CBS pulls ‘Survivor’ from fall as Covid-19 forces schedule rejig

Survivor

CBS in the US has been forced to rejig its fall schedule after its upcoming season of Survivor was hit by Covid-19 production restrictions.

The US version of the adventure reality format, which is owned by Banijay, is filmed in Fiji, where producers are working with local authorities to get the show back up and running.

Production was originally suspended in March, but it had been hoped that the show would be able to resume filming on its 41st season during early summer.

However that has not proven to be the case, with CBS now moving the 32nd season of The Amazing Race – which is already in the can – from its 21.00 slot on Wednesdays to 20.00.

Drama series SEAL Team, now into its fourth season, will also now air an hour earlier at 21.00, with S.W.A.T being moved from midseason to replace it at 22.00.

CBS said Survivor producers “are continuing to work with officials in Fiji on the appropriate time to start production on its next edition, with health and safety matters the top priority for everyone involved.”

The decision to pull the reality hit looks unlikely to be the last rejig for CBS, something that its entertainment president Kelly Kahl admitted could happen in May when the network unveiled its fall schedule.

NBC has followed a similar approach, while Fox and The CW have acquired international programming to fill gaps, and ABC is leaning more heavily on unscripted.