Series Swap Highlights TV's Financial Issues

Two broadcast television networks faced off this week over extending the life of a show. "Medium," which has been successful, if not quite a hit show, on NBC for the last five seasons, got less love from that network than it expected when its contract came up for renewal. CBS, the network that owns the studio that produces "Medium," stepped in, first to defend the show from what CBS executives considered some disrespect by NBC, and then to appropriate the show itself. The conflict over "Medium" was emblematic of what transpired at every network this week, when money and ownership were major factors in scheduling decisions. CBS had no trouble committing to ordering a full season of "Medium," which NBC had resisted, because as owner of the show it will benefit financially from the future sale of the episodes of the show produced for the coming season. That surely factored into the decision by ABC to again renew the now low-rated comedy "Scrubs" (which NBC walked away from last year) because ABC's studio produces it and will reap the benefits from sales of reruns and DVDs.