Is the TV Drama Nearing Its Final Act?

Economic pressures have begun to intrude on the desire to use high-quality drama to draw new viewers. The shows can create loyal, hardcore followers, the lifeblood of any emerging cable network. But the trappings they carry -- big-name actors, on-location shoots and long, complex narratives -- often mean the programs cost more to produce than other genres, including reality and comedy. And they often don't fare well in repeats, as fans have already seen the stories play out. That means dramas (not to be confused with highly successful "procedurals" that solve a crime, legal case or medical conundrum in 60 minutes' time) don't have as much strength in syndication, an increasingly important factor in determining whether a TV series is the sort of asset that can keep generating revenue for a media concern.