NBC Chief Says Traditional TV Season Outdated

NEW YORK (AP) — NBC’s boss says the traditional television season that begins in September and ends in May is an outdated practice that the network is moving beyond.

NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke said Monday that NBC is premiering six scripted series and three reality shows this summer. He said ratings during the hot-weather months are just as important to NBC as those in the spring and fall.

One longtime TV tradition that NBC isn’t backing away from is the focus on viewers aged 18 to 49 years old, despite an aging population. Burke says NBC still sells most of its ads based on that demographic and will continue to make programming decisions based on what appeals to that age group.