2021–22 United States network television schedule (afternoon) explained

The 2021–22 afternoon network television schedule for the four major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the weekday and weekend afternoon hours from September 2021 to August 2022. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning and cancelled shows from the 2020–21 season.

Affiliates fill time periods not occupied by network programs with local or syndicated programming. PBS – which offers daytime programming through a children's program block, PBS Kids – is not included, as its member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. Also not included are MyNetworkTV and The CW (as the programming services also don't offer daytime programs of any kind), and Ion Television (as its schedule is composed mainly of syndicated reruns). Fox is not included on the weekday schedule: Fox only airs daytime programming (in the form of sports on weekend afternoons)

Effective this season, The CW turned over its weekday daytime hour to its affiliated stations on September 6, 2021;^[1] as such, The CW will not be listed in any afternoon network schedule articles from this season onward.

Schedule

• New series are highlighted in bold.
• All times correspond to U.S. Eastern and Pacific Time (select shows) scheduling (except for some live sports or events). Except where affiliates slot certain programs outside their network-dictated timeslots, subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Pacific (for selected shows), Alaska, and Hawaii-Aleutian times.
• Local schedules may differ, as affiliates have the option to pre-empt or delay network programs.^[2] Such scheduling may be limited to preemptions caused by local or national breaking news or weather coverage (which may force stations to tape delay certain programs in overnight timeslots or defer them to a co-operated station or digital subchannel in their regular timeslot) and any major sports events scheduled to air in a weekday timeslot (mainly during major holidays). Stations may air shows at other times at their preference.
• All sporting events air live in all time zones in U.S. Eastern time, with local and/or primetime programming after game completion.

Weekdays

Network	Noon	12:30 p.m.	1:00 p.m.	1:30 p.m.	2:00 p.m.	2:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.	3:30 p.m.	4:00 p.m.	4:30 p.m.	5:00 p.m.	5:30 p.m.	6:00 p.m.	6:30 p.m.	7:00 p.m.	7:30 p.m.
ABC	Local and/or syndicated programming				General Hospital		Local and/or syndicated programming							ABC World News Tonight with David Muir	Local and/or syndicated programming
CBS	Local and/or syndicated programming	The Young and the Restless		The Bold and the Beautiful	The Talk									CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell
NBC	Local and/or syndicated programming		Days of Our Lives		Local and/or syndicated programming									NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt

Notes:

• ABC stations have the option of airing General Hospital at 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, depending on the station's choice of feed.
• Depending on their choice of feed, CBS stations have the option of airing Let's Make a Deal at either 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern (airtime adjusted by time zone), and/or The Young and the Restless at 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. local time (in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones).
• NBC stations have the option of airing Days of Our Lives at varying airtimes (usually between Noon and 2:00 p.m. local time), depending on the station's preference and choice of feed.
• Fox aired Fox NFL Thursday on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET live in all time zones during the fall.^[3]
• ABC, CBS and/or NBC stations may air their corresponding network's early evening newscast anytime between 6:00- 8:00 p.m. ET and PT/5:00-7:00 p.m. CT/MT, depending on the station's choice of feed.

Saturday

Network		Noon	12:30 p.m.	1:00 p.m.	1:30 p.m.	2:00 p.m.	2:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.	3:30 p.m.	4:00 p.m.	4:30 p.m.	5:00 p.m.	5:30 p.m.	6:00 p.m.	6:30 p.m.	7:00 p.m.	7:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	ESPN College Football on ABC^[4]														College Football Scoreboard	Saturday Night Football^[5]
	Winter	Local, syndicated and/or ESPN on ABC sports programming				UFC Live		NHL on ABC^[6]						Local and/or syndicated programming	ABC World News Tonight with Whit Johnson	Local and/or syndicated programming
	Spring					World of X Games		WNBA on ABC				Local and/or syndicated programming
	Summer	WNBA on ABC						MLS on ABC					Local and/or syndicated programming
CBS	Fall	Local, syndicated and/or CBS Sports programming						College Football Today	SEC on CBS					Local and/or syndicated programming	CBS Weekend News
	Winter	College Basketball on CBS
	Spring	Local, syndicated and/or CBS Sports programming						PGA Tour on CBS
	Summer	Local and/or syndicated programming		Big 3 on CBS
Fox	Fall	Fox College Football ^[7]
	Winter	Fox College Hoops														Local and/or syndicated programming
	Spring	Local,Syndicated and/or Fox Sports programming						USFL on Fox						Local and/or syndicated programming		Fox Major League Baseball
	Summer	Local, syndicated and/or Fox Sports programming
NBC	Fall	Local and/or syndicated programming	Premier League on NBC^[8]				Notre Dame Football on NBC							Local and/or syndicated programming	NBC Nightly News with Jose-Diaz Balart	Local and/or syndicated programming
	Winter						Premier League Goal Zone	Golf Channel on NBC
	Spring							Monster Energy Supercross on NBC
	Summer	Local, Snydicated and/or NBC Sports programming

Notes:

• To comply with FCC educational programming regulations, stations may defer certain programs featured in their respective network's E/I program blocks to determined weekend late morning or afternoon time periods if a sporting event is not scheduled in the timeslot or in place of paid programming that would otherwise be scheduled.
• NBC Nightly News with Jose-Diaz Balart is preempted in the Eastern and Central Time zones when Notre Dame Football on NBC airs a 3:30 p.m. ET game, all other time zones air the program or sometimes may be preempted for other sporting events scheduled to air in the Afternoon (primetime in the Eastern and Central Time zones).
• CBS Weekend News is preempted in the Eastern and Central time zones when SEC on CBS airs a 3:30 pm ET game, all other time zones air the program.
• ABC, CBS and/or NBC stations may air their corresponding network's early evening newscast anytime between 6:00- 8:00 p.m. ET and PT/5:00-7:00 p.m. CT/MT, depending on the station's choice of feed.

Sunday

Network		Noon	12:30 p.m.	1:00 p.m.	1:30 p.m.	2:00 p.m.	2:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.	3:30 p.m.	4:00 p.m.	4:30 p.m.	5:00 p.m.	5:30 p.m.	6:00 p.m.	6:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Local, Syndicated And/or ESPN on ABC sports programming						WNBA on ABC^[9]				Local and/or syndicated programming			ABC World News Tonight with Linsey Davis
	Winter	Local and/or syndicated programming	NBA Countdown^[10] ^[11]	NBA Sunday Showcase										Local and/or syndicated programming
	Spring			NBA Playoffs on ABC
	Summer	Local, Syndicated and/or ESPN on ABC sports programming						MLS on ABC					Local and/or syndicated programming
CBS	Fall	The NFL Today		NFL on CBS ^[12]
	Winter	College Basketball on CBS												Local and/or syndicated programming	CBS Weekend News
	Spring	Local, Syndicated and/or CBS Sports programming						PGA Tour on CBS
	Summer							Big 3 on CBS
Fox	Fall	Fox NFL Sunday		Fox NFL
	Winter	Fox Sports programming						NASCAR on Fox
	Spring	Local, syndicated and/or Fox Sports programming
	Summer	Local, Syndicated and/or Fox Sports programming						NHRA on Fox
NBC	Fall	Local and/or syndicated programming		NASCAR America		NASCAR on NBC^[13]								Local and/or syndicated programming	NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow
	Winter	NBC Sports programming						Golf Channel on NBC
	Spring	IndyCar Series on NBC						USFL on NBC
	Summer	Local, syndicated and/or NBC Sports programming

Notes:

• To comply with FCC educational programming regulations, stations may defer certain programs featured in their respective network's E/I program blocks to determined weekend late morning or afternoon time periods if a sporting event is not scheduled in the timeslot or in place of paid programming that would otherwise be scheduled.
• Airtimes of sporting events may vary depending on the offerings scheduled for that weekend.
• When CBS and/or Fox offer an early singleheader NFL game, a post-game show airs after the game from 4:30–5:00 p.m. ET (the length of which may vary depending on the timing of the early game's conclusion) with local, syndicated or non-NFL sports programming airing after from 5:00–7:00 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, when CBS and/or Fox offer a late singleheader NFL game, local, syndicated or non-NFL sports programming airs from 1:00–4:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. PT.
• CBS and Fox stations in the Pacific Time Zone receiving an NFL singleheader game must air a late singleheader game, if possible.
• ABC, CBS and/or NBC stations may air their corresponding network's early evening newscast at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. ET and PT/5:00 or 5:30 p.m. CT/MT, depending on the station's choice of feed.
• NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow airs live in all time zones during Fall to avoid pre-emption due to the live airing of NBC Sunday Night Football.
• ABC World News with Linsey Davis airs live in all time zones during Spring to avoid pre-emption due to the live airing of American Idol.
• CBS Weekend News is preempted on the Eastern and Central time zones when NFL on CBS airs late NFL Games, all other time zones air the program.

By network

ABC

Returning series:

• ABC News
  • ABC World News Tonight
• ESPN on ABC
  • College Football Scoreboard
  • ESPN College Basketball on ABC
  • ESPN College Football on ABC
  • NBA Countdown^[10]
  • NBA Sunday Showcase^[10]
  • NHL on ABC
  • WNBA on ABC
• General Hospital
• The View

CBS

Returning series:

• The Bold and the Beautiful
• CBS Evening News
• CBS Sports
  • College Basketball on CBS
  • The NFL Today
  • NFL on CBS
  • PGA Tour on CBS
  • SEC on CBS/College Football on CBS
• The Talk
• The Young and the Restless

The CW

New series:

• None, due to The CW's decision to air syndicated programming only

Not returning from 2020–21:

• The Jerry Springer Show ^[1]

Fox

Returning series:

• Fox Sports
  • Fox College Football
  • Fox College Hoops^[14]
  • Fox NFL Sunday
  • NASCAR on Fox
  • NASCAR RaceDay

NBC

Returning series:

• Days of Our Lives
• NBC Nightly News
• NBC Sports
  • Golf Channel on NBC
  • IndyCar on NBC^[15]
  • NASCAR America
  • NASCAR on NBC
  • Notre Dame Football on NBC
  • Premier League on NBC^[16]

Not returning from 2020–21:

• NBC Sports
  • NHL on NBC

Renewals and cancellations

Series renewals

ABC

• NHL on ABC—Renewed for a ninth season on March 10, 2021; deal will into a fourteenth season in 2027.^[17]

CBS

• The Bold and the Beautiful—Renewed through the 2023–24 season on March 2, 2022.^[18]
• College Basketball on CBS—Renewed through the 2022–23 season on July 24, 2017.^[19]
• NFL on CBS—Renewed through the 2032–33 season on March 18, 2021.^[20]
• SEC on CBS—Renewed for a twenty-seventh season; deal will conclude with its twenty-ninth season in 2023.^[21]
• The Talk—Renewed for a thirteenth season on April 18, 2022.^[22]
• The Young and the Restless—Renewed through the 2023–24 season on January 30, 2020.^[23]

Fox

• Fox College Football—Renewed through the 2022–23 season on July 24, 2017.^[19]
• Fox NFL Sunday—Renewed through the 2032–33 season on March 18, 2021.^[20]
• NASCAR on Fox—Renewed through the 2023–24 season on August 2, 2013.^[24]

NBC

• Days of Our Lives—Renewed through the 2022–23 season on May 11, 2021.^[25] On August 3, 2022, it was announced that the series would be moving to Peacock.^[26]

See also

• 2021–22 United States network television schedule (prime-time)
• 2021–22 United States network television schedule (morning)
• 2021–22 United States network television schedule (late night)
• 2021–22 United States network television schedule (overnight)

Sources

• Web site: ABC Daytime Schedule. Curt Alliaume. Curt Alliaume’s Utterly Irrelevant Web Site. https://web.archive.org/web/20071015122215/http://curtalliaume.com/abc_day.html. October 15, 2007.
• Web site: CBS Daytime Schedule. Curt Alliaume. Curt Alliaume’s Utterly Irrelevant Web Site. https://web.archive.org/web/20071015122235/http://curtalliaume.com/cbs_day.html. October 15, 2007.
• Web site: NBC Daytime Schedule. Curt Alliaume. Curt Alliaume’s Utterly Irrelevant Web Site. https://web.archive.org/web/20071012211242/http://curtalliaume.com/nbc_day.html. October 12, 2007.

Notes and References

1. The CW Network Expands Its Primetime Schedule to Saturday . . . May 13, 2021 . May 16, 2021.
2. Web site: 2017-09-01. TV Listings- Find Local TV Listings and Watch Full Episodes - Zap2it.com. 2021-09-05. Zap2It.
3. Web site: THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (FOX). The Futon Critic. September 11, 2021.
4. Web site: COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECIAL. The Futon Critic.
5. Web site: SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL (ABC). The Futon Critic.
6. Web site: NHL TV Schedule. Sports Media Watch. September 19, 2021.
7. Web site: CFB ON FOX (FOX). The Futon Critic.
8. Web site: NBC Sports Premier League schedule: Fixtures, how to watch, stream live. ProSoccerTalk NBC Sports. September 20, 2021.
9. Web site: WNBA Scoreboard. ESPN.com.
10. Web site: NBA SPECIAL. The Futon Critic.
11. Web site: ABC to bring back Sunday NBA doubleheaders, air pre-Christmas game. Sports Media Watch. August 20, 2021.
12. Web site: NFL TV Schedule. Sports Media Watch.
13. Web site: NASCAR TV Schedule. Sports Media Watch.
14. Web site: SBJ Media: PGA Tour, Mountain West Get New Rights Deals. Ourand. John. Sports Business Daily. December 16, 2019.
15. INDYCAR AND NBC SPORTS AGREE TO MULTI-YEAR MEDIA RIGHTS EXTENSION. NBCUniversal. July 20, 2021.
16. News: NBC Retains Rights to Premier League in Six-Year Deal. Sandomir. Richard. August 10, 2015. The New York Times. 0362-4331.
17. Web site: Pedersen. Erik. NHL & ESPN/ABC Confirm Seven-Year TV Deal Including 1,000-Plus Streamed Games Per Season. Deadline Hollywood. March 10, 2021.
18. Web site: Murphy. J. Kim. ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Renewed Through 2024 at CBS Ahead of 35th Anniversary. Variety. March 2, 2022.
19. News: Big Ten formally announces six-year media rights deal with ESPN, FOX and CBS. Stubbs. Roman. July 24, 2017. Washington Post. 0190-8286.
20. Web site: NFL Announces New Broadcast Deals Running Through 2033 Season. NFL. March 18, 2021.
21. News: Draper. Kevin. Blinder. Alan. 2020-12-10. SEC Reaches $3 Billion Deal With Disney, Drawing CBS Ties Toward an End. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-12-11. 0362-4331.
22. Web site: 'The Talk' Renewed for 13th Season on CBS. The Hollywood Reporter. Porter. Rick. April 18, 2022.
23. Web site: Low. Elaine. 'The Young and the Restless' Renewed Through 2024. Variety. January 30, 2020.
24. Web site: Cushnan. David. Fox extends NASCAR broadcast deal until 2024. SportsPro. August 2, 2013.
25. Web site: 'Days Of Our Lives' Gets 2-Year Renewal Through Season 58 On NBC. Nellie Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. May 11, 2021.
26. News: Adalian . Josef . Twist! NBC’s Days of Our Lives Is Moving to Peacock . Vulture . August 3, 2022 . en-us.