Originally posted by Adolfo: The show has been on for 19 years, licensing fees, production and the Dick Wolf name are all very pricey. It's already been mentioned above on this thread on how a show rises year to year in production costs. 19 seasons vs 1-2. hmmmmmm which one do you think is more expensive?
The cast has changed multiple times. The new actors can't cost any more than that massive cast of DSM. From the sound of it, really expensive characters like Sam Watterson's are only in a few select scenes here an there. Licensing fees are likely expensive, but probably have been cut as the show has declined in viewership.
Originally posted by Adolfo: The show has been on for 19 years, licensing fees, production and the Dick Wolf name are all very pricey. It's already been mentioned above on this thread on how a show rises year to year in production costs. 19 seasons vs 1-2. hmmmmmm which one do you think is more expensive?
This sounds like the same inane claim made about ER all the time. Creators/producers/studios do take license fee cuts on shows in order to extend their life cycle. Anyone claiming that show costs go up every year simply as an automatic factor in renewal is wrong.
Unless someone can step forward with actual reliable numbers, there should be no reason to believe that Law & Order is more expensive than Heroes.
Originally posted by Obveeus: This sounds like the same inane claim made about ER all the time. Creators/producers/studios do take license fee cuts on shows in order to extend their life cycle. Anyone claiming that show costs go up every year simply as an automatic factor in renewal is wrong.
Unless someone can step forward with actual reliable numbers, there should be no reason to believe that Law & Order is more expensive than Heroes.
I think if you do some web searches from last year, you may find the answer. It was discussed in a few articles when the whole moving the CI to USA thing came about.
"The broadcast networks make most of their money during their series' early run, usually around the third year. But by the fifth or sixth seasons, they usually have to pay a license fee that equals the series' production costs. A recent Wall Street Journal report quoted sources as saying NBC pays about $3 million for a single episode of "Criminal Intent."
If one factors in ratings premiums in the range of $100,000-$150,000 per episode paid by the networks that kick in after the fourth season as well as partial reimbursements of the losses incurred by the studios in the early years of the shows, it is no surprise that the networks are taking a careful look at their older series.
In the case of so-called "bubble" shows whose ratings are marginal, the networks have been making the case of bringing them back for a license fee less than 100% of the production cost. The studios can usually make up the difference through domestic reruns and international sales."
To answer the constant question as to why it costs so much to produce L&O compared to other shows...
Originally posted by Adolfo: The show has been on for 19 years, licensing fees, production and the Dick Wolf name are all very pricey. It's already been mentioned above on this thread on how a show rises year to year in production costs. 19 seasons vs 1-2. hmmmmmm which one do you think is more expensive?
This sounds like the same inane claim made about ER all the time. Creators/producers/studios do take license fee cuts on shows in order to extend their life cycle. Anyone claiming that show costs go up every year simply as an automatic factor in renewal is wrong.
Unless someone can step forward with actual reliable numbers, there should be no reason to believe that Law & Order is more expensive than Heroes.
Thank-you Obveeus. We know for a fact that ER's license fee has been reduced before. There's no reason to believe that Wolf hasn't done the same with Law and Order or wouldn't be willing to because he wants the show to stay on the air.
Originally posted by willowhaven: I think if you do some web searches from last year, you may find the answer. It was discussed in a few articles when the whole moving the CI to USA thing came about.
I think you are worng. Feel free to search the internet and provide actual cost data for NBC shows. A quote along the lines of 'Friday Night Lights was moved to Direct TV in order to share/reduce production costs' is not an example of actual cost. Neither is any article that claims cast members were cut to control costs. Actual data is a cost per episode pricetag for the CURRENT season. Editorial work passing as 'news' doesn't tend to offer specifics.
Originally posted by Obveeus: I think you are worng. Feel free to search the internet and provide actual cost data for NBC shows. A quote along the lines of 'Friday Night Lights was moved to Direct TV in order to share/reduce production costs' is not an example of actual cost. Neither is any article that claims cast members were cut to control costs. Actual data is a cost per episode pricetag for the CURRENT season. Editorial work passing as 'news' doesn't tend to offer specifics.
You aren't going to get an "actual cost". All you can do is guestimate. The link I provided can give an idea.
Found this article on how when CI was moved to USA that financial targets were set for the franchise, especially the mothership after ratings declined significantly on Fridays that year. From the article (found here)
"Law & Order" sank sharply in the ratings this year, although that was partly expected with a move to Fridays, one of the least-watched nights on television. While it will be back for an 18th season, NBC executives declined Sunday to say whether it will start in the fall or midseason.
The deal also forces Wolf to cut production costs for the series and hit new financial targets, although they weren't publicly outlined. Wolf said this wouldn't result in any significant cast changes or be visible to viewers.
"Nobody was casting aspersions on the creative process," he said. "It was just costing too much for the realities of how the business has evolved."
Here are a couple more articles to give an idea. Both from last year, but you can safely assume costs rose for this year. Things generally go up...not down. So...either, they went up, or are comperable to the quoted rates...
"The offer came after word surfaced that NBC was contemplating canceling the venerable 17-year-old drama, which has seen its ratings sink further this season following its shift to the Friday night graveyard.
NBCU, which produces the series in association with Wolf Films, has a vested interest in keeping the so-called “mothership” of the $3 billion-plus L&O franchise alive beyond this season.
It has long-term commitments in place from TNT to pay $1 million per episode for L&O reruns, as well as international territories, which are believed to kick in an additional guaranteed $800,000 for each show.
To continue, the production budget of L&O would have to be slashed far below its current $4 million per episode cost. Executive Producer Dick Wolf was recently reported to be looking at making budget cuts of $11 million per season, or $500,000 per episode, to keep it on NBC."
"— At a cost per episode between $1 and $2 million, “Law & Order” remains a powerhouse franchise for NBC, TNT, USA, and especially for creator Dick Wolf. MediaWeek does the math and finds that the shows generate $1 billion in profit."
ETA: The second article is newer, so...maybe Dick Wolf did agree to lower the price tag so that the show would be re-signed.
On the SVU front..."Among women, Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: SVU, is the highest-paid actress in a prime-time drama, earning $400,000 per episode." Source
This message has been edited. Last edited by: willowhaven,
Originally posted by TV-aholic: Well, the two comedies have taken ahit the last three weeks.
2 weeks ago, GU was out as the Obama ad took the 8pm slot and Old christine aired at 8:30.
Last week, they had to go head-to-head with DWTS, which was move from tuesday because of the election.
This week, the had the CMAs to deal with.
3 Weeks ago, both shows were above 7.5 million viewers and had about a 2.5 demo rating. They had been climbing, slowly, each week since their premieres.
but having said all that, they cant survive against AI, so Sundays need to be in their future.
quote:
Originally posted by WlcmLAPD: The New Adventures of Old Christine (Viewers: #3, 6.88 million; A18-49: #3, 2.0/ 6), Gary Unmarried (Viewers: #3, 6.71 million; A18-49: #3, 2.1/ 5), Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 14.80 million; A18-49: #2, 3.8/10) and CSI: NY (Viewers: #2, 11.62 million; A18-49: #2, 3.0/ 8).
Looking at this, CBS' Wednesday comedies are way too low in the demos and viewers. Look at the demo and viewer jump when CM comes on. Almost double. It was a good experiment but the comedies need to be moved for something that can pull in better numbers. CM would be even more impressive if it had a better lead in.
As for Bones, if it can keep its numbers, it is absolutely going to dominate Thursdays at 8 PM. 10.86 million and 3.5 in the demo is great for it. If I were ABC, I'd move UB out of the way. It's struggling right now and Bones will kill it.
What on earth is up with the mentality that Old Christine deserves a chance on Sunday? This show has received more promotion and better time slots for the past 3 years than any other sitcom on the air. It has a recognizable star. If after 3 years of pampering, the best it can do is 8 million viewers and a 2.5 demo against the WEAKEST competition it has EVER faced, then it will just have to "find" its audience right here...even if it is against Idol. That does suck for Gary Unmarried, though but the CBS love affair with Christine has caused many other shows to be inconvenienced or canceled for less offensive numbers than this....
I see no reason it will do better than TAR on Sundays....and it would REALLY be dragging down the rest of the night...which is full of shows that actually had to earn their place on CBS against REAL competition....
OTE]Originally posted by robert:
