2018 Network Rankings Presented by NPACT
NPACT RELEASES RESULTS OF SECOND ANNUAL “NETWORK SURVEY”
RANKING PRODUCERS’ FAVORITE NETWORKS TO PITCH, WORK WITH AND MORE
2017 Survey Includes Broadcast, Ad-Supported and Pay/Premium Cable, and OTT,
with Categories including “Most Improved” and “Most Respected” Network
Showtime Emerges as “Best Network to Work With Overall”
A&E and ID Cited in the Top 10 Across More Categories than Any Other Networks, followed by History, DIY and CBS
ID and Smithsonian Channel Only Networks to Earn #1 Rankings in Two Categories
Oxygen Named “Most Improved” Network; A&E, ID and Netflix Tie for “Most Respected” Network
NPACT-Sponsored Survey Completed by NPACT Members and Non-Members Alike from across the Unscripted Production Community
(January 24, 2018) – NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES – NPACT, formed in 2017 through the merging of the Nonfiction Producers Association (NPA) and PactUS – the two major trade organizations established to serve the producers of non-fiction entertainment content in North America – today announced the results of its second annual Network Survey.
While last year’s NPA inaugural survey pertained only to advertising-supported cable networks, this year’s NPACT survey (covering calendar year 2017) also includes broadcast networks, premium/pay cable networks and OTT platforms.
Forty-eight production companies – both members and non-members of NPACT – rated 46 networks/platforms in 11 categories.
Producers ranked their preferences in the following eight areas: Pitching; Development; Executives’ Understanding of Network’s Brand/Content Needs; Business Affairs; Editorial Oversight/Notes; Production Management; Finance; and Scheduling/Promo Support.
Additionally, the survey asked producers to rank networks from Best to Deal with Overall to Most Difficult, and Networks They Most Respect. The survey also included an 11th category for Network Most Improved over the Last Year.
For the first nine questions/topics, respondents rated each network on a scale from one to 10, with one representing the least positive response and 10 representing the most positive. Final rankings represent the weighted average scores for each network (Most Improved and Most Respected networks were determined by tally of total votes, rather than rankings).
John Ford, general manager of NPACT, said, “This latest survey offers detailed, comprehensive information about producers’ perceptions of networks and OTT services amidst a climate of unprecedented change. From pitch to post-production, a broad swath of producers – large and small – rates the vital production process; NPACT’s goal is to improve that creative process however we can, and our surveys aim to do just that.”
RESULTS
Survey results netted Showtime as producers’ favorite network/platform to deal with overall, with CBS, A&E, History, ID, DIY, CNN, E!, ABC and Hulu rounding out the top 10.
Among all networks and platforms, A&E and ID (tied) were cited in the top 10 across more categories than any of the other networks, followed by History, then DIY and then CBS.
Other networks consistently listed in the top 10 across multiple categories were (alphabetically): ABC, Bravo, E!, FYI, HGTV, Lifetime, NBC, NatGeo Wild, Netflix, Showtime, Smithsonian, truTV and YouTube Red.
ID and Smithsonian Channel each received the top ranking in two categories: ID led the pack in Executives’ Understanding of Networks’ Brand/Needs and Most Respected Network (for which they tied with A&E and Netflix); Smithsonian Channel ranked highest in Development Process and Editorial Oversight/Notes.
Among all networks and platforms, A&E, ID and Netflix were tied as the Networks Producers Most Respect, with History and Bravo very close behind.
Producers named Oxygen as the network that most improved its processes in the last year.
Leaders in all survey categories are as follows:
SEE THE FULL SURVEY RESULTS HERE.
Note to Editors
Networks marked as “Not Applicable” (N/A) received too few responses in the respective categories to provide a statistical average and, therefore, were not ranked in those specific categories.
About NPACT
NPACT was formed in 2017 through the merging of the Nonfiction Producers Association (NPA) and PactUS – the two major trade organizations formed in 2014 to serve the producers of non-fiction entertainment content in North America. With 100+ member companies, including production companies of all sizes, as well as allied services companies, NPACT serves as the voice for the non-fiction creative community, helping producers tackle the challenges they face in an age of media disruption, and offering a forum for producers to address critical business issues. NPACT members collectively produce the vast majority of all non-fiction content for US broadcast, cable television and digital platforms. John Ford is General Manager of NPACT; the late David Lyle served as President Emeritus. NPACT maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
While last year’s NPA inaugural survey pertained only to advertising-supported cable networks, this year’s NPACT survey (covering calendar year 2017) also includes broadcast networks, premium/pay cable networks and OTT platforms.
Forty-eight production companies – both members and non-members of NPACT – rated 46 networks/platforms in 11 categories.
Producers ranked their preferences in the following eight areas: Pitching; Development; Executives’ Understanding of Network’s Brand/Content Needs; Business Affairs; Editorial Oversight/Notes; Production Management; Finance; and Scheduling/Promo Support.
Additionally, the survey asked producers to rank networks from Best to Deal with Overall to Most Difficult, and Networks They Most Respect. The survey also included an 11th category for Network Most Improved over the Last Year.
For the first nine questions/topics, respondents rated each network on a scale from one to 10, with one representing the least positive response and 10 representing the most positive. Final rankings represent the weighted average scores for each network (Most Improved and Most Respected networks were determined by tally of total votes, rather than rankings).
John Ford, general manager of NPACT, said, “This latest survey offers detailed, comprehensive information about producers’ perceptions of networks and OTT services amidst a climate of unprecedented change. From pitch to post-production, a broad swath of producers – large and small – rates the vital production process; NPACT’s goal is to improve that creative process however we can, and our surveys aim to do just that.”
RESULTS
Survey results netted Showtime as producers’ favorite network/platform to deal with overall, with CBS, A&E, History, ID, DIY, CNN, E!, ABC and Hulu rounding out the top 10.
Among all networks and platforms, A&E and ID (tied) were cited in the top 10 across more categories than any of the other networks, followed by History, then DIY and then CBS.
Other networks consistently listed in the top 10 across multiple categories were (alphabetically): ABC, Bravo, E!, FYI, HGTV, Lifetime, NBC, NatGeo Wild, Netflix, Showtime, Smithsonian, truTV and YouTube Red.
ID and Smithsonian Channel each received the top ranking in two categories: ID led the pack in Executives’ Understanding of Networks’ Brand/Needs and Most Respected Network (for which they tied with A&E and Netflix); Smithsonian Channel ranked highest in Development Process and Editorial Oversight/Notes.
Among all networks and platforms, A&E, ID and Netflix were tied as the Networks Producers Most Respect, with History and Bravo very close behind.
Producers named Oxygen as the network that most improved its processes in the last year.
Leaders in all survey categories are as follows:
- Pitching Process: Apple
- Development Process: Smithsonian Channel
- Executives’ Understanding of Network’s Brand/Programming Needs: ID
- Business Affairs Process/Policies: History
- Editorial Oversight/Notes Process: Smithsonian Channel
- Production Management Process: NatGeo Wild
- Financial Process/Policies: FYI
- Scheduling/Promo Support: NBC
- Most Improved Network: Oxygen
- Most Respected Network: A&E, ID, Netflix (tie)
- BEST NETWORK TO DEAL WITH OVERALL: Showtime
SEE THE FULL SURVEY RESULTS HERE.
Note to Editors
Networks marked as “Not Applicable” (N/A) received too few responses in the respective categories to provide a statistical average and, therefore, were not ranked in those specific categories.
About NPACT
NPACT was formed in 2017 through the merging of the Nonfiction Producers Association (NPA) and PactUS – the two major trade organizations formed in 2014 to serve the producers of non-fiction entertainment content in North America. With 100+ member companies, including production companies of all sizes, as well as allied services companies, NPACT serves as the voice for the non-fiction creative community, helping producers tackle the challenges they face in an age of media disruption, and offering a forum for producers to address critical business issues. NPACT members collectively produce the vast majority of all non-fiction content for US broadcast, cable television and digital platforms. John Ford is General Manager of NPACT; the late David Lyle served as President Emeritus. NPACT maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.