UPFRONTS: Marc Berman casts his eye over the US Upfronts and finds that, despite the networks’ emphasis on change, there’s a familiar feel to much of the new content.

Evolving from a linear platform into a more aggressive strategy digitally was the universal theme during US networks’ Upfront presentation week in New York City, as the five main broadcasters – ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW – tried to convince potential advertisers and members of the media of their now multi-platform value.

“Obviously our world is changing dramatically every single day, in everything we do – in measurement, data, advertising, the way we sell our shows and cross-platforming,” said Les Moonves, chairman, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, whose sentiments were mirrored by every network. “We believe in the ongoing value of network television, and always will, but we also understand there is so much more now.”

Given this focus on change, the ironic observation among four of the five broadcasters (Fox excluded) was a return to yesteryear, with each network announcing new versions of old series. NBC has boldly proclaimed the return of “Must See TV” care of the return of sitcom Will & Grace and a new entry in the Law & Order franchise, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Brothers.

ABC is bringing back American Idol, targeting March 2018 and already confirming pop star Katy Perry as the first judge. The alphabet net also has a new version of sitcom Roseanne, featuring the original cast, targeted for an October 2018 return. CBS is reviving 1970s Aaron Spelling crime-solver S.W.A.T., while The CW is hoping the feuding fictional Carrington ad Colby clans will be of renewed interest in a new version of serialised drama Dynasty.”

While revivals of this magnitude could spark curiosity from the original viewers, the 50-plus crowd is not the audience the advertisers covet. The true test will be whether millennials, many unfamiliar with some of the original shows, will tune in. So, given the focus on youth, why the obsession with these reboots?

ABC will also offer spin-offs from two current reality/competition shows in midseason, Dancing with the Stars Junior and The Bachelor Winter Games. And the alphabet net is so bullish about upcoming Roseanne, still 19 months away (and comprising just eight episodes), that it’s already running promotional spots.

Overall, 20 new series will be featured on the broadcast networks this fall: 12 scripted dramas and eight scripted comedies. And an additional 23 new series – 11 dramas, five comedies and seven non-scripted – will be featured in midseason.

By the numbers, this is comparable to last season, with only 11 of those 20 ‘can’t miss’ newbies last fall making it into a second season. But the one difference, and it is not for the better, is the absence of that one potential big new hit a la NBC’s This Is Us, which at this time last year had generated more interest in a YouTube preview (an estimated 70 to 80 million viewers) than any other series historically. While Fox is making a noted attempt to spark early conversation about Seth Macfarlane’s space-set dramedy The Orville, its position in the Thursday 21.00 slot out of the relocated Gotham means the battle for survival could be uphill.

As always, older-skewing CBS (which is unlikely to age down next season) has the most reliable line-up, which is a result of years of developing an artillery of hit product to support the new entries. While The Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon should have no trouble generating early sampling (it will air out of adult Sheldon and co after Thursday Night Football season ends), the familiarity of new crime-solvers like SEAL Team and S.W.A.T., coupled with the NCIS franchise, are further reasons to believe CBS’s winning streak in total viewers will extend to 10 years.

A glimpse of the first clip of the forthcoming Star Trek: Discovery, meanwhile, sparked probably the most interest of any new series on any network. But Star Trek: Discovery will air on digital platform CBS All Access (following a preview on CBS), which still has no data to support whether it’s performing well. Much of this new era of digital programming is pure speculation.

NBC has boldly proclaimed the return of “Must See TV” on the heels of the return of Will & Grace, sophomore This Is Us moving to Thursday and the arrival of the new scripted Law & Order entry. But interest in the YouTube pre-presidential video reuniting the cast of Will & Grace last fall might have been a one-time deal. Once again, NBC’s strength – or lack thereof – lies  within The Voice and Sunday Night Football (and both should be in fine shape again next season).

With or without this returning “Must See” branding, anticipate another fourth-quarter victory for NBC in adults aged 18 to 49 and all the key young-adult demographics.

ABC, no doubt, is banking on the return of American Idol in 2018, which could only help soggy Sunday. While moving Shark Tank to the night line-up sounds aggressive, not even Mark Cuban can complete with football. As always, Dancing With the Stars is the glue that will keep ABC afloat in total viewers, while two more seasons of Modern Family gives the alphabet net more time to find the next big sitcom hit. But newbie chuckler The Mayor, out of relocated Black-ish, on Tuesday does not fit that descriptor. And opting for a retooled edition of fantasy drama Once Upon a Time will not help Friday (as is the case for most of the glut of low-rated returning series on their evenings across the five networks).

Fox, of course, will have to be patient. Most of the returnees, despite the hype, are just not delivering. But moving Empire to Wednesday at 20.00 into compatible Star, both from Lee Daniels, is a potential step in the right direction. And moving sophomore Lethal Weapon to Tuesday can only help one its many deteriorating evenings. But at some point Fox will need to address the fading animation on Sunday, The Simpsons included, which no longer delivers.

The CW, meanwhile, understands the importance of its superhero theme, hence the arrival of Black Lightning in midseason. But three additional new dramas – Valor, the revival of Dynasty and Life Sentence – is an attempt to diversify.

“The CW has transformed over the past few years, from a linear network into a true multiplatform success,” said CW president Mark Pedowitz at the network’s Upfront presentation. “Whether it’s on broadcast, VoD, OTT, digital or mobile, we are reaching those viewers everywhere they are, with opportunities for our advertisers across every platform.”

Considering each of the competing networks said the same thing, take this booming optimism with a large grain of salt. And don’t believe for one second that every new series will succeed. They never do.