TV Q&A: Why are network TV series getting shorter?

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review.

Q: Why do a lot of network television series run shorter seasons than they used to? For example, ABC’s “High Potential” only has a 13-episode first season.

— Chad, via email

Rob: The reason depends on the series. Sometimes a lead actor will only commit to a shorter than the once standard 22-episodes per season run (see: Viola Davis, “How to Get Away with Murder”). But nowadays it’s just as likely that the network only wants to commit to a shorter run to save money, especially on a first-season show that may or may not be successful.

Kaitlin Olson, the star of “High Potential,” has said the show will have a few more episodes in its second season, but probably not 22.

Q: When Amazon’s Prime Video carries their upcoming four Prime Cup NASCAR races, beginning with the Coke 600 on Memorial Day weekend, will they be rebroadcast on another network for traditional cable subscribers? I haven’t been able to find info on this issue.

As you know, the NFL does this with their games on Amazon Prime, immediately rebroadcasting their games on NFL Network for their fan base.

Hoping the brass at NASCAR will follow the NFL’s model. The last thing they need is to alienate their own fans.

— Chris, Arlington, Va.

Rob: The NFL has a much larger fan base than NASCAR, so it gets treated differently than other sports. My understanding is the NASCAR Prime Cup Series on Prime Video will stay on Prime (for watching later via video on demand) and not re-air on linear TV.

Q: Dan Abrams is no longer on NewsNation. What happened to him?

— Florence, via email

Rob: The last episode of NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live” aired Feb. 6. On that broadcast he explained, “As much as I love this show and the mission of this network, I just can’t continue to give this show the attention it needs and deserves with all of my other professional commitments. … I’m working with (NewsNation) on a possible weekly show concept, but regardless if that works out, I intend to still be a part of the NewsNation family.”

Abrams also hosts “On Patrol Live” Friday and Saturday nights on Reelz. He also hosts AE’s “Court Cam” and he remains ABC News’ chief legal analyst.

Q: Sometime in the past year, I seem to remember a newer version of “Who Wants to be A Millionaire” on one of the local channels. Then it disappeared. Will it return?

— Jane, via email

Rob: ABC aired a version of “Millionaire” hosted by Jimmy Kimmel in July and August 2024. Late last month, ABC announced it will bring back Kimmel’s “Millionaire” with a new season slated to begin airing at 8 p.m. July 23.