CBS will invest in a major drama series next summer, a 13-part adaptation of the Stephen King novel “Under the Dome†to be produced by Steven Spielberg's production company.
The series represents a significant shift for CBS, which in past years has limited its investment in summer programming, relying largely on repeats and the long-running reality series, “Big Brother.â€
But with summer ratings showing steady declines, and cable networks proving that dramas in summer can attract big audiences, CBS seems to be forging a new summer strategy.
“Under the Dome,†which was published in 2009 by Simon & Schuster (also owned by CBS), is the story of a small New England town that is suddenly threatened w ith extinction when an enormous, transparent, but indestructible, dome descends and seals the town off from the rest of civilization. The townspeople have to find ways to survive even as they seek answers to why this fate has befallen them.
The novel will be re-released in paperback to coincide with the series.
The connection to the cable strategy of summertime drama is underscored by the background of this show. The series, to be produced by Mr. Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, was originally developed for CBS's sister network, Showtime.
Bill Carter writes about the television industry. Follow @wjcarter on Twitter.
