Post by LtD73 on Mar 9, 2010 18:16:25 GMT -5
- IGN
US, March 5, 2010 - The fate of 24 is very much up in the air, as FOX has yet to make a decision on whether to renew the hit series for a ninth season. But now an interesting new element has been thrown into the mix, as an interview suggests there is a possibility that 24 could end up on NBC next season.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, NBC's Angela Bromstad was asked if the network would consider picking up 24, should FOX pass on ordering another season. Said Bromstad, "I think it would be expensive for us. It's been floated. It's all going to come down to how strong our development is." Asked to confirm this meant the possibility wasn't being ruled out, Bromstad replied, "I wouldn't rule it out. I wouldn't think it's likely, but I wouldn't rule it out."
As Bromstad alludes to, this obviously has to be seen as a quite a long shot. First and foremost, FOX could still order another season of 24, and the situation would be moot. And as Bromstad notes, 24 would be incredibly expensive to acquire. Like any long-running show, 24 has only gotten more expensive as time has gone on and salaries have gone up for all of the major players in front of and behind the camera. Most notably, Kiefer Sutherland's contract is up this season, and he would no doubt get one of the best deals in TV history if he re-signs for the show, regardless of what network is airing it.
Typically, when a cancelled TV series is picked up by another network these days, it's because the network acquiring the show is corporately connected to the studio behind the show, and thus the entire corporation benefits from the series continuing, and generating more syndication sales, DVDs, etc. – all of which go to the studios, not the networks. Such was the case in recent years with Scrubs, produced by ABC Studios, moving to ABC and Medium produced by CBS Paramount, moving to CBS. Similarly, when NBC cancelled the Warner Bros. produced Southland last fall, the Time Warner-owned TNT picked up the series.
24 on the other hand already is connected on the studio and network side – it's produced by 20th Century Fox and airs on FOX, both of which are part of News Corporation (Just like IGN! Hi, guys!). So it would be very unusual for NBC to acquire this expensive show, which is obviously nearing the end of its run, and which NBC Universal would not profit from directly in any other long term way.
So why are they considering it at all? Well, as everyone knows, NBC has been in a bad place of late and has more at stake than most networks as to what their schedule is like next fall, as they attempt to come out with a strong slate of new series that can bring back viewers they've lost. But with so few hit series on their schedule right now, their work is really cut out for them. They have several promising pilots, but you need viewers to tune into your network in the first place to see those shows. Bringing a proven success like 24 onto their schedule would give them a show that has more viewers than almost anything NBC currently airs, allowing more people to see promos for their new series. They also they could use 24 to lead into a show they are really pushing. It's easy to see them pairing 24 with the new J.J. Abrams spy-centric Undercovers, which is almost certainly going to be ordered as a series. Still, the cost of acquiring 24 might be too much for the network, when weighing the pros and cons.
It's also notable that 20th Century Fox is actively developing a 24 movie, and might simply decide they don't want to put their valuable Jack Bauer brand on a rival network, but rather simply dive into the film, should FOX decide to end the series.
Meanwhile, Bromstad also gave the Hollywood Reporter updates on a few other NBC series whose fates are still undetermined. While she wouldn't confirm Community was a lock for renewal, she said it was "hopeful," and also notes the plan is to keep the Thursday night comedy block intact. [Update: Community has now been officially renewed!]
Asked about Chuck, Bromstad says the show's performance has been a "Pleasant surprise, and they're doing great work." However, she wouldn't go so far as to say it's definitely coming back next season, noting, "Well, it's got to maintain, and it depends on development [of new pilots]."
As for Heroes, Bromstad said, "We met with [Heroes creator] Tim Kring (last week) and talked about a lot of things. It's a wait-and-see for us." Most speculate that if Heroes does come back, it would certainly be its final season. Asked if they might make an announcement of that kind, Bromstad would only say, "We're going to cross that bridge when we come to it."
US, March 5, 2010 - The fate of 24 is very much up in the air, as FOX has yet to make a decision on whether to renew the hit series for a ninth season. But now an interesting new element has been thrown into the mix, as an interview suggests there is a possibility that 24 could end up on NBC next season.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, NBC's Angela Bromstad was asked if the network would consider picking up 24, should FOX pass on ordering another season. Said Bromstad, "I think it would be expensive for us. It's been floated. It's all going to come down to how strong our development is." Asked to confirm this meant the possibility wasn't being ruled out, Bromstad replied, "I wouldn't rule it out. I wouldn't think it's likely, but I wouldn't rule it out."
As Bromstad alludes to, this obviously has to be seen as a quite a long shot. First and foremost, FOX could still order another season of 24, and the situation would be moot. And as Bromstad notes, 24 would be incredibly expensive to acquire. Like any long-running show, 24 has only gotten more expensive as time has gone on and salaries have gone up for all of the major players in front of and behind the camera. Most notably, Kiefer Sutherland's contract is up this season, and he would no doubt get one of the best deals in TV history if he re-signs for the show, regardless of what network is airing it.
Typically, when a cancelled TV series is picked up by another network these days, it's because the network acquiring the show is corporately connected to the studio behind the show, and thus the entire corporation benefits from the series continuing, and generating more syndication sales, DVDs, etc. – all of which go to the studios, not the networks. Such was the case in recent years with Scrubs, produced by ABC Studios, moving to ABC and Medium produced by CBS Paramount, moving to CBS. Similarly, when NBC cancelled the Warner Bros. produced Southland last fall, the Time Warner-owned TNT picked up the series.
24 on the other hand already is connected on the studio and network side – it's produced by 20th Century Fox and airs on FOX, both of which are part of News Corporation (Just like IGN! Hi, guys!). So it would be very unusual for NBC to acquire this expensive show, which is obviously nearing the end of its run, and which NBC Universal would not profit from directly in any other long term way.
So why are they considering it at all? Well, as everyone knows, NBC has been in a bad place of late and has more at stake than most networks as to what their schedule is like next fall, as they attempt to come out with a strong slate of new series that can bring back viewers they've lost. But with so few hit series on their schedule right now, their work is really cut out for them. They have several promising pilots, but you need viewers to tune into your network in the first place to see those shows. Bringing a proven success like 24 onto their schedule would give them a show that has more viewers than almost anything NBC currently airs, allowing more people to see promos for their new series. They also they could use 24 to lead into a show they are really pushing. It's easy to see them pairing 24 with the new J.J. Abrams spy-centric Undercovers, which is almost certainly going to be ordered as a series. Still, the cost of acquiring 24 might be too much for the network, when weighing the pros and cons.
It's also notable that 20th Century Fox is actively developing a 24 movie, and might simply decide they don't want to put their valuable Jack Bauer brand on a rival network, but rather simply dive into the film, should FOX decide to end the series.
Meanwhile, Bromstad also gave the Hollywood Reporter updates on a few other NBC series whose fates are still undetermined. While she wouldn't confirm Community was a lock for renewal, she said it was "hopeful," and also notes the plan is to keep the Thursday night comedy block intact. [Update: Community has now been officially renewed!]
Asked about Chuck, Bromstad says the show's performance has been a "Pleasant surprise, and they're doing great work." However, she wouldn't go so far as to say it's definitely coming back next season, noting, "Well, it's got to maintain, and it depends on development [of new pilots]."
As for Heroes, Bromstad said, "We met with [Heroes creator] Tim Kring (last week) and talked about a lot of things. It's a wait-and-see for us." Most speculate that if Heroes does come back, it would certainly be its final season. Asked if they might make an announcement of that kind, Bromstad would only say, "We're going to cross that bridge when we come to it."
