Catching Ducks

I didn't really care for Southland, so I wasn't too bothered by its cancellation. Linda Holmes at Monkey See, however, makes some good points about the idiocy of NBC regarding its cancellation. (In summary: NBC promised to air it, regardless of the Leno-required move to 9 pm, then decided the show was to gritty for the 9 pm time slot -- without ever airing any episodes!)

Anyway, this led to a comparison of NBC and NBC-owned USA:


"What makes this story particularly frustrating is that in spite of what you read about costs and splintering audiences and a future made up of nothing but variety shows, there are indications that there are ways to make money with scripted shows. A Newsweek profile in July of this year discussed the remarkable successes of the USA network under the guidance of Bonnie Hammer, who helped turn USA into a major moneymaker. What's her strategy?

Good scripted shows, for one thing. Burn Notice, Monk, Psych, the new Royal Pains, and others. From that profile: 'Of all NBCU's properties, including the namesake broadcaster NBC and its Universal studio, USA has become the biggest earner, delivering roughly $1 billion in profits last year.' Hammer is not a snob -- she has embraced USA's relationship with professional wrestling. But her big strategy is good shows people like, and she's making money. NBC Universal owns this network -- how is its broadcast network making worse shows than, and making less money than, one of its cable properties? They're all in Rockefeller Center -- they're in the building. Go ask them how they're doing it."

Labels: Linda Holmes, TV