BY DERMOT HORAN So, the WGA strike is over, there is a new three-year deal in place, and a new scale of residual payments for DVD and non-linear broadcasting has been agreed upon. But what would have happened had the strike dragged on into the summer? VideoAge’s Dom Serafini asked me, a buyer, to examine this doomsday scenario, and determine what the effects would have been for distributors and international broadcasters. When the strike began in November 2007, the studios had completed approximately half of the 2007/2008 season of episodes. For those U.S. series that international broadcasters were planning to put into primetime slots, there would be a temporary stay of execution, but once these new episodes were played out, the situation would become critical. Unlike most domestic drama productions commissioned by international broadcasters, the U.S. studios’ and broadcasters’ shows come in bountiful batches of 22 episodes per season once a show has proven itself successful. This allows schedulers to place a U.S. series into a slot for 22 consecutive weeks. In the U.S. there is a tradition of running reruns sprinkled amongst the new episodes during the fall and winter season. Thus, between September and the following May, 22 new episodes are played over a 36-week season. This does not generally apply outside of the U.S., except in Canada. Most international broadcasters prefer to run 22 new episodes consecutively, and follow that with a brand new series of 22 episodes in the same slot. So, while U.S. audiences were declining during the strike, American viewers were at least used to seeing reruns in December and January. Most schedules need drama series to attract loyal and upscale audiences. Dramas are key viewing appointments. The production values of a drama outweigh those of any other form of programming. Without an ongoing supply of U.S. dramas international broadcasters would have had a number of choices: Buy repeats, off-net or library series from the U.S. majors; buy drama from other countries; commission cheap local programming. Option One would mean inevitable and significant declines in ratings. Dramas in particular, don’t repeat well in primetime. Library dramas can play a part in daytime television but would not work in peak hours. Finally, off-net material, which has not yet been licensed, is probably not worth picking up. Option two would involve identifying dramas with sufficient volumes from other countries. Distributors from the likes of the U.K., Australia and Canada would definitely benefit, as would some from mainland Europe and Latin America. In some cases this would have been the first time many broadcasters would have scheduled non-U.S. dramas in primetime. These dramas would cost less and would be packaged with less material, thus offering a real alternative to buying from the U.S. majors. The final option is one which more mainstream and bigger broadcasters would choose. Local productions tends to rate extremely well. Over time, successful local programming would replace U.S. series, which could struggle to re-establish themselves in broadcasters’ peak schedules. In all three scenarios the Hollywood studios’ international distribution businesses would suffer terribly. There was a time until fairly recently that feature film slates were the main driver of packages from the U.S. majors. But nowadays drama series have become the leverage around which deals have been struck. Now that the strike is over, a more compact pilot season is up and running. The sheer scale of previous pilot commissions will probably never return. And the L.A. Screenings is back where it belongs, immediately following the networks’ fall announcements. U.S. series will once again form part of most international broadcasters’ schedules. Dermot Horan is director of Broadcast and Acquisitions for RTE, Ireland. for his granddaughters. FOX Comedy Capes A retired caped crusader runs a bar frequented by good and evil superheroes. Outnumbered Revolves around a family struggling to raise three overly intelligent children. Based on a U.K. format. The Pitts Animated comedy that takes an absurdist look at family life. Sit Down, Shut Up Animated show that centers on the faculty at the most dysfunctional school in America. Starting Under After a divorce, an opinionated man (Bernie Mac) is forced to live with and work for his introverted son. Spaced Laffer about a man and a woman who pose as a couple in order to score a cheap apartment. Drama Dollhouse From the mind of Joss Whedon comes this action series about a female Jason Bourne who is stripped of her memories after completing missions. Fringe Sci-fi series about an FBI agent and a Mensa member/high school dropout who team up to identify paranormal activity. Lie to Me Former FBI agent Cal Lightman acts as a human lie detector to uncover people’s secrets Night Ride Dramedy about a family man who decides to pursue his dream of becoming an EMT. The Oaks Follows a house through several decades and the families that have lived in it. Queen Bee Workplace drama focusing on a ruthless female CEO who corrupts a young woman by taking her on as her right hand. NBC Comedy Pilots Man of Your Dreams Multi-camera comedy about a womanizing bartender who decides to change his ways by helping women whose romantic lives are in disarray. Zip A conman schemes his way into the glamorous life of Beverly Hills. Comedy Series (Picked up sans pilot) Kath and Kim Molly Shannon and Selma Blair star in a sitcom about a divorced mom and her selfabsorbed daughter. Drama Pilots All Rise A legal thriller about the hunger for success — whatever the cost. Blue Blood Cop drama starring The O.C.’s Logan Marshall-Green about the true stories of a Harvard-educated cop in his first year as a police officer in New York. Kings David and Goliath set in a meta modern world. Knight Rider (2-hour backdoor pilot) A modern take on the original series with a brand-new KITT and cast. Drama Series (Picked up sans pilot) Fear Itself Fear anthology series. The Listener Chronicles 25-year-old Toby’s struggle to lead an ordinary life while using his powers of telepathy to help others. The Philanthropist About a billionaire who uses his resources to help those in need — often at great risk to himself. Robinson Crusoe New twist on Daniel Defoe’s classic tale. *As of March 17 V I D E O • A G E AP R I L 2 0 0 8 54 W h a t I f … Scenario Had The WGA’s Strike Continued 2008-’09 NetworkCommissioned Pilots* ABC Comedy Cedric Laffer about a man who has difficulty adjusting when his wife’s hobby becomes a million-dollar enterprise. The Goode Family Animated comedy from creator Mike Judge about a family obsessed with doing the “right” thing. Literary Superstars Centers on a literary publicist who fights for her authors while balancing her social life. The More Things Change Buddy comedy about four male friends whose friendship endures life changes such as getting married. Untitled Kohan/Mutchnick Project Workplace comedy about business partners: one straight, one gay Drama Life on Mars Adaptation of a BBC series about a cop who wakes up 30 years in the past. Section 8 A sci-fi drama fromX-Men writer Zak Penn. Reality Untitled Tyra Banks/Ashton Kutcher Project A joint effort from Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher for Warner Horizon, Bankable Productions and Katalyst. Untitled Project Based on High School Musical A competition searching for America’s best performer. CBS Comedy My Best Friend’s Girl Multi-camera comedy about two best friends who own a bike shop together, whose friendship is compromised when one starts dating the other’s ex-wife. Single White Millionaire Tells the tale of a thirtysomething millionaire who decides it’s time to settle down. Worst Week Chronicles the lives of a young couple who must survive their soon-to-be in-laws. Drama Can Openers A female doctor and her fellow residents fight to survive the boys club that is the seventh year of a neurosurgical residency. The Eleventh Hour Focuses on a government agent that protects people from scientific abuses. The Meant to Be’s Romantic drama centering on a young woman who dies, but must return to Earth to help people improve their lives before she’s allowed to “pass over.” The Mentalist About a mentalist who uses his abilities to solve crimes. Mythological X Focuses on a woman who is told by her psychic that she has already dated the man she will eventually wed. Desperate to learn who he is, she must revisit past relationships. Ny-Lon Tells the tale of a New York record store clerk and a London stockbroker who begin a trans-Atlantic romance. Reality Splitsville Game show in which divorcing couples negotiate for possessions by competing in a variety of challenges. Untitled Tom Forman Project Centers on law enforcement officials assisting people who’ve been victimized by crime. CW Drama How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls Based on the book by Zoey Dean, the show follows a Yale graduate who is hired by a wealthy man to be a live-in tutor/life coach
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