Golden Age of Television (2000s–present)
In the United States, the Golden Age of Television (also known as Peak TV or Prestige TV)[1][2][3] is a period widely regarded for its high number of "high quality", internationally acclaimed television programs.[4][5][6][7]
Named in reference to the original Golden Age of Television of the 1950s,[8] the period has also been referred to as the "New", "Second", or "Third Golden Age of Television". The various names reflect disagreement over whether shows of the 1980s and early-mid 1990s belong to a since-concluded golden era or to the current one.[19] The contemporary period is generally identified as beginning in 1999 with The Sopranos,[20][21] with debate as to whether the age ended (or "peaked") in the mid-late 2010s[20][22][23][24] or early 2020s (to the point of calling its replacement "Trough TV"),[25][26][27][28] or remains ongoing.[29][8] Multichannel linear television, such as cable and digital satellite, reached its peak in 2014 and has declined in viewers, reach and new content rapidly since then;[30][31] overall new series creation peaked in the early 2020s, following a several years-long competitive period known as the streaming wars, cresting shortly before the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.[32]
It is believed to have resulted from advances in media distribution technology,[9][13] digital TV technology (including HDTV, online video platforms, TV streaming, video-on-demand, and web TV),[33][9] and a large increase in the number of hours of available television, which has prompted a major wave of content creation.[34]