Strike Rewrites the TV Biz

STRIKE REWRITES THE TV BIZ
[SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Nellie Andreeva and Paul Gough]
The 2007-08 writers strike has lasted half as long as the walkout of 1988, but its short-term and long-term effects on the television business could be more profound and longer-lasting. "It has been very detrimental to the scripted television business," one studio chief said. Another studio topper pointed to last Wednesday, when all broadcast networks offered original scripted series at 10 p.m. but none could crack 3 rating in the 18-49 demo. "It speaks to the fact that viewers don't know that original programming is on the air, and to some degree, they don't care," the exec said. "Viewers are out of the habit of watching original scripted series, and it will take a long time for them to develop renewed interest and compulsion to watch again." Most broadcast networks will try to rebuild viewers' interest as quickly as possible, rushing existing series into production right away and bringing original episodes on the air as soon as four weeks from now. CBS and the CW, which have been hit hard by the strike, are said to be very aggressive about putting scripted originals, including CBS' Monday comedies and hit crime dramas, on as soon as possible. Meanwhile, NBC -- which found some success during the strike with unscripted fare and whose executives have been very vocal about making production more cost-efficient -- would not be bringing most of their dramas back for new episodes this spring, sources said. Instead, the network is planning to bank the extra produced episodes and run longer seasons with more stretches of original segments next season. ABC and Fox are said to be taking a mixed approach. Additionally, some nets are considering running originals into June, beyond the official end of the broadcast season in late May.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i0b3cac8aceae512f1dc0f6f478059051