Indeed. Fridays nights on most networks (including CBS previously) is often a bit of a dumping ground for shows that are coming to the end of their lifetime. But over the past few years CBS have found themselves a consistent line up with Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods, with good ratings by Friday standards. Actually, the recent ratings of both Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods would probably be considered acceptable by any night’s standards. It’ll be really interesting to see what they do this time next year as I believe both show’s main cast signed 7 season contracts, so CBS will have to decide whether to cancel them or renegotiate (which will be costly).
But for now I can totally understand them adding MacGyver to their Friday line up.

Interesting they’ve moved NCIS:LA to Sunday nights... it’s ratings haven’t been great this season so I wonder if it’s on its way out. Or whether they’re just moving it to a low expectations slot to keep it in production for the syndication and international sales (where it does very well).

Preacher is made by Sony so I assume they handle international sales so AMC still have to bid even though they co-produced it

I'm surprised Doubt is mid season, I assume it'll end up on Sundays replacing Elementary.

It’s a good question, especially as its production companies include AMC Studios..
We can only assume that there’s no exclusivity deal between AMC Studios and AMC UK (like the one between Sky and HBO/Showtime). AMC are obviously happy to still sell their original programmes elsewhere in the UK if there’s good financial reason to. A little bit like 20th Century Fox programmes airing on channels other than Sky or FOX in the UK.

As has been said though, I expect AMC UK might pick up the second-run rights after Amazon Prime. Which considering the limited audience of Amazon could still be a good deal for AMC UK. Not that AMC has anything but a limited audience either! The programme could air on both, and still no-one will have seen it!

AMC's international sales are handled by eOne so things like Turn and Halt Catch Fire were sold to Amazon so I assume AMC don't automatically get first run rights, they still need to bid

Very good question! Since it's AMC i expected it to be on AMC UK. Very surprised it's not.

It certainly looks that way, which is going to make it difficult for AMC UK to be a success. They appear to want to advertise themselves as a Sky Atlantic type channel... but don’t have exclusive rights to any premium programming (like Sky does with HBO and Showtime programming).

Sky's Showtime only covers shows made in house, things like Roadies which is made by WB will be sold by their respective studios. HBO I'm not sure because The Leftovers is made by WB but given WB and HBO are sister companies, I assume Sky gets first dibs

I know, but Preacher is in part made by AMC Studios, so it is sort of made 'in house', which is why I think we were expecting it to get a first run on AMC UK.

Just had a look at Conviction, erm OK, I give it a couple of seasons.

Romeo and Juliet II that won't make a full season. Sorry, just won't work.

In other, smaller network news:

TNT orders 10 episodes of Will, a young William Shakespeare - Will opens with a young William Shakespeare (Davidson) just arriving onto the punk-rock theater scene in 16th century London. It is in this seductive, violent world that his raw talent faces rioting audiences, religious fanatics and raucous sideshows. This is the exciting, dangerous and contemporary version of Shakespeare's life, played to a modern soundtrack that exposes all his recklessness, lustful temptations and brilliance.

TNT also orders pilot for Civil - gripping political and social drama Civil, to be directed by seven-time Emmy® nominee Allen Coulter (Damages, Nurse Jackie, Ray Donovan).

Civil takes place in the wake of a hotly contested Presidential election, as America finds itself plunging uncontrollably into a modern day Civil War. The series weaves together the personal stories of citizens from all walks of life, whose actions – amplified in an age of instant media – add fuel to the conflict and affect the fate of the entire country.

TNT also has ordered a pilot for Claws, an hour-long scripted dramedy set in a Southern Florida nail salon. A midnight-dark, wickedly funny meditation on female badness, Claws follows the lives of five diverse and treacherous Florida manicurists. It soon becomes clear there is a lot more going on at the Nail Artisan of Manatee County salon than silk wraps and pedicures.

I think that Designated Survivor will be for me. Apart from that, APB may be okay, and there might be potential with Making History. Shots Fired also might be one to watch.

I'm afraid that any series from Shonda Rhimes just leave me cold. I really can't be bothered with her style of production.

Disappointed to hear that House Of Lies will end, but 5 seasons isn't a bd run.

I think AMC are co-producing so they can get a percentage of the revenue so they will sell it in the US but overseas sales will be handled by Sony who had the rights to Preacher because it was originally developed as a film before they decided to turn to television.

CBS confirm a Good wife spin-off series with Christine Baranski. The show will air on CBS Access.

Easy - Quantum Leap-style time-hopping shenanigans meets The Mentalist's 'Red John' plot arc.

But will there be cameo's from original stars Malcolm McDowell, David Warner or Mary Steenburgen?

Thoughts on CBS's promo's

Macgyver - I never liked the original and this new one does nothing for me.

Kevin Can Wait - Painfully unfunny.

The Great outdoors - Promising. A strong lead actor. Future episodes could be better than what the pilots shows.

Man with a plan - I am hailing this as a future flop. Enough said.

Bull - Very mixed on this. It sounded better on paper. Could be a grower

Pure Genius - A medical drama but more scientific. Hmm. Promising

Training Day - Meh Meh Meh

Whilst I like Scorpion, for the life of me I can't understand why it's got renewed.

What is there to understand? It delivers good ratings. Which is normally the criteria for most shows that are renewed.

CBS are building their original content for their CBS Access subscription service, aren’t they?
I understand what CBS are doing, I’m just not sure it’s going to be a success. If I were them I’d just do a deal with Netflix or Amazon for their programme catalogue and profit that way, rather than try and go it alone. But time will tell. Admittedly the new Star Trek series is going to be a massive unique selling point for the service.

I had a similar thought as wel;l

I thought I watched a lot of TV but looks like that will change as I can't think of many of the new shows that I will pick up as it looks a very poor set of new US shows in my opinion!

Although I will watch Preacher but I guess that's not in the new batch?

Also what is the obsession with reboots of old TV shows and TV shows of films?

Oh sorry I will be watching Powerless but that's it from the new batch of shows!

I am bit mixed on the new season's batch of shows as well. I think FOX have the worst line up, followed by CBS.

I wish they would put more pressure on shows to improve rather than cancelling them, Limitless and Nashville are prime examples.

Limitless just needed to be a little less quirky and Nashville a lot less depressing.

Cancelling shows is not working in terms of improving quality, if anything it means they put less effort into shows because they are afraid they'll get cancelled early on.

To be fair, as gutted as I am about Nashville, ABC gave that show four years to improve and it's audience decreased with each season.

As for Limitless, cbs letting Limitless go is a weird one as it's performance was no different than Code Black but Code Black was renewed without question. And Limitless has an advantage as it did better internationally than Code Black did.

Giving Nashville another season isn't the same as putting pressure on it to improve.

The 3rd season wasn't very good but it wasn't as bad as this season has been and the execs should have seen it coming a mile off.

I don't believe any pressure was put on it to improve and it just seemed to be allowed to wallow in depressive stories.

The show was at its best when it was about the music and the fun rivalry between the two main stars.

Not the soapy depressive mess it got into this season.