Former Television Executive Predicts End of “Peak TV“
Los angeles, California – december 2, 2025 – Kevin Reilly, a veteran television executive formerly with NBC and Fox, believes the era of unprecedented television production – often dubbed “Peak TV” - is over and unlikely to return. reilly shared his assessment during a recent appearance at the morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, citing shifting economic realities and evolving consumer habits as key factors.
The proliferation of streaming services over the past decade led to a dramatic increase in original content, as companies competed for subscribers. However, Reilly argues that the current focus on profitability and the consolidation of media companies will inevitably lead to a reduction in overall output. This shift impacts not only the entertainment industry workforce,but also viewers who have grown accustomed to a vast and ever-expanding library of programming options. The future, according to Reilly, will be characterized by more selective investment in content, prioritizing quality over quantity.
Reilly, who oversaw programming for NBC from 2004 to 2007 and later served as President of Entertainment at Fox, explained that the previous spending spree was unsustainable. “The business has changed,” he stated. “There was a gold rush mentality, and now people are realizing you can’t just keep spending money and expect it to come back.” He pointed to recent cost-cutting measures at major studios and the increasing emphasis on bundled offerings as evidence of this trend.
The executive’s comments come as the streaming landscape undergoes significant transformation, with companies like Netflix, Disney+, and Warner Bros. Discovery adjusting their strategies to achieve profitability. Subscriber growth has slowed,and manny services are now raising prices or introducing ad-supported tiers. This new environment demands a more disciplined approach to content creation, signaling a potential return to a more traditional television model.
