Mothership renewal news

[annabelleleigh]

I don't have anything specific yet but I thought I'd open up this thread for those of us who are concerned about L&O and its chances of having an historic 20th season.

I've been watching the greater forces in action, for example:

NBCU co-CEO Ben Silverman is apparently on his way out -- oh for joy -- reportedly having secured just a one year extension on his contract. NBC has been fourth place under his entire egomaniacal watch; somebody will need to take the fall.

NBC Entertainment comedy and drama programmer Angela Bromstad is likely to replace Silverman. Can't say whether this is good or bad; it's different. Dick Wolf has been throwing her bouquets in the press.

A new study funded by TiVO says most DVR users are focusing their captures on the 8 PM and 9 PM hours of prime time, and watching those shows within one hour of recording -- which implies that the 10 PM NBC slot occupied for so long by L&O and now bequeathed to Jay Leno will see a shrinking pool of viewers using TV live at 10 PM. The TiVo study is also inferring (on thin evidence, IMO) that some substantial portion of the public will be "abandoning the 10 PM slot altogether."

In the meanwhile Jay Leno is off to New York to stage a sample of his new NBC 10 PM weeknight strip, following the announcement by the NBC Boston affiliate that it's going to air it's own local news hour at 10 PM. A lot of concern reported among affiliates about Leno's ability to draw audience in an earlier timeslot.

And CBS and ABC have picked up new TV dramas for the 10 PM weekday slot, thereby declaring that their strategy to compete with Leno will be scripted series.

In all this, whither Law & Order? One assumes Dick Wolf is still negotiating. One also wonders what sort of a deal he's willing to cut.

More when I have it (for those who want it).

AL

[jeffan]

Very much so AL and thank you. It will be interesting to read any "wheeling and dealing" stories you may happen across.

I do hope Dick Wolf succeeds in his aim for a twentieth season of Law & Order.

[dragonsback]

We want it and we appreciate it. Your news reports are better than the New York Times. Thank you, Annabelleleigh. You are the best , truly.

[annabelleleigh]

Nothing new per se about L&O but this piece in Variety suggests that networks are bargaining hard to reduce scripted series' licensing fees.

My guess is that means that NBCU and Dick Wolf are having some contentious discussions since Wolf Films reduced its fees to allow for the current season of L&O. That is, unless Wolf nailed a two-season deal last year.

The germane paragraphs from the article are posted below. Boldface mine.

AL
-----------------------
TV networks revise spending
Economic crisis brings new business models

By Michael Schneider
Variety
April 10, 2009

Excerpt:

They're not quite searching Craigslist or the 99 Cents Only store, but the broadcast networks are in serious bargain-hunting mode.
And they're finding programming deals in more than just the reality-show aisle.

Network execs are sending a message to the industry: "We can't live the way we've lived in the past."

The old-style model of funding a pilot for $3 million-$10 million -- when it has only a 10% chance of survival -- can't be sustained much longer, they say. Ditto the hefty license fees for shows that are only performing so-so.

The penny-pinching trend, which started with reality fare, and continued with the Leno-in-primetime plan, is gaining steam on several other fronts as well.

International co-productions, which network chiefs would have never considered purchasing a few years ago, are suddenly in vogue, thanks to their thrifty sticker prices...

...NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker, for example, has said that his conglom is "managing for margins, not ratings" -- which is why the Peacock chose to strip Jay Leno five nights a week at 10 p.m., a much cheaper option than running five scripted dramas there.

NBC has drawn plenty of fire for that philosophy: "If you're trying to wring the most ad dollars out of every time period, it's going to bite you in the ass," one TV exec says."

Read the full article at:
www.variety.com/article/VR1118002340.html

[jeffan]

Thank you AL for this very interesting article.

That's a new one for me "managing margins not ratings". I would think that Dick Wolf would use this new buzz as a bargaining chip if he has not already secured that all important twentieth season for Law & Order.

I'm basing this speculation on the fact that L&O is not a high-flyer where ratings are concerned.

[annabelleleigh]

Ah but L&O is an expensive show to produce -- and rarely breaks the Top 20 in weekly Nielsen broadcast TV ratings.

I would imagine it requires a certain, minimum budget per episode to maintain L&O's high quality as well as an irreducible profit percentage that makes continuing production worthwhile. That's why there's talk of dual distribution for a 20th season -- new original episodes on NBC and also on some other platform, likely a cable channel. But maybe not an NBCU cable channel.

AL

P.S. Let's also remember that any deal Wolf may cut (or not cut) with NBCU for the mothership could affect the future of CI (and its current cast) on USA.

And bear in mind that NBC renewed SVU without Hargitay and Meloni (surely in cooperation with Wolf), reportedly because of their high salaries and additional compensation demands. That drama is unfinished. But the fact that it's happening at all is certainly meant to send a signal from producers to all leading actors about their perceived importance to the almighty bottom line.

[dragonsback]

AL, a favour, please. Quit your job, forego weekends at the beach shack, shun public life and dump your personal one, and do me a fabulous Annabelleigh National Geographic-style illustration that charts the money trail of L&O.

There should be coloured lines and arrows, 3D axonometric layers, sectional enlargements, a time line - the whole schmeer. Use icons representing cast, crew, Wolf Films, NBCU, its co-subsidiaries USA and NBC, Dick Wolf, Bonnie Hammer,. Might as well add Rene Balcer while you're at it. All the international markets and franchises need to be represented, too. You are going to need a lot of colours

See, I need such a visual aid to work out who pays whom, and when. If what I'm thinking is correct, the wily Wolf can slash those pesky licensing fees to the hearts' deligth of the suits, pass most if not all the cuts on in cast/crew salaries ("It's a recession, you creative stupidos") , and make profits of a gazillion to the power of 10 with another season - all this without Wolf Films actually prepaying a single dollar net, even to begin with.

But everybody wins. Re-purpose, re-use, repeat, residual - even the dumbo creatives win. Stripped, syndicated, sold on Mars. (And we haven't yet begun to talk franchise rights to Dubai or wherever he's peddling the scripts next.)

And whoever gets the loot from all those overseas runs -see AL's chart - and reruns and re-reuns and (think the infinity of pi here) - my god, they're hedged against currency fluctuations in every currency on Earth.

Dick, why killi yourself haggling in the boardroom bazaar? AL's chart tells the story. Your margins are managing very well. In fact, you can't afford not to cut a deal, almost any deal. Not about the money anymore. . It's The Chase (cue The Questing Beast ) for the glory, the utter glory of the 20th season. Sooooo close now... .

[jeffan]

Here Here Dragonsback: do it AL!

Cripes DB, the other day I was going to post a similar question on who gets what when slicing the pie. I am not in the least aut fait in the media business and thought my question may come across as rather naive. Of course your question is more complex than mine DB and also more entertaining to read.

I just want to tack on another query: why is LOCI always on the bubble if it is such a money-maker? Surely this is a prime case of profit margins rather than ratings.

Thanks to you both AL and DB.

Jeffan

[maherjunkie]

Ausiello says it's a go.

[annabelleleigh]

Yes but -- forgive me M-Junkie -- what does Ausiello know? This is a guy who writes blind items and, in my experience, is somewhat unreliable. In this case, I'd like to believe he's right.

My source (a high authority at L&O) told me today that negotiations are continuing and there's nothing yet nailed. Sigh.

AL

[maherjunkie]

Let's hope!

Lord forgive me for being cheesy but I kind of liked Cupid, with Bobby Canavale and all....

[Patcat]

Not only what AL said, but Ausiello uses his column to hammer his favorite targets, two of which are LOCI and Mr. D'Onofrio. And if I were Mariska Hargarity, I'd have a restraining order out against him.

Sorry--my dislikes are showing, what with my lack of sleep and all.

Patcat

[maherjunkie]

There's nothing wrong with hating something, I do it all the time!

[tjara]

Maybe Zack Nichols can help you work on your anger issues, Patcat!

[Patcat]

Either Detective Goren or Detective Nichols can help me with any of my issues anytime.

(Yes, Zach Nichols has become one of my TV boyfriends.)

Patcat