2020–21 United States network television schedule


The 2020–21 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States will cover the prime time hours from September 2020 to August 2021. The schedule is followed by a [|list per network] of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2019–20 television season.
Fox was the first to announce its fall schedule on May 11, 2020, followed by The CW on May 14, CBS on May 19, NBC on June 16, and ABC on June 17, 2020. The CW will push their season to launch in January 2021, airing acquired and encore programming in the fall.
PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. Ion Television and MyNetworkTV are also not included since the majority of both networks' schedules comprise syndicated reruns. The CW does not air network programming on Saturday nights.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Each of the major television networks in the United States had initially planned for their upfront presentations to be made to the public in mid-May, a tradition going back to the Golden Age of Television. Due to concerns caused by COVID-19, most major networks and cable network groups have cancelled their public upfront events due to both public health concerns, and stay-at-home orders which effectively disallow them to go forward. It is expected most of the upfront announcements will be either press releases or virtual video events via videotelephony, and may be delayed due to pilots being unable to be produced, along with an overall decline in advertising. NBC carried traditional upfront content on July 16, 2020, blended in as a part of , though a majority of the network's affiliates pre-empted the event.
The Television Critics Association cancelled their summer 2020 press tour, originally scheduled for July 28 through August 13, on May 1 as the organization was unsure it could occur at all due to public gathering restrictions and an anticipated lack of any scripted programming output, even in pilot form, to promote by that time period. The TCA cancellation will complicate any plans by the networks to build buzz about their upcoming schedules, while the move of the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021 nullified any plans NBC had to use the Games to lead into their new television season.

Legend

Schedule

Monday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

ABC">American Broadcasting Company">ABC

Returning series:
New series:
Not returning from 2019–20:
Returning series:
New series:
  • B Positive
  • Clarice
  • The Equalizer
Not returning from 2019–20:'
Returning series:
New series:
  • Devils
  • Kung Fu
  • The Republic of Sarah
  • Superman & Lois
  • Swamp Thing
  • Walker
  • World's Funniest Animals
Not returning from 2019–20:'
Returning series:
New series:
Not returning from 2019–20:'
Returning series:
New series:
  • Connecting
  • Debris
  • Home Sweet Home
  • The Kenan Show
  • Mr. Mayor
  • Small Fortune
  • That's My Jam
  • Transplant
  • True Story
  • Young Rock
Not returning from 2019–20:

Full season pickups

ABC

CBS

The CW

Fox

NBC

Renewals

ABC

CBS

The CW

Fox

ABC

CBS

The CW