The decline in TV by the numbers:

In related news, famed Sopranos creator David Chase proclaims the Golden Age of TV to be over as writers like him are told to “dumb it down.”

Business Insider:

Twenty-five years ago, the first episode of “The Sopranos” premiered on HBO, marking the beginning of a six-season run repeatedly dubbed one of the greatest television series ever.

Now, the show’s creator, David Chase, warns that the golden age of TV — that has seen series such as “The Wire” and “Breaking Bad” — may be over as smart shows face an existential threat.

In an interview with The Times, Chase provided a somber reflection on the 25th anniversary of his show, describing the era as a “25-year blip” and lamenting that he feels “increasingly bad” for talented people today.

“The Sopranos” creator expressed concerns about how streaming platforms are reverting to the old days when cable television ran ads that interfered with an episode. One of HBO’s unique offerings as a subscription service at the time was allowing hourlong episodes of “The Sopranos” to run ad-free, giving a television show a cinematic quality.

“We’re going back to where I was,” Chase told The Times. “They’re going to have commercials.”

He added that he has also been told, as a writer, to “dumb it down.”