Network Summer Programs Not a Hit

Television watchers don’t seem much impressed with much of the big U.S. broadcast networks’ summer programming as viewership has sagged.

With the exception of WB’s Beauty and the Geek and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, viewers have largely ignored the rest as stale including several reality series, USA Today reported.

Nothing else has struck a chord with viewers, Starcom Media’s Laura Caraccioli-Davis told the newspaper.

Some network shows have been eclipsed by usually lagging basic-cable fare whose ratings standouts included The Closer, The 4400, and Into the West.

The early start to the summer TV season also might have caught the viewers by surprise. The audience kind of enjoys a little breather at the end of the season, says CBS scheduling chief Kelly Kahl.

This year’s summer programming also lacked new hits such as Survivor or American Idol, which lit up past summers, the report said.