's American Idol. In return, they pick up a pair of Dick Wolf series set in the same universe to join the Chicagos and Law & Orders.
Disadvantages for CBS: The Voice is declining and doesn't provide a whole lot of streaming value. Meanwhile, CIA, while not a strong linear performer, does solidly for Paramount+ and could be a franchise starter if they hang onto it.
Disadvantages for NBC: FBI does not solve the problem of their returning scripted dramas being comprised entirely by aging Dick Wolf dramas, and instead takes away a spot they could use to develop something new. While CIA is newer, it too is tied to an aging franchise.
Trade B
CBS gets MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, Next Level Chef, and Next Level Baker from FOX
FOX gets 60 Minutes from CBS
Advantages for CBS: CBS has long been pursuing a cooking competition series to rival Gordon Ramsay, but America's Culinary Cup proved to be a failure. Making a deal with FOX to get the two MasterChefs and Next Level shows gives them access to a significant number of Ramsay's series, rather than having to renew America's Culinary Cup or go back to the drawing board.
Advantages for FOX: FOX gets an institutional news program on their schedule, which will still get the benefit of the NFL lead-in on nights that FOX has a late afternoon game. They also get to keep a few Gordon Ramsay series in Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen, and Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service.
Disadvantages for CBS: CBS/Paramount Skydance is already facing controversy for their handling of 60 Minutes in recent months. Giving up the program entirely in favor of cooking competition series would cause massive initial backlash in the press.
Disadvantages for FOX: 60 Minutes is a complete tonal mismatch with the Sunday cartoons, and will only be able to plug into one time slot.
Trade C
FOX gets St. Denis Medical and Sunset P.I. from NBC
NBC gets Baywatch from FOX
Advantages for FOX: FOX has struggled to build up a live-action comedy department since the acquisition of 20th Century by Disney. Getting the buzzy new comedy Sunset P.I. (from the creator of FOX's Brooklyn Nine-Nine) along with an established hit in St. Denis Medical would help in a way that Going Dutch couldn't.
Advantages for NBC: NBC gets another buzzy new drama for their schedule that they can use in attempt to expand their scripted drama profile beyond Dick Wolf.
Disadvantages for FOX: Sunset P.I. is unproven, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine was streaming platforms where they don't have an ownership stake.
Disadvantages for NBC: Baywatch is unproven, and St. Denis Medical is one of few successes the network has had in the comedy department since The Office ended in 2013.
Trade D
NBC gets The Bachelor, Bachelor In Paradise, and The Bachelorette from ABC
ABC gets American Ninja Warrior, Destination X, Line of Fire, Newlyweds, The Rockford Files, The Wall, and Wordle from NBC
Advantages for NBC: The Bachelor franchise could become a fantastic edition to Peacock, where it would be housed on the same platform as Love Island, The Traitors, and all Bravo franchises like The Real Housewives and Below Deck.
Advantages for ABC: The Bachelor and its spinoffs have seen declining ratings and been marred in controversy in recent years after reaching peak saturation in the COVID and strike seasons. Monday Night Football and a resurgent Dancing With The Stars have lowered the network's need to rely on the franchise. ABC also gets a few new shows to add to their already-strong scripted slate, and will retain unscripted hours with second-tier offerings from NBC.
Disadvantages for NBC: NBC is handing over most of their new scripted series in favor for long-running unscripted series from the same franchise. If the Bachelor franchise does not make a smooth transition over to NBC, they easily lose the trade.
Disadvantages for ABC: They are giving up a major franchise and getting many unproven or mid-tier shows in return. If none of the scripted shows pan out, American Ninja Warrior (a summer series) becomes their only significant get.