If the current writers strike continues, Hollywood may have to crack open its emergency piggy bank.
With work on television programs almost at a complete standstill, development deals have been dropped, jobs have been cut, and cupboards are starting to look a little bare. Tinseltown is on day 80 of the current strike (only 74 more days to break the all-time record set in 1988), and studios continue to trim the fat off their bloated development slate in an effort to stay afloat.
NBC Universal chief David Zucker confirmed that his company would be cutting back on its pilot season drastically, according to The New York Times. Developing flashy pilots to garner early interest from advertisers has become standard in the business, and in an attempt to outdo each other, networks have raised the average cost of pilots more than twofold, with one-hour shows costing about $7 million.
Many shows don't make it to a second season, and a handful of pilots never even make it to air. NBC U hopes that by not paying for stuff it won't use, it can save about $50 million with a stunted development season.
The same is happening over at other networks, as CBS, The CW, and Fox have all cut several scripts currently in development. All three networks are streamlining their development slate by narrowing their focus on fewer projects.
"Due to the ongoing work stoppage, the CW will be taking a more targeted approach to what is certain to be a truncated pilot season," the network told The Hollywood Reporter. "As a result, we are releasing some scripts that had been in development in order to dedicate our creative energy and resources to those projects we choose to pursue."
The moves were expected from an industry grappling with the strike, and the smart money is on ABC to follow suit shortly. About a week ago, almost all the major networks simultaneously cut dozens of development contracts with major players in the industry.
There's no exact way to measure the cost of the strike to the economy, but one analyst from the Los Angeles Economic Development pegs the price at a whopping $1.5 billion to the Southern Californian economy, according to MSNBC. With awards shows and television programs at a standstill, several types of peripheral Hollywood jobs--makeup artists, valet parkers, caterers, and more--are feeling the pinch.
There is a new glimmer of hope, however. The two feuding sides, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), have agreed to get back to negotiating for the first time since early December.
For more on the writers strike, check out TV.com's Strike Source, featuring up-to-date statuses on shows, the latest information, and more.
Comments (15)
I'd like to see them justify that 1.5 billion loss that they have caused. How pathetically sad...
I just hope that the writer's get what they deserve. They're not asking for anything they don't deserve. I'm just glad I still have a few more episodes of Smallville to look forward to, it's also giving me plenty of time to watch some of my old favorite shows like Buffy or The OC on DVD.
pilot season gone???...those are the funniest tv-moments of the year....really tacky shows...bad scripts...ohhhh how i will miss them!!!!!
I think the entire pilot season is a waste. Most of them never see the light of day on any network and the amount of money the networks spend on them is ridiculous. Of those that do make it tv, half of them are cancelled after a few episodes. As for the strike, I don't see a quick end in sight. I think the AMPTP has shown the writers just how valuable they are by negotiating a deal with the DGA first. I hope the WGA stands it's ground in it's demands and won't back down an a single issue.
I simply hope that a fair deal for all is reached and that the people are able to enjoy their shows as we rightfully should since we are fueling their economy and filling their pockets by purchasing their products.
I just want the strike to be over.
I do support the writers, but I don't support the strike or the WGA tactics. The DGA was able to achieve in a few weeks what the WGA couldn't do in months. Now that the WGA has dropped a couple of demands that were not related to money, I am sure the strike will come to an end in a near future (unless a disaster occurs).
Well looks like the writers may have gone on so long they jeopardized their own jobs. Way to go...
After what they pulled with the Directors Guild it is clear that the Producers (AMPTP) is keeping the stike going. They refused to give the Writers a 2 cent hike in their DVD resids, and won't give them any cut of the Internet Downloads. Yet when the Director's guild asks for it, they get a large chunk in both in less than 5 days of talks. And their contracts aren't even up until like June or July!!! It only goes to show that the Producers Guild is keeping this strike going, not to "stand their ground" but to have an excuse to fire people without having to pay them.
Man is this strike isn't over soon this falls pilot season will be a barren wasteland.
Fortunately I didn't pick up many new shows this season, but still shame on the WGA, I hope karma comes back to bites them in the a$$, for all the shows that didn't make it
well i think that this strike is getting old it already hurt good shows and the writers keep it up there wont be manby shows to go back to
I hate WGA strike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to see new show but no. I want my favorite new shows to get renewed 2nd season.
I want this to stop. But I have a feeling this is going to be lasting a little while longer.
Well I kinda think pilots are a waste too. Most of them end up online and when the show starts alot of things end up being changed.