The Midseason Break Needs Fixing

Networks rethink their lengthy hiatus plans after last season’s second-half ratings collapse. 

- Jason Lynch

In recent years, networks thought they had found the solution to a TV audience that no longer tolerated repeats, especially for non procedural series. They began scheduling their serialized dramas in two chunks, allowing for a pair of uninterrupted runs, broken up with a lengthy hiatus of around three months.

But last season, that strategy unraveled. Nearly every returning drama suffered big ratings declines after the mid season break. On ABC, How to Get Away With Murder’s return plummeted 20 percent in the 18-49 demo, while the network’s Quantico and NBC’s Blind spot also took big hits. In fact, most shows failed to match their mid season finale numbers at any point in the season’s second half.