Dean Devlin: “Cable TV in the United States is not dead”

In an era when major Hollywood studios such as NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery are restructuring or considering the sale of their Pay-TV networks, Dean Devlin, CEO of Electric Entertainment, stands firm: “Cable TV in the United States is not dead.”

For the producer, who currently has two successful titles on linear television — “The Librarians: The Next Chapter” and “The Ark”— the medium still plays a vital role in today’s entertainment ecosystem. “There are all kinds of new ways to be entertained and all kinds of different screens to take our attention, and that’s great. But one doesn’t have to eliminate the other,” he said. “In times of pandemics, wars, economic strife, and political division, sometimes the average person needs to just escape for an hour. A really good escapist piece of entertainment can take you away and reduce your stress — and I think it has a real role.”

Devlin believes that while streaming has transformed viewing habits, there’s still a large audience that prefers the traditional, relaxed TV experience. “It’s a great experience to sit down, have dinner, and choose what to watch. But sometimes you just want to fold your laundry and watch television. Sometimes you don’t want to choose,” he explained. “We’re starting to see a slowdown in the erosion of linear TV. It’ll never be what it was, but it will still have a place in our lives. Many people want a lean-back experience, not always a lean-in experience.”

For Devlin, this balance between tradition and innovation is also reflected in the success of Electric Entertainment’s productions across both linear and streaming platforms. “The nicest thing people say about our shows is that they feel relief watching something that’s actually optimistic — a show that makes you feel good at the end,” he shared. “That’s not to take anything away from dark, edgy, intense shows — those are great. But sometimes you need something where the bad guys get punched in the neck and the good guys win.”

This year marks a major milestone for Electric Entertainment: its 25th anniversary. Devlin described the moment as both humbling and inspiring. “It’s overwhelming to hit that milestone. We’ve seen so many independent companies fall by the wayside, especially recently. It’s very hard to be independent,” he said. “I’m filled with gratitude for our partners and fans who have supported us — we can only make shows if people allow us to.”

Looking ahead, Devlin revealed that the company is expanding its slate with new seasons and original productions. “We just finished shooting season three of ‘The Ark,’ which we’re really excited about for next year. We’ve also wrapped season two of ‘The Librarians,’ and we’re launching our first two original shows on our FAST channel, ElectricNow,” he announced. “One is an adult animated series called ‘Sloane and the Cosmic Schlep,’ and the other is a single-camera comedy titled ‘The Poly Couple.’”