What The Broadcaster
Saw
A guide to the perplexed
1981
Canada: Prime-time Weekday TVCanada: Prime-time Weekday TV
Monday
CBC That's Incredible! CFL FOOTBALL
CTV Private Benjamin The Two of Us M*A*S*H House Calls Lou Grant
Tuesda y
CBC Happy Days Laverne and Shirley SCTV Too Close for Comfort Hart to Hart
CTV Simon and Simon (Nov.) The CTV Tuesday Night Movies
Wednesda y
CBC You Can’t Do That On Television HOME FIRES Dallas
CTV Mr. Merlin (Oct.) WKRP in Cincinnati Nurse Shannon (Nov.)
Thursday
CBC KIDS OF DEGRASSI MAN ALIVE Three's Company Too Close for Comfort ??
CTV Simon and Simon (Nov.) The CTV Tuesday Night Movies
Friday
CBC Benson Mork and Mindy Magnum P.I. TOMMY HUNTER
CTV The Incredible Hulk The Dukes of Hazzard Dynasty
1981US Prime Time Weekday ScheduleUS Prime Time Weekday Schedule
Monday
ABC That's Incredible! Monday Night Football
CBS Private Benjamin The Two of Us M*A*S*H House Calls Lou Grant
NBC Little House on the Prairie NBC Monday Night at the Movies
Tuesda y
ABC Happy Days Laverne and Shirley Three's Company Too Close for Comfort Hart to Hart
CBS Simon and Simon (Nov.) The CBS Tuesday Night Movies
NBC Father Murphy (Nov.) Bret Maverick (Dec.) Flamingo Road
Wednesda y
ABC The Greatest American Hero The Fall Guy (Nov.) Dynasty
CBS Mr. Merlin (Oct.) WKRP in Cincinnati Nurse Shannon (Nov.)
NBC Real People The Facts of Life Love, Sidney (Oct.) Quincy, M.E.
Thursday
ABC Mork and Mindy Best of the West (Sep.) Barney Miller (Nov.) Taxi 20/20
CBS Magnum, P.I. Knots Landing Jessica Novak (Nov.)
NBC Harper Valley Lewis & Clark (Oct.) Diff'rent Strokes Gimme a Break! (Oct.) Hill Street Blues
Friday
ABC Benson Bosom Buddies Darkroom (Nov.) Strike Force (Nov.)
CBS The Incredible Hulk The Dukes of Hazzard Dallas
NBC NBC Magazine McClain's Law (Nov.) local
Friday, April 10, 2009 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM
ABC Wheel of Fortune
Wife Swap
Supernanny
20/20 >
CBS Entertainment Tonight
Ghost Whisperer
Flashpoint
NUMB3RS >
FOX Seinfeld
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Dollhouse
Fox 5 News at 10 >
NBC Access Hollywood
Howie Do It
Howie Do It
Friday Night Lights
Dateline NBC >
CW Family Guy
Everybody Hates Chris
The Game
America's Next Top Model
PIX News at Ten >
MNT Tyler Perry's House of Payne
WWE Friday Night SmackDown!
My 9 News
WPXN Family Feud
M*A*S*H
Malice >
TLMD < 12 Corazones
Doña Barbara El Rostro de Analia
Sin Senos no Hay Paraiso
UNI < Las Tontas No Van al Cielo
Cuidado con el Ángel
Mañana Es Para Siempre
La Rosa de Guadalupe >
AETV < CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami >
AMC < Wolf Heat >
BBCA < BBC World News America
Mistresses
Mistresses
BBC World News America >
BET < 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live
Beach Rhymes
Third Wheel Hair & Make-Up Do It Or Don't Soul Plane >
BRAVO < Lethal Weapon 2 Three Kings >
CMTV < Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Cribs
CNBC < American Greed
House of Cards
Deal or No Deal >
CNN < Lou Dobbs Tonight
Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull Larry King Live Anderson Cooper 360 >
COMEDY Scrubs
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
The Colbert Report
Important Things With Demetri Martin
South Park
Lisa Lampanelli: Dirty Girl >
CSPAN < Tonight From Washington >
DISN Hannah Montana
The Suite Life on Deck
Phineas and Ferb
Herbie: Fully Loaded >
DSC How It's Made
Dirty J obs
Extreme Loggers
Extreme Loggers >
E The Daily 10 The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
The Soup
ESPN SportsCenter
Golf >
ESPN2 NBA Shootaround NBA Basketball
FAM That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show
America's Funniest Home Videos >
FNC < The FOX Report With Shepard Smith
The O'Reilly Factor Hannity On the Record With Greta Van Susteren >
FOOD < Challenge
Unwrapped
Unwrapped
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Titans of Taste >
7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM
ABC Wheel of Fortune
Wife Swap
Supernanny
20/20 >
CBS Entertainment Tonight
Ghost Whisperer
Flashpoint
NUMB3RS >
FOX Seinfeld
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Dollhouse
Fox 5 News at 10 >
NBC Access Hollywood
Howie Do It
Howie Do It
Friday Night Lights
Dateline NBC >
CW Family Guy
Everybody Hates Chris
The Game
America's Next Top Model
PIX News at Ten >
MNT Tyler Perry's House of Payne
WWE Friday Night SmackDown!
My 9 News
WPXN Family Feud
M*A*S*H
Malice >
TLMD < 12 Corazones
Doña Barbara El Rostro de Analia
Sin Senos no Hay Paraiso
UNI < Las Tontas No Van al Cielo
Cuidado con el Ángel
Mañana Es Para Siempre
La Rosa de Guadalupe >
AETV < CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami >
AMC < Wolf Heat >
BBCA < BBC World News America
Mistresses
Mistresses
BBC World News America >
BET < 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live
Beach Rhymes
Third Wheel Hair & Make-Up Do It Or Don't Soul Plane >
BRAVO < Lethal Weapon 2 Three Kings >
CMTV < Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Cribs
CNBC < American Greed
House of Cards
Deal or No Deal >
CNN < Lou Dobbs Tonight
Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull Larry King Live Anderson Cooper 360 >
COMEDY Scrubs
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
The Colbert Report
Important Things With Demetri Martin
South Park
Lisa Lampanelli: Dirty Girl >
CSPAN < Tonight From Washington >
DISN Hannah Montana
The Suite Life on Deck
Phineas and Ferb
Herbie: Fully Loaded >
DSC How It's Made
Dirty J obs
Extreme Loggers
Extreme Loggers >
E The Daily 10 The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
The Soup
ESPN SportsCenter
Golf >
ESPN2 NBA Shootaround NBA Basketball
FAM That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show
America's Funniest Home Videos >
FNC < The FOX Report With Shepard Smith
The O'Reilly Factor Hannity On the Record With Greta Van Susteren >
FOOD < Challenge
Unwrapped
Unwrapped
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Titans of Taste >
…and… 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM
FX < The Hot Chick Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo >
G4 < Attack of the Show!
X-Play
Cheaters
Cheaters
Cops
Cops 2.0
GSN Pyramid
Family Feud
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Family Feud
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
The Newlywed Game
HALMRK < Skylark Love Takes Wing >
HBO < The Astronaut Farmer 300 Real Time With Bill Maher >
HGTV House Hunters
Property Virgins
Myles of Style
House Hunters
Bang for Your Buck
House Hunters International
HISTORY < Modern Marvels
Modern Marvels
Patton 360
Warriors >
IFC < Fast Food Nation Super Troopers >
LIFE Reba
Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Wife Swap
Wife Swap >
MAX < Juno The Promotion Live Free or Die Hard >
MSNBC < Hardball With Chris Matthews
Countdown With Keith Olbermann
The Rachel Maddow Show
Countdown With Keith Olbermann >
MTV < For the Love of Ray J
Making the Band 4
From G's to Gents
Real World/Road Rules Challenge >
MTV2 Pearl Jam Ten Revisited
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
NGC < Dog Whisperer
Dog Whisperer
Dog Whisperer
DogTown >
NIK iCarly
The Penguins of Madagascar
The Penguins of Madagascar
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants
George Lopez
OXYGEN < Mrs. Winterbourne Raising Helen >
QVC < Steel by Design Jewelry
NutriSystem Weight Loss Program
Gardening Made Easy by Cottage Farms >
SCIFI < Stargate: Continuum Moonlight
Primeval >
SHOW < Pretty Woman United States of Tara
The Tudors
SPIKETV < CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Deadliest Warrior
World's Most Shocking Moments: Caught on Tape >
STYLE Clean House Comes Clean
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
Outlaw In-Laws
SUNDAE < This Revolution The Hill
Office Tigers
Pulling
The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle
Sleeping Dogs Lie >
TBS Seinfeld
Family Guy
Family Guy
My Cousin Vinny >
TLC < What Not to Wear
What Not to Wear
What Not to Wear
Say Yes to the Dress
TNT < Law & Order
Last Holiday Guess Who >
TOON Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The Secret Saturdays
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Ben 10: Alien Force
King of the Hill
TRAV < Treasure Hunter: Kirsten Gum
Investigations of the Unexplained
Ghost Adventures
Most Haunted >
7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM FX < The Hot Chick Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo >
G4 < Attack of the Show!
X-Play
Cheaters
Cheaters
Cops
Cops 2.0
GSN Pyramid
Family Feud
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Family Feud
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
The Newlywed Game
HALMRK < Skylark Love Takes Wing >
HBO < The Astronaut Farmer 300 Real Time With Bill Maher >
HGTV House Hunters
Property Virgins
Myles of Style
House Hunters
Bang for Your Buck
House Hunters International
HISTORY < Modern Marvels
Modern Marvels
Patton 360
Warriors >
IFC < Fast Food Nation Super Troopers >
LIFE Reba
Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Wife Swap
Wife Swap >
MAX < Juno The Promotion Live Free or Die Hard >
MSNBC < Hardball With Chris Matthews
Countdown With Keith Olbermann
The Rachel Maddow Show
Countdown With Keith Olbermann >
MTV < For the Love of Ray J
Making the Band 4
From G's to Gents
Real World/Road Rules Challenge >
MTV2 Pearl Jam Ten Revisited
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
Rob & Big
NGC < Dog Whisperer
Dog Whisperer
Dog Whisperer
DogTown >
NIK iCarly
The Penguins of Madagascar
The Penguins of Madagascar
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants
George Lopez
OXYGEN < Mrs. Winterbourne Raising Helen >
QVC < Steel by Design Jewelry
NutriSystem Weight Loss Program
Gardening Made Easy by Cottage Farms >
SCIFI < Stargate: Continuum Moonlight
Primeval >
SHOW < Pretty Woman United States of Tara
The Tudors
SPIKETV < CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Deadliest Warrior
World's Most Shocking Moments: Caught on Tape >
STYLE Clean House Comes Clean
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
Outlaw In-Laws
SUNDAE < This Revolution The Hill
Office Tigers
Pulling
The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle
Sleeping Dogs Lie >
TBS Seinfeld
Family Guy
Family Guy
My Cousin Vinny >
TLC < What Not to Wear
What Not to Wear
What Not to Wear
Say Yes to the Dress
TNT < Law & Order
Last Holiday Guess Who >
TOON Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The Secret Saturdays
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Ben 10: Alien Force
King of the Hill
TRAV < Treasure Hunter: Kirsten Gum
Investigations of the Unexplained
Ghost Adventures
Most Haunted >
TV is…
» Overextended Too many channels Too much debt
» Losing ad share» Competing with New Media
Web time is rivaling TV time
» Overextended Too many channels Too much debt
» Losing ad share» Competing with New Media
Web time is rivaling TV time
The Recession has…
» Removed slots that were once commissioned.
» Increased acquisition slots.» Reduced commissioned budgets.
More library titles, fewer originals. More reality, less scripted. More repeats, fewer hours.
» Removed slots that were once commissioned.
» Increased acquisition slots.» Reduced commissioned budgets.
More library titles, fewer originals. More reality, less scripted. More repeats, fewer hours.
Fox
7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
Sunday American Dad!
(R) King of the Hill (R) The Simpsons King of the Hill Family Guy American Dad!
Monday House 24
Tuesday American Idol Fringe
We dnesday Lie to Me American Idol
Thursda y Bones Hell's Kitchen
Friday Terminator: The Sarah Conn or Chronicles / Prison Break (4/24) Dollhouse
S aturday
Local Programming
COPS COPS America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back
7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
Sunday American Dad!
(R) King of the Hill (R) The Simpsons King of the Hill Family Guy American Dad!
Monday House 24
Tuesday American Idol Fringe
We dnesday Lie to Me American Idol
Thursda y Bones Hell's Kitchen
Friday Terminator: The Sarah Conn or Chronicles / Prison Break (4/24) Dollhouse
S aturday
Local Programming
COPS COPS America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back
Is cutting down it’s Prime Time hours
CBC
7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
Sunday Heartland Movies and Specia ls CBC News: Sunda y Night
Monday Little Mosque on
the Prairie Soph ie Just For Laughs
Tuesday Rick Mercer Report This Hour Has 22
Minutes Wild Roses
We dnes d
ay The Week The Women Went Being Erica
Thursda y The Nature of Things Doc Zone
Friday
Corona tion Stree t Jeopardy!
Rick Mercer Report Market place the fifth estate
The Nationa l
S aturday Hockey Night in Canad a
7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
Sunday Heartland Movies and Specia ls CBC News: Sunda y Night
Monday Little Mosque on
the Prairie Soph ie Just For Laughs
Tuesday Rick Mercer Report This Hour Has 22
Minutes Wild Roses
We dnes d
ay The Week The Women Went Being Erica
Thursda y The Nature of Things Doc Zone
Friday
Corona tion Stree t Jeopardy!
Rick Mercer Report Market place the fifth estate
The Nationa l
S aturday Hockey Night in Canad a
Is flirting with NarrowcastingIs flirting with Narrowcasting
The Changing Schedule
» What Schedule?» Look for shrinkage in TV providers.» Look for remakes.» Look for “Next Gen” shows
Mixed genres like: Big Dreams, The Locator, Someone’s Gotta Go.
» “Big” programming from Big players. Dramatic serials & “must-see shows” Summer Miniseries (BBC, etc.)
» What Schedule?» Look for shrinkage in TV providers.» Look for remakes.» Look for “Next Gen” shows
Mixed genres like: Big Dreams, The Locator, Someone’s Gotta Go.
» “Big” programming from Big players. Dramatic serials & “must-see shows” Summer Miniseries (BBC, etc.)
TV Audiences are Roaming
» TV is on the Web: It’s TV - financed and 100% network dependent. 10 minutes average viewing. (<200,000 viewers) Testing vs. Watching. Active Grazing.
» The web is on the TV. The PVR, digital set-tops.
» Mobile programming: ADD bits.» The New Broadcasters.
Beyond aggregating UGC
» TV is on the Web: It’s TV - financed and 100% network dependent. 10 minutes average viewing. (<200,000 viewers) Testing vs. Watching. Active Grazing.
» The web is on the TV. The PVR, digital set-tops.
» Mobile programming: ADD bits.» The New Broadcasters.
Beyond aggregating UGC
But:
» Broadcasters still have to fill slots.» So do unconventional ‘casters.» TV is still viewed in massive
numbers On the web On the PVR Via Rentals and Sales
» Still dwarfing the web on revenue. Social Networks: $2.5B Chats $450M Games: $1.2B Casual Games $2.25B NBC Alone: $14.7B, Profit: 4.43B (2008)
» Broadcasters still have to fill slots.» So do unconventional ‘casters.» TV is still viewed in massive
numbers On the web On the PVR Via Rentals and Sales
» Still dwarfing the web on revenue. Social Networks: $2.5B Chats $450M Games: $1.2B Casual Games $2.25B NBC Alone: $14.7B, Profit: 4.43B (2008)
Opportunities are still there
» New Broadcasters.» TV is a unique experience & so is
interactive.» TV will not disappear.» TV will focus on what it does best:
Time-based programming, such as:» Sports, news, politics, celebrity, fashion» Real-time reality shows.» Shared events: up close and slick.
Sitcoms… Dramatic series
» New Broadcasters.» TV is a unique experience & so is
interactive.» TV will not disappear.» TV will focus on what it does best:
Time-based programming, such as:» Sports, news, politics, celebrity, fashion» Real-time reality shows.» Shared events: up close and slick.
Sitcoms… Dramatic series
So Why Isn’t it Easier?
» Financing has become harder.» Distribution has contracted.» Competition is raising the bar. » Buyers are more cautious.
Harder to break in. Tried and trusted have the edge.
» Bigger, better, fresher is the rage. You’ve got to be original.
» Who said it was ever easy?
» Financing has become harder.» Distribution has contracted.» Competition is raising the bar. » Buyers are more cautious.
Harder to break in. Tried and trusted have the edge.
» Bigger, better, fresher is the rage. You’ve got to be original.
» Who said it was ever easy?
Broadcasting is a business not a platform.
» They are all about making money.» It’s NOT about you. It’s about THEM. » Pitch right. 2 approaches:
Target the network to fit your product Look for the product to fill the network.
» Connect with your buyer. Your first pitch is an introduction. Remember John Kennedy.
» They are all about making money.» It’s NOT about you. It’s about THEM. » Pitch right. 2 approaches:
Target the network to fit your product Look for the product to fill the network.
» Connect with your buyer. Your first pitch is an introduction. Remember John Kennedy.
What The Broadcaster Wants
» Eyeballs Must-see TV:
» Passion & POV.» Episodic scripted drama & comedy series that
resonate. Zeitgeist shows.» Low-cost/high-concept reality.» Talk, with must-see guests.» High-draw sports on it’s target’s radar.» News.» New formats.
» Eyeballs Must-see TV:
» Passion & POV.» Episodic scripted drama & comedy series that
resonate. Zeitgeist shows.» Low-cost/high-concept reality.» Talk, with must-see guests.» High-draw sports on it’s target’s radar.» News.» New formats.
The Other Thing The Broadcaster Wants
»Savings Cost-effective programming
»Reality TV»UGC on their websites»“Controlled” scripted programs
Fewer characters Fewer sets Fewer set-ups Still watchable Eg: In Treatment.
»Savings Cost-effective programming
»Reality TV»UGC on their websites»“Controlled” scripted programs
Fewer characters Fewer sets Fewer set-ups Still watchable Eg: In Treatment.
The Creative:What the Broadcaster Can’t Live Without.
» Fresh, Innovative, resonant.» Finance-able.» Execute-able.» Solid.
» Fresh, Innovative, resonant.» Finance-able.» Execute-able.» Solid.
Series Design
» Focus on “our people”» Test the central characters» Build bonds not conflicts» Build the net of character, place &
world» Tell the story through the prism of
the tone.» The rest is just action.
» Focus on “our people”» Test the central characters» Build bonds not conflicts» Build the net of character, place &
world» Tell the story through the prism of
the tone.» The rest is just action.
What’s in your pitch?
» Series: a description of the web: A pitch isn’t an idea. It requires: Character dynamics & backgrounds.
» Who are we going to watch do what? The world of the series: Where are we? The possibilities: What can happen? The point of view: What will it say? The tone: How will it be told? The slot: Where will it fit?
» Long form: The story and it’s characters.
» Series: a description of the web: A pitch isn’t an idea. It requires: Character dynamics & backgrounds.
» Who are we going to watch do what? The world of the series: Where are we? The possibilities: What can happen? The point of view: What will it say? The tone: How will it be told? The slot: Where will it fit?
» Long form: The story and it’s characters.
Pitching
» Hone your pitch. Pitch it to the intended audience!
» Deliver the essence of it in one line. Ensure that the POV & tone can be heard.
» Be prepared to answer any question about the characters, the concept.
» Know how a typical episode will unfold.» Be brief.
» Hone your pitch. Pitch it to the intended audience!
» Deliver the essence of it in one line. Ensure that the POV & tone can be heard.
» Be prepared to answer any question about the characters, the concept.
» Know how a typical episode will unfold.» Be brief.
What This Broadcaster Saw
» Like-a-shows. No POV, no passion, no ideals, no characters.
» Edutainment. Good for you TV.» A lot of stuff that fit the old CBC. (The
Beachcombers II?)» CBC - Fix shows. “I can beat X show” is
better than “you guys stink”.
» Like-a-shows. No POV, no passion, no ideals, no characters.
» Edutainment. Good for you TV.» A lot of stuff that fit the old CBC. (The
Beachcombers II?)» CBC - Fix shows. “I can beat X show” is
better than “you guys stink”.
What This Broadcaster Didn’t See
» Things that were really entertaining.» Motivated characters.» Things that worked really hard.» Things that broke new ground.» Exceptions: Wonderland, The Newsroom,
Dragon Boys, DaVinci’s Inquest, Human Cargo, Fungus The Bogeyman, etc.
» Things that were really entertaining.» Motivated characters.» Things that worked really hard.» Things that broke new ground.» Exceptions: Wonderland, The Newsroom,
Dragon Boys, DaVinci’s Inquest, Human Cargo, Fungus The Bogeyman, etc.
Why Series?
» We get to live in other people’s lives.» We become intimate with heroes, not
“normal” people.» We prefer the ideal over the real.» Reality is a curiosity; Ideal is necessary. » We experience grandeur and challenge.» We sharpen & invigorate our dreams.» To make live more tolerable, productive,
joyful.
» We get to live in other people’s lives.» We become intimate with heroes, not
“normal” people.» We prefer the ideal over the real.» Reality is a curiosity; Ideal is necessary. » We experience grandeur and challenge.» We sharpen & invigorate our dreams.» To make live more tolerable, productive,
joyful.
Development
» <4% of pitches get developed.» ~4% of those are produced.» The process is slow.» Interest = $
Rule of Thumb: Silence is "no”
» Process: budget, writer, collaboration.» Development is their low risk phase.» Smaller budgets, fewer scripts, more
failures.
» <4% of pitches get developed.» ~4% of those are produced.» The process is slow.» Interest = $
Rule of Thumb: Silence is "no”
» Process: budget, writer, collaboration.» Development is their low risk phase.» Smaller budgets, fewer scripts, more
failures.
The Execution
Just to be considered: Who’s on your team? What have they done? Why are they right?
» Who are your writers? Cast? Same questions.
» Who will guarantee that the script is delivered as we imagine it? The EP. The Cast. The Director. Designer,
PM
Just to be considered: Who’s on your team? What have they done? Why are they right?
» Who are your writers? Cast? Same questions.
» Who will guarantee that the script is delivered as we imagine it? The EP. The Cast. The Director. Designer,
PM
The FinancingAnyone have $19M for a PT series?
» The trigger. The broadcast letter.
» Decision time takes too long. » The Funds, Tax Credits, Distribution.
CMF, Cogeco, Shaw, etc.» Co-production.
US, UK, RSA, Ireland, etc.» Downgrading.
» The trigger. The broadcast letter.
» Decision time takes too long. » The Funds, Tax Credits, Distribution.
CMF, Cogeco, Shaw, etc.» Co-production.
US, UK, RSA, Ireland, etc.» Downgrading.
What the TV Producer Needs To Do
» Get many irons in the fire.» If you get in development, learn how to
listen to what the broadcaster says.» Stay with your show if you get a green
light. Time to do something with your other irons.
» Look at what you can do on the web. A low budget/great script can play there.
» Get many irons in the fire.» If you get in development, learn how to
listen to what the broadcaster says.» Stay with your show if you get a green
light. Time to do something with your other irons.
» Look at what you can do on the web. A low budget/great script can play there.
It’s a Hit!
» It’s hard to keep a show on air! Competition Promotion Boredom
» Remember that the genius is the show! You WILL get bored. But is the audience loving it? If so, keep delivering the show. Don’t do what they did to “Moonlighting”
» It’s hard to keep a show on air! Competition Promotion Boredom
» Remember that the genius is the show! You WILL get bored. But is the audience loving it? If so, keep delivering the show. Don’t do what they did to “Moonlighting”