FX Networks chief John Landgraf tells Andrew Dickens why there are still opportunities for linear broadcasters in today’s fractured TV industry.

Reputations are hard won and easily lost in the international television industry, yet many would argue that FX Networks CEO John Landgraf has already achieved quasi-legendary status.

Landgraf took over as president of the US cable channel in 2004 when it had only two original scripted series to its name. Now the network has dozens in its portfolio – and Landgraf is renowned for watching every rough cut of every episode that airs.

Shows that defined the exec’s tenure include The Shield, Sons of Anarchy and Archer, while FX began airing a second run of Fargo in October. It also recently premiered its latest original, The Bastard Executioner, although this has since been cancelled. This year also saw the launch of comedy Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and the 10th season of sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Described by Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt as the “creative’s creative,” the long-serving executive made headlines this summer when he warned that a glut of programming was drowning viewers.

“What concerns me is that television has become like work – not just for me but for consumers – at least in the US,” Landgraf says. “It’s really laborious to try to pay attention to all the great television.

“When you choose something, you un-choose something else. Even when you are watching something great there could be something greater that you could be watching.”

Landgraf believes this programming glut adds to a “radical transformation” that’s seen a plethora of OTT services take the industry by storm during the last 12 months, further increasing the amount of choice viewers have. In the US, Showtime, HBO and Starz have all launched standalone OTT services recently, while Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime continue to expand rapidly. While FX doesn’t yet have an OTT service of its own, Landgraf dismisses the idea that these new disruptors are an immediate threat: “If you look at all the shows consumed in the US, well over 90% of them are still being watched in the traditional linear way. It’s not going to go away overnight.”

However, he accepts that a large proportion of new original programming will hail from subscription VoD services in the future, warning that broadcast networks and cable channels need to be on their guard. “Linear channels are going through a very substantial transition and, yes, people will one day watch most of their shows over the internet and are looking to get content in large bundles that can interface with an app.”

Landgraf is also concerned that a fractured market will make traditional linear commissioners “more conservative” and reluctant to try original or niche ideas. “I’m seeing many more TV shows that are based on movies or existing TV properties to make marketers feel like they’re gaining an advantage in a tough crowd,” he says.

While accepting there’s no easy remedy, Landgraf believes programmers needn’t be scared of taking risks in a industry dominated by ratings. “I needed to own failure and get permission to fail. If you don’t have permission to fail, you don’t have permission to succeed,” he says. “All we can do is try not to fail the precise same way twice. Once we fail we should say, ‘OK, we’ve failed that way. Let’s learn how we did that and figure out how to not do it again.’”

Recent FX research suggests that more than 400 original scripted series will air in the US this season, up from just 280 half a decade ago, with the number predicted to increase in 2016.

But with more new entrants in the market and an ever-growing demand for content, where does Landgraf’s ‘programming glut’ observation take him next? “In my view less would be more,” he replies. “Three hundred television shows would be better than 500 television shows. I know that’s a paradox from someone who makes TV, but I’m sensing there’s too much.

“We are heading into a time that will have some sort of contraction, although not so much for Netflix and Amazon, as they are both very much in the expansion phase. This industry is ripe for some kind of consolidation and that may leave us with fewer TV series being produced.”