Following HBO, Networks Test Short-Run Series - Interesting Read on the Future of T.V
01-21-04, 05:39 PM
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Following HBO, Networks Test Short-Run Series - Interesting Read on the Future of T.V
Following HBO, Networks Test Short-Run Series
By BILL CARTER
Published: January 19, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 - To a growing number of network executives, shows like "Kingdom Hospital," a 13-week-long series written by the horror master Stephen King and set to make its debut on ABC in March, are the vanguard of a new approach to building a network prime-time schedule.
They acknowledge, though, that they are stealing the model from HBO.
This heretical notion, as laid out in separate interviews by executives from ABC, Fox and WB, calls for networks to introduce television series intended to run in relatively short bursts of 8 to 13 episodes over consecutive weeks, not the 22 or more episodes spread out over an officially designated September-to-May season.
HBO has enjoyed much success following this path with "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City," and other networks have begun to copy the strategy. The new programs - like "Kingdom Hospital,'' ABC's ancient Rome epic "Empire'' and "Casino" on Fox - are part of a broad reconsideration by network executives of the conventions of prime-time programming and scheduling as they deal with competition from cable and with declining ratings.
Already, executives of NBC and Fox have declared their intention to reject the nine-month television season. NBC announced last week that it would begin its fall season before Labor Day rather than in the third week of September, and Fox has committed to starting more shows in the summer - as early as June this year - as it did successfully last year with "The O.C.''
Several networks are ready to embrace the short-run series as staples of their schedules. Jordan Levin, chief executive of the WB Television Network, said he had detected "a tipping point of sorts," where viewers had been influenced by the short-run style of cable programming to expect the same from the broadcast networks.
"They're watching shows in much smaller arcs," Mr. Levin said, citing the example of so-called reality programs, which have been dropped into network schedules for 6 or 10 or 13 weeks. A recent example: Fox began "The Simple Life," a 10-week reality series following the escapades of the socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on an Arkansas farm, in December, and it has been the most successful new show on the network.
Numerous short-run shows, mainly dramas and reality programs, are in development across most networks, with "Kingdom Hospital" the first drama of its kind to reach prime time. ABC's "Empire," in production in Europe and scheduled for 2005, will play for only eight episodes in its initial run, ABC executives said.
"It's clearly a model that has worked very well for HBO," said Susan Lyne, the president of ABC Entertainment. She called it "time-period sharing," citing the way "The Sopranos'' occupies Sunday night at 9 for part of a year, followed by "Six Feet Under" or other dramas.
Gail Berman, the president of Fox Entertainment, said: "I absolutely think this is part of the future of the business. It's especially flexible when you're trying to roll out new shows all season long. It helps with the puzzle a lot."
The reasons for the new approach, the executives said, begin with a growing conviction among the networks that they must move toward a full 52 weeks of original programming. Plans to make such a move have been held back by economic realities. Networks relied on repeats in the summer months to turn a profit. The studios that produced the shows for the networks relied on syndication sales of repeats to cover the deficits incurred in producing shows.
Now, several network executives said, the growing market in DVD sales of network series is providing a financial alternative to reliance on rebroadcasts. More and more series are being packaged and sold to viewers as complete seasons on DVD - from the expected, like "Friends," to the surprising, like "The Simple Life,'' which Fox Home Entertainment is releasing on DVD days after the series finale appeared on the Fox Network.
But counting on DVD sales to replace summer reruns or syndication sales contains significant risk, several executives said. "I think DVD sales works on a Stephen King model,'' Mr. Levin of WB said. "But it won't work for every show.''
In addition, both actors and writers do not have contracts in place that allow them to share significantly in the revenue from DVD's, which goes to the show's owners. (Though the owner is generally a production studio, because networks now tend to own or have an stake in most of the shows on their schedules, they get a hefty share of the DVD sales.) Negotiations to work out those terms with production studios could prove contentious, and eventually costly.
"The battle over DVD sales is going to get nasty in a hurry," one senior Hollywood production studio executive said.
It has already caused some of the supporting cast members of the 90's NBC hit series "Seinfeld'' to decline to participate in interviews for the DVD because they do not share in the profits. At the moment, studios can simply make DVD deals without the actors' and writers' cooperation, although that will presumably end as soon as actors and writers work out new contracts.
Another problem could arise in the casting of short-run shows if actors resist tying themselves to a series that runs only 8 to 13 episodes a year. Actors are usually paid on a per-episode basis. One longtime star of a network drama said he would be loath to tie up several years of his career in a series that ran only 8 to 13 times a year.
But network executives say they have to find a way to eliminate reliance on reruns, especially of serialized programs, because they perform poorly in the ratings and are, in effect, an invitation for viewers to sample what the cable networks are offering.
The executives are also increasingly desperate to find ways to deal with the ever-shortening attention span of young viewers.
Lloyd Braun, the chairman of ABC Entertainment, said ABC, which has had particular trouble establishing new dramatic series, believes it can improve by turning shows like ""Kingdom Hospital'' and "Empire" into short-term "events" that viewers will be willing to commit several weeks to.
"You can't take a new drama and put it on the fall schedule and have people commit their lives to them anymore,'' Mr. Braun said. "We live in a different universe now."
CBS and NBC might not be ready to move into that new universe yet. While those networks have steadied their schedules by introducing short-run reality programs in recent years, both also have dramas - the "C.S.I." shows for CBS and the "Law and Order" shows for NBC - that comfortably play all season long, and repeat well. With dramas that have no trouble with a full season of 22 to 24 episodes, those networks have less incentive to look for new ones that may run only 8 times a year. (CBS said this weekend that it would add a third "C.S.I.,'' set in New York, to its schedule in the fall, and NBC is close to announcing a fourth "Law & Order.'')
"We're doing just fine playing by the same old rules,'' said Leslie Moonves, the chairman of CBS Television. He said other networks might be talking about new programming models as an excuse for their failure with traditionally constructed series.
But Mr. Braun commented, "We're not saying we're going to stop doing 22 episodes of a drama, but I am saying we're going to have to position them differently," and pay for them differently.
"Empire'' for example, will be the most expensive drama ABC has ever produced, Mr. Braun said. At about $3 million an episode, the cost is about twice as much as ABC pays for a typical new series "But there's less risk,'' he went on. "We've been able to craft it. We've sold the foreign rights. We have a partner in Hallmark. The worse-case scenario there is we break even."
That compares favorably, he said, with a traditional dramatic show that ABC would order for a fall season. In that case, the network would commit itself to paying for at least 13 episodes. If the show failed early, as virtually all ABC dramas have in recent years, like "M.D.'s'' and "Push, Nevada,'' the network would have a sizable loss on its hands, he said.
At WB, the problems with reruns have been acute because almost all its shows are serialized dramas like "Gilmore Girls" and "Everwood." Mr. Levin said the network was considering turning a season-long run of some of its top shows into one long, concentrated burst.
For a show like "Smallville,'' WB may, instead of beginning the new season in September, hold it back until next January. That way, Mr. Levin said, it would be able to broadcast all 22 episodes of the series in a row, without ever throwing a repeat program into the run.
To help amortize the costs of such a plan, WB would go even further into the HBO model by using a second run of each episode somewhere else on its schedule - in the same week.
"You get hooked on it," said Garth Ancier, co-chairman of WB. "You watch it, more or less, 22 straight weeks. I think it would be a much better way to watch television."
By BILL CARTER
Published: January 19, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 - To a growing number of network executives, shows like "Kingdom Hospital," a 13-week-long series written by the horror master Stephen King and set to make its debut on ABC in March, are the vanguard of a new approach to building a network prime-time schedule.
They acknowledge, though, that they are stealing the model from HBO.
This heretical notion, as laid out in separate interviews by executives from ABC, Fox and WB, calls for networks to introduce television series intended to run in relatively short bursts of 8 to 13 episodes over consecutive weeks, not the 22 or more episodes spread out over an officially designated September-to-May season.
HBO has enjoyed much success following this path with "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City," and other networks have begun to copy the strategy. The new programs - like "Kingdom Hospital,'' ABC's ancient Rome epic "Empire'' and "Casino" on Fox - are part of a broad reconsideration by network executives of the conventions of prime-time programming and scheduling as they deal with competition from cable and with declining ratings.
Already, executives of NBC and Fox have declared their intention to reject the nine-month television season. NBC announced last week that it would begin its fall season before Labor Day rather than in the third week of September, and Fox has committed to starting more shows in the summer - as early as June this year - as it did successfully last year with "The O.C.''
Several networks are ready to embrace the short-run series as staples of their schedules. Jordan Levin, chief executive of the WB Television Network, said he had detected "a tipping point of sorts," where viewers had been influenced by the short-run style of cable programming to expect the same from the broadcast networks.
"They're watching shows in much smaller arcs," Mr. Levin said, citing the example of so-called reality programs, which have been dropped into network schedules for 6 or 10 or 13 weeks. A recent example: Fox began "The Simple Life," a 10-week reality series following the escapades of the socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on an Arkansas farm, in December, and it has been the most successful new show on the network.
Numerous short-run shows, mainly dramas and reality programs, are in development across most networks, with "Kingdom Hospital" the first drama of its kind to reach prime time. ABC's "Empire," in production in Europe and scheduled for 2005, will play for only eight episodes in its initial run, ABC executives said.
"It's clearly a model that has worked very well for HBO," said Susan Lyne, the president of ABC Entertainment. She called it "time-period sharing," citing the way "The Sopranos'' occupies Sunday night at 9 for part of a year, followed by "Six Feet Under" or other dramas.
Gail Berman, the president of Fox Entertainment, said: "I absolutely think this is part of the future of the business. It's especially flexible when you're trying to roll out new shows all season long. It helps with the puzzle a lot."
The reasons for the new approach, the executives said, begin with a growing conviction among the networks that they must move toward a full 52 weeks of original programming. Plans to make such a move have been held back by economic realities. Networks relied on repeats in the summer months to turn a profit. The studios that produced the shows for the networks relied on syndication sales of repeats to cover the deficits incurred in producing shows.
Now, several network executives said, the growing market in DVD sales of network series is providing a financial alternative to reliance on rebroadcasts. More and more series are being packaged and sold to viewers as complete seasons on DVD - from the expected, like "Friends," to the surprising, like "The Simple Life,'' which Fox Home Entertainment is releasing on DVD days after the series finale appeared on the Fox Network.
But counting on DVD sales to replace summer reruns or syndication sales contains significant risk, several executives said. "I think DVD sales works on a Stephen King model,'' Mr. Levin of WB said. "But it won't work for every show.''
In addition, both actors and writers do not have contracts in place that allow them to share significantly in the revenue from DVD's, which goes to the show's owners. (Though the owner is generally a production studio, because networks now tend to own or have an stake in most of the shows on their schedules, they get a hefty share of the DVD sales.) Negotiations to work out those terms with production studios could prove contentious, and eventually costly.
"The battle over DVD sales is going to get nasty in a hurry," one senior Hollywood production studio executive said.
It has already caused some of the supporting cast members of the 90's NBC hit series "Seinfeld'' to decline to participate in interviews for the DVD because they do not share in the profits. At the moment, studios can simply make DVD deals without the actors' and writers' cooperation, although that will presumably end as soon as actors and writers work out new contracts.
Another problem could arise in the casting of short-run shows if actors resist tying themselves to a series that runs only 8 to 13 episodes a year. Actors are usually paid on a per-episode basis. One longtime star of a network drama said he would be loath to tie up several years of his career in a series that ran only 8 to 13 times a year.
But network executives say they have to find a way to eliminate reliance on reruns, especially of serialized programs, because they perform poorly in the ratings and are, in effect, an invitation for viewers to sample what the cable networks are offering.
The executives are also increasingly desperate to find ways to deal with the ever-shortening attention span of young viewers.
Lloyd Braun, the chairman of ABC Entertainment, said ABC, which has had particular trouble establishing new dramatic series, believes it can improve by turning shows like ""Kingdom Hospital'' and "Empire" into short-term "events" that viewers will be willing to commit several weeks to.
"You can't take a new drama and put it on the fall schedule and have people commit their lives to them anymore,'' Mr. Braun said. "We live in a different universe now."
CBS and NBC might not be ready to move into that new universe yet. While those networks have steadied their schedules by introducing short-run reality programs in recent years, both also have dramas - the "C.S.I." shows for CBS and the "Law and Order" shows for NBC - that comfortably play all season long, and repeat well. With dramas that have no trouble with a full season of 22 to 24 episodes, those networks have less incentive to look for new ones that may run only 8 times a year. (CBS said this weekend that it would add a third "C.S.I.,'' set in New York, to its schedule in the fall, and NBC is close to announcing a fourth "Law & Order.'')
"We're doing just fine playing by the same old rules,'' said Leslie Moonves, the chairman of CBS Television. He said other networks might be talking about new programming models as an excuse for their failure with traditionally constructed series.
But Mr. Braun commented, "We're not saying we're going to stop doing 22 episodes of a drama, but I am saying we're going to have to position them differently," and pay for them differently.
"Empire'' for example, will be the most expensive drama ABC has ever produced, Mr. Braun said. At about $3 million an episode, the cost is about twice as much as ABC pays for a typical new series "But there's less risk,'' he went on. "We've been able to craft it. We've sold the foreign rights. We have a partner in Hallmark. The worse-case scenario there is we break even."
That compares favorably, he said, with a traditional dramatic show that ABC would order for a fall season. In that case, the network would commit itself to paying for at least 13 episodes. If the show failed early, as virtually all ABC dramas have in recent years, like "M.D.'s'' and "Push, Nevada,'' the network would have a sizable loss on its hands, he said.
At WB, the problems with reruns have been acute because almost all its shows are serialized dramas like "Gilmore Girls" and "Everwood." Mr. Levin said the network was considering turning a season-long run of some of its top shows into one long, concentrated burst.
For a show like "Smallville,'' WB may, instead of beginning the new season in September, hold it back until next January. That way, Mr. Levin said, it would be able to broadcast all 22 episodes of the series in a row, without ever throwing a repeat program into the run.
To help amortize the costs of such a plan, WB would go even further into the HBO model by using a second run of each episode somewhere else on its schedule - in the same week.
"You get hooked on it," said Garth Ancier, co-chairman of WB. "You watch it, more or less, 22 straight weeks. I think it would be a much better way to watch television."
01-21-04, 07:31 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
It has already caused some of the supporting cast members of the 90's NBC hit series "Seinfeld'' to decline to participate in interviews for the DVD because they do not share in the profits. At the moment, studios can simply make DVD deals without the actors' and writers' cooperation, although that will presumably end as soon as actors and writers work out new contracts.
I am suprised to hear Seinfeld is coming out. I had heard it was not going to happen.
I am suprised to hear Seinfeld is coming out. I had heard it was not going to happen.
01-21-04, 10:09 PM
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Finally...perhaps they'll focus more on better writing in shorter bursts than crap stretched out over 22 episodes. The BBC's been doing it for years and it seems to have worked out well for them 
01-22-04, 09:34 AM
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With dramas that have no trouble with a full season of 22 to 24 episodes, those networks have less incentive to look for new ones that may run only 8 times a year. (CBS said this weekend that it would add a third "C.S.I.,'' set in New York, to its schedule in the fall, and NBC is close to announcing a fourth "Law & Order.''
I am all for this new model. Especially what the WB plans on doing (with running the same show twice of week). It gives me more options to watch certain shows and more shows to watch. Most every show I watch could be condensed into 8-16 episodes a season (and would be better for it). I don't think HBO should be the only channel given credit for showing that this works, cable in general has been using shorter seasons for a few years now (The Shield, Dead Zone, Monk, etc.). Anyways it's always great to see the network execs scramble.
01-22-04, 09:37 AM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Following HBO, Networks Test Short-Run Series - Interesting Read on the Future of T.V
Originally posted by ten41
They acknowledge, though, that they are stealing the model from HBO.
They acknowledge, though, that they are stealing the model from HBO.
Unless I'm mistaken, this concept of a short-run series was actually the norm for British television way back when, in the days when U.S. series ran a 39-episode season, only taking off for the summer.
01-22-04, 11:21 AM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
You know, I had the idea for XM radio over 15 years ago, and I've had this idea for years too (even before I knew that's how the BBC did it). I think I need to start patenting my ideas.
I've thought this would be a good idea for Star Trek for ages. Especially during the last few seasons of Voyager, cause they had some gems, but they also had quite a few stinkers. I would have rather have had 16-18 good ones, than 26 eps that were a mix.
I've thought this would be a good idea for Star Trek for ages. Especially during the last few seasons of Voyager, cause they had some gems, but they also had quite a few stinkers. I would have rather have had 16-18 good ones, than 26 eps that were a mix.
01-22-04, 11:49 AM
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Re: Following HBO, Networks Test Short-Run Series - Interesting Read on the Future of T.V
Originally posted by ten41
Another problem could arise in the casting of short-run shows if actors resist tying themselves to a series that runs only 8 to 13 episodes a year. Actors are usually paid on a per-episode basis. One longtime star of a network drama said he would be loath to tie up several years of his career in a series that ran only 8 to 13 times a year.
Another problem could arise in the casting of short-run shows if actors resist tying themselves to a series that runs only 8 to 13 episodes a year. Actors are usually paid on a per-episode basis. One longtime star of a network drama said he would be loath to tie up several years of his career in a series that ran only 8 to 13 times a year.
01-22-04, 12:05 PM
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I guess I am going to be the voice of dissent here. It's all about quality versus quantity. Reducing the number of episodes of a show is not going to automatically make people watch it. HBO, Showtime, etc produce good shows not because they only have to create about 14 episodes. They focus on quality writing and direction and don't worry about pandering to the lowest common denominator.
It will allow NBC, ABC and CBS to try out riskier concepts. Good for them. Fox will just take the opportunity to cancel twice as many shows as before.
It will allow NBC, ABC and CBS to try out riskier concepts. Good for them. Fox will just take the opportunity to cancel twice as many shows as before.
01-22-04, 12:32 PM
#14
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It's good and bad. Sure, one would think it could focus quality over quantity in making TV Shows. It's certainly easier to make 13 good shows than 22.
On the other hand, I don't think the success of the Sopranos or SFU is simply because it is a 13 episode run. They are quality shows. People watch them, because they are good. And with HBO, they re-run their shows all the time. It's very easy to see an episode one might have missed. Not that the networks are great at catching re-runs, but it would be nice to have some. One could even go farther and go 6 episode seasons like in England.
Still, I like the idea of watching all of one show straight through. And if networks are willing to put more new programming in the summer, that's great too. I just see no need to cut episodes, at least not in all shows. And some of the logic behind the decision to do so seems a little flawed. But some reasons are good ones, so if they can balance the two, it would be nice.
On the other hand, I don't think the success of the Sopranos or SFU is simply because it is a 13 episode run. They are quality shows. People watch them, because they are good. And with HBO, they re-run their shows all the time. It's very easy to see an episode one might have missed. Not that the networks are great at catching re-runs, but it would be nice to have some. One could even go farther and go 6 episode seasons like in England.
Still, I like the idea of watching all of one show straight through. And if networks are willing to put more new programming in the summer, that's great too. I just see no need to cut episodes, at least not in all shows. And some of the logic behind the decision to do so seems a little flawed. But some reasons are good ones, so if they can balance the two, it would be nice.
01-22-04, 12:55 PM
#15
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I think the problem with this is that they are not following how HBO does it, they are simply taking one aspect (13 shows a season) and copying that. I.E. the sample they use as a success (the O.C.) has 13 episodes, but they are stretching it out over the entire season by showing one new show, two week break, another new one, now 3 weeks of reruns. As where HBO usually has around a 13-week season with only occisional week breaks (correct me if I am wrong since I have only watched Carvinal for an entire season).
01-22-04, 03:57 PM
#16
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I like that may show more reruns during the week, but they are only copying HBO's scheme of how to run the episodes and not how to create them. If it's just going to be the same garbage in a shorter time period, people still won't watch.
01-22-04, 04:50 PM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Well, it's not necessarily a guaranteed success by going to shorter seasons, but I've always thought that one of the benefits would be if you were making 26 episodes, and you were submitted 100 scripts, and you chose the top 26 episodes, versus choosing the top 13 episodes, you might have a better shot. Then you could take the rejected ones and have more time to rework them or ask for better ones from those writers.
I realize that's not perfect, but surely it would help?
I realize that's not perfect, but surely it would help?
01-22-04, 04:55 PM
#18
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Re: Following HBO, Networks Test Short-Run Series - Interesting Read on the Future of T.V
Originally posted by ten41
At WB, the problems with reruns have been acute because almost all its shows are serialized dramas like "Gilmore Girls" and "Everwood." Mr. Levin said the network was considering turning a season-long run of some of its top shows into one long, concentrated burst.
For a show like "Smallville,'' WB may, instead of beginning the new season in September, hold it back until next January. That way, Mr. Levin said, it would be able to broadcast all 22 episodes of the series in a row, without ever throwing a repeat program into the run.
To help amortize the costs of such a plan, WB would go even further into the HBO model by using a second run of each episode somewhere else on its schedule - in the same week.
"You get hooked on it," said Garth Ancier, co-chairman of WB. "You watch it, more or less, 22 straight weeks. I think it would be a much better way to watch television."
At WB, the problems with reruns have been acute because almost all its shows are serialized dramas like "Gilmore Girls" and "Everwood." Mr. Levin said the network was considering turning a season-long run of some of its top shows into one long, concentrated burst.
For a show like "Smallville,'' WB may, instead of beginning the new season in September, hold it back until next January. That way, Mr. Levin said, it would be able to broadcast all 22 episodes of the series in a row, without ever throwing a repeat program into the run.
To help amortize the costs of such a plan, WB would go even further into the HBO model by using a second run of each episode somewhere else on its schedule - in the same week.
"You get hooked on it," said Garth Ancier, co-chairman of WB. "You watch it, more or less, 22 straight weeks. I think it would be a much better way to watch television."
