US TV:
Commissioning
strategies
2011-2012
n Top US broadcasters: opportunities for producers
n US commissioning: what’s in development/production
n Executive interviews: people you need to know
Produced in association with
Contents
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Introduction
Market overview 3
CHANNEL PROFILES
NBC
6
CBS
14
Fox
21
ABC
29
BBCA 37
TLC
44
PBS 51
HBO
58
Showtime 66
Episodes: a BBC/Showtime co-pro produced through Hat Trick
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEWS
Erika Kennair, VP programming, Syfy
73
Richard De Croce, senior VP, programming, BBC America
75
Carmi Zlotnik, managing director, Starz
77
Michael Camacho, partner & head of alternative TV, UTA
79
Isabella Zoltowski, agent, WME UK
81
Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena: now airing on Starz
Contributors
Broadcast
Report Editor: Ann-Marie Corvin
Market overview & Q&As: Andy Fry
Production: Sangeeta Chauhan
Design: Vernon Adams
Luther: co-pro between BBC and BBC America
Marketing: Nik Dinning
Website Manager: Wayne Philips
Customer Services: 0207 728 4651
Attentional
Managing Director of Attention Inc. (US division of Attentional):
Zak Shaikh
Sales & Marketing: Ben Philpott
Analyst/Co-ordinator: Zara Randera
Researchers: Amy Aniobi, Matt Graham, Caitlin Chan,
Afshan Randera
The Real Housewives of New York City: made by Shed Media US for Bravo TV
2
Introduction
The US programming market is full of opportunity
Market Overview
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
There’s something almost surreal about the fact that
former tabloid editor Piers Morgan has emerged
as the heir to CNN’s Larry King – particularly given
the fact that his route to this prestigious position
was via the judging panel of America’s Got Talent.
But, whatever you may feel about Morgan’s unlikely
elevation, it’s a stunning reminder of the impact that
Brits have had on American TV in recent years.
Up alongside Morgan in the US big league are the
likes of Simon Cowell (Idol, The X Factor), Hugh Laurie
(House), Ricky Gervais (The Office, Golden Globes),
Gordon Ramsay (Hell’s Kitchen), Jo Frost (Supernanny)
and Jamie Oliver (Food Revolution).
Fairy Jobmother: Hayley Taylor retains her role in the US
British success doesn’t stop with its onscreen talent,
either. The ratings charts reveal there are no less than
of formats had been plundered, the reality is that there
three British entertainment formats sitting in the top
are enough new ideas coming through to keep the
10 primetime programmes for 2010 (Idol, Dancing With
Brits busy. Studio Lambert’s success with Undercover
The Stars and Undercover Boss). Not only are they hitting
Boss, for example, has been followed up with a Lifetime
audiences of between 17 and 22 million, they’re all on
commission called Fairy Jobmother (another show that
different networks – Fox, ABC and CBS respectively.
will retain its UK host). There has been Raw TV’s Gold
And for those wondering where NBC fits in, series such
Rush for Discovery, September’s Bridezillas for WE and
as The Office US and Who Do You Think You Are? can be
Shed’s World’s Strictest Parents for CMT. Avalon is a
found in the 6-7 million range (which is also where Hell’s
production partner in Comedy Central’s Workaholics,
Kitchen, an ITV show for Fox, falls).
while Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP) has won a
British-originated ideas have been stalwarts in US
commission from Animal Planet for Infested!, a three-part
schedules for about a decade now, with the likes of
series about people plagued by extraordinary infestations.
Survivor, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, Wife Swap and
The Weakest Link among the earliest arrivals (Survivor on
Key demographic
CBS still draws around 12.5 million viewers per episode).
While shows on the big four networks (ABC, CBS, Fox
But what’s really impressive about the British invasion
and NBC) tend to grab the headlines, the beauty of these
is the way that it has diversified beyond the sale of reality
US cable commissions is that they are far more abundant.
and entertainment formats. After ground-breaking
The cable sector has seen more and more channels giving
format deals for scripted shows, such as Cracker, The
up their thematic niches to compete with each other for a
Office, Life On Mars and Spooks, it now seems normal that
share of the 18- to 49-year-old demographic.
That they have done so is no real surprise, given that
Torchwood, Skins, Shameless and Being Human are getting
there are more than 100 million cable homes in the
makeovers by Starz, MTV, Showtime and Syfy.
US. Even a 2-3% share of that market is a decent
Furthermore, a band of British-backed firms are both
supplying ideas and producing the shows – particularly
proposition to advertisers. Currently, there are 30-40
in the field of factual. While some observers expected
cable channels capable of commissioning four to six
the Brits to run out of steam once their back catalogue
original series a year in runs of six to 13 episodes. While
3
Market Overview
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
there is a tendency for them to stick with successes,
At the Big Four, execs who push the envelope are
the fact is that there is enough of a turnover to create
alternative programming’s prince of darkness Mike
genuine opportunities.
Darnell (Fox) and Jennifer Bresnan, who marked her
In part, this is because many cable series begin to lose
shift from CW Network to CBS with Undercover Boss.
their commercial cutting edge by season five or six and
are ready to be replaced (either because the audience
Respect for Brits
has grown old with them and no longer appeals to
So, why have the Brits done well in the US? There are a
advertisers, or because the onscreen talent has become
variety of reasons, not least of which is the quality of their
too expensive). But not to be overlooked either is the way
ideas and the expertise of their execution. Whether it’s
a hit show on one channel sets off a frenzy of derivation
the writing of Russell T Davies, the production insights
in the same editorial space (dangerous jobs, auctions,
of Stephen Lambert or the commercial acumen of Jane
makeover, baking etc).
Tranter, the US industry respects Brits. It’s impossible, in
A classic example of how this can benefit Brits is
this regard, to ignore the impact of BBC Worldwide cable
Hardcore Pawn, a pawn shop-based series produced for
channel BBC America. Now in almost 80 million homes,
Turner-owned truTV by Zodiak USA (formerly RDF
the channel introduced The Office, Top Gear, Torchwood,
USA). Now green-lit for a third series, there has to be a
Skins and Being Human to the US, and has seen all of
question about whether the series would ever have come
them reversioned by US rivals. What a showcase it has
out of development if it hadn’t been for the fact that
proved to be for domestic talent.
The History Channel had already had a breakout hit with
There are also commercial considerations that have
Pawn Stars, a show based on the same idea that has been
worked in the UK’s favour. The UK formats come with
attracting 6 million in the same slot.
track records. It was easier for ABC to commission
Millionaire? and Wife Swap once it had seen the
Not every network is as brazen as this when plotting
its programming, but there’s no question that it pays to
execution and audiences in the UK. Once those shows
watch what the industry’s thought-leaders are doing.
had become hits, it opened the door for other networks
Among these, cable hotshots – such as History’s Nancy
and cable channels to take this route.
At the same time, the marketability of British ideas
Dubuc, Discovery/TLC’s recently promoted Eileen
O’Neill, TBS/TNT programming chief Michael Wright,
and talent became the focal point of a new creative
FX chief John Landgraf and the MTV programming
and commercial ecology. For talent agencies, such as
team put together by Tony DiSanto before his departure
William Morris, ICM and CAA, there was an incentive to
(which delivered the game-changing reality hit Jersey
work with UK producers who owned the rights to their
Shore) – all have to be included.
formats, something that few US producers do. For US
production firms, there was the prospect of mutually
beneficial partnerships – while for individual executives
there was a new job opportunity, which was to head US
offices for UK companies. This business model remains
critical, because there are few instances where UK talent
can walk straight into US commissioners’ offices.
Invariably, an agent packages the deal and a US
producer is involved in its execution. One example is
Chris Coelen, who left agency UTA to launch the US arm
of RDF. Before he left RDF to form his own entity, Kinetic,
Coelen was involved in the deals that delivered Don’t
Forget The Lyrics and The Secret Millionaire to Fox and
How To Look Good Naked to Lifetime. Coelen also played
a key role in the deal that took Being Human to Syfy.
History Channel’s Top Gear: Introduced to the US by BBC America
4
market overview
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
than a dozen, it is now the fifth biggest player in the US
and can reach 7 million-plus with drama and comedy,
such as Covert Affairs and Royal Pains.
Not surprisingly, Brits are seeking ways to position
themselves to take advantage of this opportunity. For
Shed and Carnival, the answer has been to sell up to US
majors (Warner and NBCU). For Shine, it was to make
a major investment in Reveille, the company founded by
Ben Silverman and now led creatively by Howard Marks.
At All3Media, chief executive Steve Morrison believes
there is the opportunity to double US revenues this year.
Being Human: US version of the UK hit show now on Syfy
In part, these will come from its US subsidiary Zoo –
Often, the best scenario is a combination of British and
and from divisions such as Lion TV, which already has
US energies. Shed Media US president Nick Emmerson, a
a US base. But Morrison is also planning to beef up
Brit, has built a formidable business, executive producing
All3media’s US operation so it can support programming
ABC’s Supernanny, Bravo’s The Real Housewives Of New
made by its other subsidiaries, such as Company Pictures
York City, Animal Planet’s It’s Me Or The Dog, CMT’s
and Maverick TV.
World’s Strictest Parents and VH1’s Basketball Wives.
Of course, there is a downside. UK broadcasters are
In doing so, he has been ably assisted by senior vice-
starting to commission shows in longer runs and renew
president Jennifer O’Connell, a former NBC exec who
them for longer, which means the pool of formattable
shepherded alternative series and pilots, including The
ideas is shrinking (perhaps opening the door to
Biggest Loser and Tommy Lee Goes To College.
European and Asian rivals), and US and UK broadcasters
There’s a similar Anglo-American alliance at Studio
are seeking to retain more rights to shows.
Lambert, where founder Stephen Lambert owes a lot of
“The most creative territories are those where
his operational success in the US to Eli Holzman, whose
producers can retain rights, because that gives them a
success with series such as Project Runway and Beauty
reason to invest in formats,” says Jane Millichip, rights
And The Geek set him on his way.
managing director at Zodiak. “If you take that away then
The opportunities for emerging Brit producers are
there’s less reason for producers to support the risky
evident to all. Love Productions, for example, worked with
and expensive development of formats. I can see why
UTA to get Baby Borrowers on NBC. Betty, the creator
channels want rights, but it isn’t necessarily a healthy
of Freaky Eaters (now airing as a US show on TLC), is
development in terms of creativity in the sector.”
operating in tandem with Studio Lambert. And Phil
methodology
Morrow’s Northern Ireland indie Wild Rover is working
with Jerry Bruckheimer and Bertram van Munster (creator
of The Amazing Race) on a version of Take The Money And
Channel Rankings
Run for ABC. Morrow’s agent on this deal is CAA.
The following section contains details of
There’s no reason to suppose this hot streak will end;
commissioning strategies of 50 US broadcasters. On
there is a voracious demand for content among cable
the ‘Vital Statistics’ pages, 46 of the channels listed
networks. This point was addressed in January at NATPE
have been given a ranking based on average primetime
by Jeff Zucker, the outgoing president and chief executive
viewing numbers, as sourced by Nielsen and Attention
of NBC Universal, who said that cable networks will need
Inc. Of those missing a ranking, The Sundance
to spend more on original commissions if they want to
Channel and Ovation do not currently report ratings to
win audiences. He cited one of his own, USA Network,
Nielsen, while Epix and OWN only started in January
as an example. Having upped its slate from two or three
2011, making rankings not applicable.
original series when he arrived in the mid 2000s to more
5
NBC
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Robert Greenblatt
“The dominant network of the 1980s
and 1990s, it now finds itself trying to
compete with the other three big networks
for mainstream, high-profile dramas and
reality competitions.”
Main commissioner Laura Lancaster
(drama), Jeff Ingold (comedy)
Target demographic
Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54
Original versus acquired Original
Key titles
Law & Order: SVU, The Office, Sunday
Night Football, America’s Got Talent, SNL,
30 Rock
International commissions
International acquisitions
International adaptations ✔
✔
✔
Genres of programming
Crime drama, social drama, comedy, reality, Current opportunities
sports, news, soap, sketch comedy
Medical drama, action drama, sci-fi,
supernatural, relationship-comedy
Average viewership
8.01 million
Latest international commissions:
The Voice (Talpa, Holland), Free Agents (Big
Talk, UK), Love Bites (Working Title, UK)
Ranking
3rd
Top-performing show
Sunday Night Football
Top-performing international production
The Office
Slogan
More colourful
6
NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key commissioners
Laura Lancaster (EVP, drama)
Jeff Ingold (EVP, comedy)
Bruce Evans (SVP, drama series)
Renate Radford (VP, comedy series)
Paul Telegdy (EVP, alternative programming)
Rick Ludwin(EVP, late-night & primetime series)
general information
Launched 15 November 1926
Owner Comcast, General Electric
Network president Robert Greenblatt
Address
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York City, NY 10112
United States
Telephone (212) 664-4444
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
United States
Telephone (818) 777-1000
Website www.nbc.com
Sister networks CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, SyFy Channel,
Telemundo, USA, Oxygen, Sleuth, Chiller, A&E
Networks (16%; includes A&E, the History Channel,
the Biography Channel, Military History Channel,
Crime & Investigation Network)
Number of subscribers 112 million households
Target demographic Adults 18-49, adults 25-54
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition ABC, Fox, CBS
USP Known to appeal to a more sophisticated
network audience, the channel has lost many of these
viewers to cable, but has still managed to retain some
strength in network comedy with its famed Thursdaynight line-up.
Brand extensions and joint ventures Hulu, Global
Brain, Universal Studios (theme parks)
7
NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
channel insight
The Comcast deal is a complex one and was first
proposed in late 2009. It is technically a joint venture
NBC had enjoyed unparalleled dominance in US
broadcasting, claiming number one spot in primetime
ratings throughout the 1980s and 1990s – fuelled by
scripted powerhouses Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld, The
West Wing and ER, not to mention the earlier classics
such as Cheers, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Knight
Rider and LA Law.
worth a combined $37.25bn that has given the cable
operator control of NBC Universal. The deal was
structured so that NBC Universal borrowed $9.1bn from
third-party lenders to distribute to parent company
General Electric. GE then used that money to buy
Vivendi’s 20% stake in NBCU for $5.8bn, clearing a
major hurdle in the company’s path to sell control of the
At the start of the 2000s, NBC’s fortunes took a rapid
entertainment giant to Comcast. In early January 2011,
turn for the worse. In 2001, CBS chose its hit reality
US regulators then cleared the way for Comcast to pay
series Survivor to anchor its Thursday night line-up. Its
GE $6.5bn in cash for the conglomerate’s media unit and
success was taken as a suggestion that NBC’s nearly two
will contribute programming and other businesses valued
decades of Thursday night dominance could be broken.
at $7.25bn, including E!, the Style Network and several
With the loss of Friends and Frasier in 2004, NBC was left
cable sports stations. The sale valued NBC Universal
with several moderately rated shows and few true hits.
at $30bn.
CBS had taken over top spot, and in 2004/05 a resurgent
Comcast has a controlling 51% stake in the joint
ABC pushed NBC’s ratings into fourth place. During this
venture, while GE controls 49%. The deal fulfils a long-
time, all of the broadcast networks (including Fox) faced
time goal of Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts
shrinking audiences due to increased competition from
to turn his family-controlled company into a global
cable, video games and the internet, with NBC possibly
media colossus. In 2004, he launched a hostile, and
being the hardest hit.
unsuccessful, bid for Disney. Now, NBC-Universal’s near
The past few years have seen plenty of false starts,
30,000 employees will have a different culture with which
not helped by constant shuffling at executive level – the
to contend, while Comcast nets the highly sought-after
network’s president of entertainment has changed from
NBCU cable channels (USA, Syfy, Bravo) together with
Kevin Reilly to the short-lived reign of Ben Silverman,
the struggling broadcaster NBC.
through to an almost caretaker-type period under Angela
It hasn’t all been bad for NBC, with the occasional
Bromstad, with Robert Greenblatt now in the role.
success in the advertiser-friendly 18-49 demo – Heroes
This poisoned chalice has, arguably, become the most
and The Office, along with format winners America’s
challenging job in US broadcasting. Greenblatt arrives
Got Talent and Deal Or No Deal. And the return of NFL
with incredible pedigree – having elevated Showtime to
Sunday Night Football to NBC has certainly helped bring
become HBO’s main competitor – but he has to
back some middle-class American viewers.
deal with new owners in Comcast, with potentially
But the perception remains that better management
significant changes in the structure and culture of the
would have helped the Peacock (as it is affectionately
organisation.
known) retain success in the post-Friends era.
Key trends
Audience profile
l Since the Comcast takeover, several key NBC executives
have been shown the door, including former chief
The ABC Viewer (2009)
executive Jeff Zucker and the face of MSNBC, anchor
Female audience
58%
Keith Olbermann. Zucker’s replacement, Steve Burke,
Male audience
42%
has come directly from being the number two at
Median age
Median income (25-54)
50
Comcast. It has been reported that one of Burke’s
$60,000
aims as chief executive is to reform the NBC Universal
corporate culture.
Source: Nielsen/MRI.
8
NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
l NBC’s current head of alternative programming, Paul
These two reality series have been well supplemented
Telegdy, is a Brit who is credited with helping BBC
by the game show Minute To Win It from Swedish format
Worldwide break into the US network game with
gurus Friday TV. The show has been recommissioned for
Dancing With The Stars.
a second series during the 2010/11 season.
The most successful of the channel’s Thursday
l NBC has a high rate of working with international
night comedies is the US adaptation of BBC’s The
producers. In 2010, this included Friday TV on Minute
Office. Although the show may not pull in huge overall
To Win It, Shed Media on Who Do You Think You Are?
numbers (averaging about 7.9 million for the October-
as well as the recent high-profile commission of Dutch
December period), it does exceptionally well in the
producer Talpa’s Voice Of America.
18-49 demographic (5.1 million), where it often makes
the US weekly top 10 for that particular demographic.
l The channel is building up a reputation as the network
The breakthrough comedy format will be undergoing a
most willing to invest in remakes, with Knight Rider
transition in 2011 as star Steve Carrell leaves the series.
and Bionic Woman having already aired – albeit to a
Community and Outsourced have not been especially
poor reception – and Wonder Woman (David E Kelley)
impressive, but then neither has 30 Rock in its five
set to go to pilot.
years on air – yet the network has been hugely loyal to
these underperforming comedies. This has resulted in
l NBC Sports is coming towards the end of its six-year
its Thursday night line-up being given an extra hour,
contract with NFL for Sunday Night Football, with the
as comedies from winter 2011 onwards will also be
deal up for grabs at the end of 2011.
scheduled in the 10pm and 10.30pm timeslots.
Schedule
current programming
The greatest travesty in the network’s current line-up is
If the late, great Brandon Tartikoff was alive, he would
its lack of high-rated drama. Naturally, it is much easier
most likely be surprised at the state of programming
to launch a drama on the back of an already successful
coming out of the network he rebuilt to dominance in the
series, but NBC’s last big hitter, Heroes, stuttered towards
1980s. Gone are the high-quality dramas and the broad
its finale unable to provide a launching pad for any new
relationship comedies of yesteryear, and in their place is
series. The result is a number of failed, yet expensive
a mixture of reality programming, niche single-camera
dramas, including conspiracy thriller The Event, the Jerry
comedy and drama franchises past their sell-by date.
Bruckheimer-produced Chase, and the now cancelled JJ
Abrams spy drama Undercovers. With all these dramas
The programming highlights a lack of cohesion and
a brand that viewers are likely to find difficult to define.
underperforming, it has been left to veteran franchise
Surprisingly, the network’s biggest shows are now
Law & Order to keep the drama part of the schedule alive
competitive reality fare – America’s Got Talent and The
with SVU and new spin-off Law & Order: LA.
2010 also saw NBC abandon the short-lived strategy
Biggest Loser have secured consistently solid ratings in
the summer and autumn/spring timeslots respectively,
of scheduling late-night talk show host Jay Leno in a
putting their supposed superior drama counterparts to
primetime slot of 10pm. The move failed miserably, and
shame. Fremantle Media’s Got Talent averaged 8.3 million
giving Leno The Tonight Show again consequently lost the
viewers in its Wednesday slot over the summer and
network its star host Conan O’Brien, who has moved over
continues to be the outstanding summer performer across
to cable outfit TBS.
It appears that NBC’s current position is to consolidate
all the big networks. Meanwhile, The Biggest Loser has
been expanded to two hours due to its consistency and
its success in unscripted series and then launch some
the lack of decent alternatives at the channel.
high-profile flagship dramas for the autumn of 2011.
9
NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
NBC’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
Mon
Chuck
Tue
The Biggest Loser (back to back)
Wed
Undercovers
Thur
Community
Fri
Who Do You Think You Are?/School Pride
Sat
Repeats
Sun
NBC Sunday Night Football
9.00
9.30
The Event
30 Rock
10.00
10.30
Chase
Parenthood
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Los Angeles
The Office
The Apprentice
Outsourced
Dateline NBC
Outlaw
unscripted front, Talpa’s The Voice Of America will be
commissioning trends
hotly anticipated as NBC goes head-to-head with Fox,
As is to be expected for a network trying to re-establish
which launches The X Factor later this year.
its position as a major force in US broadcasting, NBC
is covering its bases. Nearly every genre is covered in
There are approximately 140 shows in development
its commissioning trends for 2011, with a particular
for NBC. Some of the key titles that are the latest in
emphasis on sci-fi/supernatural series (seeking the new
development from the different genres include:
Heroes), social and period dramas (a common trend
equivalent), and sitcoms (an area where the channel has
Commissions with a UK or International origin
(ie, outside the US)
both a reputation and some existing programming from
Free Agents (Sitcom) – Big Talk Productions, Dark Toy
which to launch).
Entertainment
among a few channels is to find their own Mad Men
Comedy about a recently divorced agent, based on the
Ones to look out for include The Untitled Playboy
Project, set in the playboy club of Chicago in the 1960s,
UK series Free Agents, which premiered on Channel 4 in
17th Precinct and Love Bites, produced by prolific British
November 2007. In development.
film outfit Working Title. The latter series, a romantic
comedy, was ordered back in May 2010, but isn’t set
Love Bites (Comedy drama) – Working Title Films,
to air until spring 2011 after extensive rewrites. On the
Universal Media Studios
A romantic comedy intertwining multiple modern stories
of love. Set to air in spring 2011.
development slate: genre breakdown
Sci-fi/supernatural 8% Sketch comedy 1%
Music 2%
Social drama 9%
Family drama 3%
The Voice (Reality competition) – Warner Horizon, Mark
Burnett Productions, Talpa Media
Sitcom 38%
Reality competition where celebrity artists are paired with
teams of singers whom they will coach and mentor until
Comedy
drama 7%
the very best remains. Based on the Dutch format The
Voice Of Holland, which aired 17 September 2010 on RTL4
Animation 1%
in The Netherlands. In development, ordered to series.
TV specials 2%
Action drama 4%
Game show 2%
Docu-reality 1%
Reality competition 2%
Murphy’s Law (Crime drama) – Silver Pictures
Television, Warner Bros.
Crime/legal drama 18%
Medical drama 2%
Based on the novel and British series of the same name,
which featured undercover police officer Tommy Murphy
Source: Attention Inc
solving crimes. Script ordered.
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NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
My Life As An Experiment (Sitcom) – Electric
family featuring a mother who dreams of making big
Dynamite, Reveille International
money by promoting her talented kids in the sexy-but-
Comedy based on A J Jacobs’ self-improvement projects.
innocent vein. In development.
Pilot ordered.
Key US commissions
3 Ball Productions/Kenny Ortega project (Reality
17th Precinct (Crime drama) – Olive Productions,
competition) – Eyeworks 3 Ball Productions
Lionsgate
Reality dance show in which individuals compete in
Character-driven police drama based on Ed McBain’s
flash-mob performances. In development.
series of 87th Precinct novels, which were first published
in 1956. In development.
Prime Suspect (Crime drama) – Film 44, ITV Studios,
Universal Media Studios
America’s Next Great Restaurant (Reality-
The female head of a homicide squad juggles her
competition) – Magical Elves
professional life with her personal life. Based on the
Reality show where would-be restaurateurs compete in
British police procedural series of the same name. Initial
a series of challenges to open a chain restaurant in four
commission in 2009, but series still not officially dead.
different cities across the US. In development.
In development.
Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (Sitcom)
Shades (Sci-fi/supernatural) – ITV Studios
– Borderline Amazing Productions, Good Humor
Drama based on the short-lived, ten-year-old British
Television, Right Coast Productions, Warner Bros
series about the interaction between ghosts and the
Comedy based on Chelsea Handler’s boozy, satirical
living. In development.
memoir. Pilot ordered.
That’s A Record (Game show) – Eyeworks 3 Ball
Untitled Playboy Project (Social drama) – 20th
Productions
Century Fox Television
Game show featuring individuals who try to beat unusual
Set in the 1960s, the drama takes a look at the lives of
world records. Based on the website Universal Record
Playboy bunnies. Pilot ordered.
Database. Production wrapped, no air date set.
Smash (Comedy drama) – DreamWorks Television,
The Book Group (Sitcom) – Sony Pictures Television,
Universal Media Studios
Timberman/Beverly Productions, Shoe Money
Scripted series tracking the development of a Broadway
Productions
musical. Pilot ordered.
Based on the British Channel 4 series in which a woman
starts a book group. Script ordered.
I Hate That I Love You (Sitcom) – 20th Century Fox
Television
The Boss Is Coming To Dinner (Reality-competition) –
A straight couple and two lesbians navigate the world of
Zodiak USA
raising children. Pilot ordered.
Adaptation of the British series of the same name in
which job applicants must invite prospective employers to
Chain Gang (Sitcom) – Conaco Productions, Universal
a dinner party. At the conclusion of the evening, the boss
Media Studios
decides who to hire. In development.
A coffee house is disrupted when the powers that be
send in a new manager. In development
The Partridge Family (Music) – Geffen Records,
Reveille International, Sony Pictures Television
An updated version of the 1970s comedy about a musical
11
NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Hyper-Chondriac (Sitcom) – Ryan Murphy Productions,
development slate: producer breakdown
20th Century Fox
US producer
11%
Based on the memoir of the same name, comedy features
International producer 9%
In-house 49%
a pharmaceutical sales rep who imagines he’s stricken
with every disease he sees at every hospital he enters
for work. Turns out his symptoms are real, although the
cause is not what he thinks it is. Script ordered.
Studio
31%
NBC/Massett/Zinman reformed criminal drama
(Crime drama) – Hypnotic, Universal Media Studios
A woman who spent her youth as a criminal decides
to change her life and work as a recovery expert for an
Source: Attention Inc.
insurance company. In development, 60 minutes.
Analysis
new media
Looking at the source of NBC’s content, it is clear that
l NBC has pioneered an aggressive online strategy
the majority of its product is produced in-house at
Universal Media Studios. However, a large chunk of its
that makes new series widely available a week before
commissions, (more than 30%) comes from other studios,
their premieres. The network does this via a number
indicating that the network’s business model is not based
of platform deals, ensuring shows can be found in
purely on a flat, integrated structure. It has projects with
multiple places: NBC’s website, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon’s
Warner Bros, Sony and 20th Century Fox.
UnBox, Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Zune, as well as
on-demand from TV providers such as Comcast, Cox,
International producers strike nearly 10% of the slate,
and this trend shows no signs of abating – especially as
Charter, Dish and Verizon Fios. NBC’s strategy is at
the channel seeks content from as many varied sources
odds with that of most other networks, which plan far
as possible. In the past, it has commissioned adaptations
more selective treatment. It’s unclear whether such
from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Israel, Russia,
‘previews’ help, hurt or have no effect on a show’s
Mexico, Colombia, Germany, Holland, France and the UK.
chances. Early screenings can build positive word of
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
Sunday Night Football
Original
Sports
NBC Sports
2
America’s Got Talent
Original
Reality-competition
Fremantle Media
3
Law & Order: SVU
Original
Crime drama
Universal Media Studios
4
The Biggest Loser
Original
Reality-competition
Shine International/Eyeworks 3 Ball
5
The Sing Off
Original
Reality-competition
Sony Pictures TV
6
Law & Order: LA
Original
Crime drama
Universal Media Studios
7
The Office
Original
Sitcom
Universal Media Studios/Reveille
8
Minute To Win It
Original
Game show
Friday TV
9
The Event
Original
Action drama
Universal Media Studios
10
Dateline
Original
News magazine
NBC News/Peacock Productions
Source: Nielsen/Attention Inc
12
NBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
mouth and create awareness, but they can also spread
bad buzz faster.
l The US federal government, in the approval of the
Comcast takeover, has made sure that the cable giant
won’t be able to use its new-found clout when it takes
control of NBC Universal to sabotage the online video
website Hulu. The Obama administration has attached
comprehensive conditions that will make it difficult
for Comcast to stifle competition, particularly in the
burgeoning area of online video distribution. So, while
it is allowed to have NBCU’s stake in Hulu, Comcast is
not allowed to own it. Industry insiders are calling this
the Hulu Handcuff.
l Comcast owns NBC Universal’s 30% interest in Hulu,
but the venture also sees it partner with other big
media companies, News Corp and Walt Disney Co,
along with Providence Equity Partners, which are all
co-owners of the site.
l Not all NBC’s digital strategy is placed in the hands
of Hulu. The network’s website, nbc.com, not only
provides sneak previews of upcoming shows and a
catch-up of older episodes, it also commissions extra
content based on its major series. For instance, in 30
Rock, Alec Baldwin makes a joke about an invented
cable company called Kablevision, so now the website
hosts a (fake) commercial about Kablevision.
13
CBS
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Leslie Moonves
“CBS airs a variety of general
entertainment programming and its more
traditional content mix has secured its
place as America’s number one watched
broadcast network for the past 10 years.”
Main commissioner Nina Tassler
Target demographic
Adults 18-49 and 25-54
Key titles
NCIS, Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife,
CSI, Two And A Half Men
Original versus acquired Original
Genres of programming
Drama, comedy, reality-competition
International acquisitions
Average viewership
12.1 million
Ranking
1st
Top-performing show
NCIS
International commissions
International adaptations ✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
Dramas, legal/crime, female-driven
Latest international commissions
The Cube (Objective), Not Going Out (Avalon)
Top-performing international production
Big Brother/Undercover Boss
Slogan
Only CBS
14
CBS
general information
Launched 1 July 1941
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key commissioners
Nina Tassler (president of programming)
Kelly Kahl (EVP, primetime)
David Brownfield (SVP, current programming)
Stacey Adams (VP, current programming)
Owner CBS Corporation
Network president (CEO) Leslie Moonves
Address 51 West 52nd Street Fifth Floor
New York City, NY 10019
United States
Telephone (212) 975-4321
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
United States
Telephone (323) 575-2345
Website www.cbs.com
Sister networks The CW, Showtime
Number of subscribers 106 million domestic homes
Target demographic Adults 18-49, adults 25-54
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition ABC, Fox, NBC
USP CBS, as one of the world’s oldest broadcasting
networks, manages to continue with its long history of
providing a wide variety of television programmes to
more than 200 affiliate stations in the United States,
including 20 stations owned by Viacom, to become
the nation’s top network.
Brand extensions BNET, CBS Moneywatch, CHOW,
CNET, Last.fm, MaxPreps, Metacritic, mySimon,
TechRepublic, The Insider, TV.com, Urban Baby, ZDNet,
Game Spot
15
CBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
channel insight
CBS enjoys its place as the number one, most-watched
network.
CBS started as one of the largest radio
conglomerates in the Unitied States in the late 1920s
and, though now a television network, CBS has
stayed in the foreground of entertainment since its
inception. Currently the most-watched network in the
US, CBS has kept this position for almost a decade.
CBS mostly licenses its comedies and dramas from
production company partners via its in-house studio,
CBS Studios. That said, the network is more open to
using other studios (Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox) than
its rival broadcast networks, ABC, NBC and Fox.
Key trends
The key to rising back to the top of the ratings came
l Thanks to ratings-topper American Idol, CBS Network’s
around the summer of 2000, when CBS aired the surprise
summer hit Survivor. When the success of this reality
top competitor is typically thought to be Fox. For both
show brought a new demographic of viewers to the
the 2008-2009 and the 2009-2010 seasons, the two
usually older-skewing network, CBS’s current chairman
networks have had almost identical ratings in the
and then chief executive of television, Les Moonves, made
18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 demographics.
it a priority to skew network programming towards a
broader yet younger audience. The key to CBS’s continued
l Mark Burnett, the producer behind CBS hit show
success, however, is that the network did this without
Survivor, which has consistently been Emmy-
alienating its older demographic.
nominated since the awards added a reality category,
currently has a hit reality series on the top four
The trick was in the procedural shows. CBS focuses
its drama development on typically easy-to-follow
broadcast networks – The Apprentice on NBC, Are You
detective series (called procedurals in the US) usually
Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? on Fox syndication and
employing flashy technology and archetypal detective
Shark Tank on ABC. Of the three, CBS’s Survivor is still
characters. These series have spawned entire brands
the ratings winner.
such as the CSI franchise and the two NCIS series. The
l CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a Jerry Bruckheimer and
network has been unable – or rather unwilling – to
launch a serial drama, but its detective procedurals have
CBS Studios production, was the first series to spawn
flourished, including Without A Trace, Criminal Minds,
multiple franchise spin-offs, including CSI: Miami
The Mentalist and, in 2010, the revamp of the classic
and CSI: New York. To date, more than 580 episodes
series Hawaii Five-O.
of the CSI franchise have aired, but the original CSI
still remains the most popular. It has also launched a
Now able to capitalise where other networks have not –
number of novels, comics and computer games.
attracting both young and older viewers by programming
easy-to-follow procedural dramas and classic family-
l The CBS slogan has changed several times in
friendly multi-camera comedies (Two And A Half Men) –
the past decade as the network climbed in the ratings.
The 2010/2011 season’s promotional campaign
Audience profile
declared, ‘Only CBS’, while proclaiming it had “TV’s
top-rated shows and TV’s best new shows, all under
The CBS Viewer (2009)
one roof ”.
Female audience
57%
Male audience
43%
Median age (women)
Average household income
l Former president of CBS Network Television
51
Entertainment Nancy Tellem is now the senior adviser
$66,000
to chief executive Les Moonves. It was under her
Proportion of 25-54
70%
guidance as the primetime scheduler that shows such
Attended/graduated college
45%
as CSI, Survivor and Everybody Loves Raymond made
Source: Nielsen/MRI
16
it to air.
CBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
l Rumours in spring 2010 that lead actor Charlie Sheen,
Boss, produced by the UK’s Studio Lambert, has enjoyed
who has been embroiled in drug-related scandals for
staying power – but this is a rare occurrence, with new
years, was considering leaving the record-breaking
factual entertainment series struggling to break into an
Warner Bros-produced Two And A Half Men led the
established schedule.
network to offer him upwards of $1.8m per episode.
It has been said by executives at the network that
Sheen renewed his contract for another two years. Soon
the show’s prior success on the UK’s Channel 4 helped
after the autumn 2010 premiere, Sheen was embroiled
Undercover Boss secure on a strong timeslot and series
in another drug scandal that actually led to higher
commitment. For the most part, new CBS series tend to
ratings for the show. Two And A Half Men regularly
be in the scripted arena.
surpasses 14 million viewers per episode and is
Schedule
America’s number one-rated sitcom in all households.
l In September 2008, Lifetime Television purchased the
current programming
re-run rights for How I Met Your Mother in a four-year
syndication deal that required CBS to produce five
Fairly broad-skewing, CBS is best known for its
full seasons of the show. Luckily, the show has been a
“traditional” television. This is predominantly detective
fairly consistent ratings winner and is now in its sixth
procedurals and classic multi-camera sitcoms. Thus,
season.
genre-wise, CBS content is not extremely diverse. Dramas
tend to lean towards police and medical or legal shows,
l Over season seven (2009/2010), Two And A Half Men
while comedies tend to be family comedies.
almost continually ranked as the number one show
In the most recent season, CBS has made another
in its timeslot and for the night. But the series has
effort to rope in younger viewers by expanding the NCIS
never returned to its season two ratings, during which
franchise to include NCIS: Los Angeles and casting well-
viewership reached 24.2 million, a record for the series.
known male actors as the detectives (including rapper
Two And A Half Men was not only the overall number
LL Cool J and film actor Chris O’Donnell). It has also
one broadcast series in 2009/2010, it also became
successfully revamped the classic Hawaii Five-O series,
the number one comedy in syndication, where it is
making it into a splashier, trendier version of the original,
distributed by Warner Bros.
again with younger leads, most of who have had success
l Named as one of the “five best new shows of 2010”, the
in other CBS-produced series.
CBS series Blue Bloods, starring veteran TV actor Tom
Because CBS has two of the most successful reality
series on the air, between Survivor and Amazing Race,
Selleck, was slated on Friday nights at 10pm, which
the focus to create more reality series has not been a
is typically not a hit-launching timeslot. While hopes
primary one. The moderately successful Undercover
may not have been high for the series, DVR viewings
CBS’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
9.00
9.30
10.00
Rules of Engagement
Two And A Half Men
Mike And Molly
Hawaii Five-0
Mon
How I Met Your Mother
Tue
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
The Good Wife
Wed
Survivor Nicaragua
Criminal Minds
The Defenders
Thur
The Big Bang Theory
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
The Mentalist
Fri
The Mentalist
CSI: NY
Blue Bloods
Sat
Back-to-back movies
Sun
Amazing Race
Undercover Boss
CSI: Miami
$#*! My Dad Says
17
10.30
CBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
have led Blue Bloods to decent ratings and the show
Objective). NY-LON never made it past the pilot stage,
occasionally helps CBS win the night.
but it indicates that CBS is very open to different
ways of working with, and developing, series that are
l One of the few female-driven dramas on CBS, The Good
sourced from outside the US.
Wife premiered to 13.71 million viewers at the start of
the 2009 season and remained first in its timeslot for
l In 2010, CBS ranked second in Emmy nominations
almost its entire first season, but it ended the season
with 57, only outranked by ABC’s 63 nominations.
with a median viewer age of 58, making it TV’s oldest-
commissioning trends
skewing drama. The network is now striving to lower
the median age of the critically acclaimed drama to
attract more ad revenue.
The adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” fits the CBS brand
perfectly. The largest percentage of development is going
l CBS made an unexpected move at the start of the
towards shows that echo the successful slate the network
2010/2011 season by launching a Thursday comedy
already has – procedural dramas and studio-based
night, to directly threaten NBC’s current hold on the
comedies.
genre in that timeslot. Moving the hit series Big Bang
There is a move, however, to pick up more work-
Theory and launching the new Twitter-based William
place comedies, perhaps to compete against the work-
Shatner series, $#*! My Dad Says, CBS went after the
place-dominated Thursday night line-up on NBC.
8pm hour on Thursday night in full force and has yet
Furthermore, more reality shows are in development,
to suffer for it. However, despite consistently winning
perhaps to partner with Undercover Boss.
the night in total viewers, CBS still falls short of NBC
in the highly coveted 18-49 demographic come 9pm,
development slate: genre breakdown
mostly due to the popularity of The Office.
TV movie 2%
TV special 4%
Reality
8%
l Most of the network’s dealings with international
producers are in reality formats, primetime game
Comedy 42%
shows and the occasional adaptation of scripted series.
Over the years, it has aired Endemol’s Big Brother,
ITV Studios’ Game Show Marathon and Studio
Lambert’s Undercover Boss. While CBS is selective
over which formats it develops, there has been a
Drama 41%
consistent history in working with international
Game show 3%
producers, especially in formats.
Source: Attention Inc
l Even in dramas and comedies, CBS has often
commissioned adaptations, such as Hat Trick’s Worst
Week, which – despite having it lasted only one season
There are approximately 140 shows in development
– ended up with more US episodes produced than UK
for CBS. Some of the key titles that are the latest in
episodes (for BBC). An example of a UK series being
development from the different genres include:
commissioned but not ending up on the schedule is
a US version of the show, with local production
Commissions with a UK or international origin
(ie, outside the US)
house Beacon having acquired the format rights via
CBS/Mark Wilson/Patrick Mckenna cop drama
Pangea (a US management company that represents
(Drama) – CTV Productions & White Pine Pictures
UK producers such as Ecosse, Maverick, Red and
Police drama. In development.
NY-LON, originally on air on Channel 4. CBS ordered
18
CBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Division 5 (Drama) – CBS Television Studios & Shine
CBS/Peter Knight consulting firm comedy (Comedy)
International
– Sony Pictures Television Studio & Happy Madison
An FBI taskforce tracks down threats facing the nation.
Productions
In development.
A workplace comedy about assistants and junior
executives at a consulting firm. Pilot script ordered.
Live To Dance (Reality) – Shine International
Based on the Sky 1 series Got To Dance, the show has
Confessions Of A Contractor (Drama) – 20th Century
amateur dancers ranging in age and style who compete
Fox Television & Midd Kid Productions
in front of a panel of judges. Viewers at home vote for
Drama based on the novel of the same name in which a
their favorite dancers during the semi-finals and finals.
Los Angeles contractor renovates the homes of the rich
Ordered to series.
and famous and falls in love with two female clients –
who happen to be former best friends. In development.
Not Going Out (Comedy) – CBS Television Studios &
Avalon Television
Father’s Club (Comedy) – CBS Television Studios &
Comedy based on the British series of the same name in
Tannenbaum Company
which a man shares an apartment with his best friend’s
A group of men bond when they become fathers. In
ex-girlfriend. Complications ensue when his buddy
development.
decides he wants his girlfriend back, unaware that a
romance has sprung up between the two. Pilot
Knife Fight (Drama) – CBS Television Studios &
script ordered.
Timberman/Beverly Productions
A public defender decides to become a prosecutor in
The Cube (Game show) – Objective Productions
order to find the truth. Pilot script ordered.
Game show where contestants competing from inside
a giant glass cube must complete tasks within a limited
Mind Games (Drama) – CBS Television Studios &
amount of time. Based on the show that aired on ITV1.
Apostle Pictures
Ordered to series.
A female psychologist, who specialises in memory, teams
up with a tough detective in order to solve crimes. In
The Quinn-Tuplets (Drama) – CBS Television Studios
development.
Based on the Israeli series that follows the personal and
professional lives of the adult Quinn quintuplets. Pilot
One If By Land (Comedy) – Lionsgate, Ish
wrapped.
Entertainment, Category 5 Entertainment
Comedy set in a New York restaurant famed for sparking
Key US commissions
romance between innumerable couples. In development.
America’s Strongest American (Reality) –
Sony Pictures Television Studio, IMG Media, & Embassy
The Same Name (Reality) – 51 Minds Entertainment
Row, LLC
Reality show in which celebrities swap places with
Reality show where people compete in a series of
individuals who share their name. Picked up for
challenges to see who deserves the title of strongest
production.
American. Ordered to series.
Your Mom Sucks (Comedy) – Warner Bros Television &
Apex Predator (Drama) – CBS Television Studios &
Mohawk Productions
Intellectual Property Group
On moving to a new city, a teen encounters problems
A team of detectives work together to take down
when his mum is made principal of his high school.
dangerous predators. In development.
Rolled over to season 2011/2012.
19
CBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Analysis
development slate: producer breakdown
CBS’s development slate is comprised mostly of in-house
US producer
17%
and studio productions. This is typical of most of the
International producer 4%
In-house 38%
broadcast networks. While working with international
producers represents only 4% of its commissioned
projects, the total volume is fairly high, given that the
network has more than 140 shows in development.
Also, there are some cases where foreign producers are
attached to a project that a studio has set up with the
network. In this case, the studio is clearly the dominant
Studio 41%
partner, but foreign producers should be encouraged
that US networks are open to sourcing their material
Source: Attention Inc
outside the US. CBS, particularly, is open to Canadian
productions, having previously acquired Canadian series
The Bridge to air in the less competitive summer schedule.
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
NCIS
Original
Crime drama
CBS Studios
2
The Mentalist
Original
Crime drama
Warner Bros TV
3
NCIS LA
Original
Crime drama
CBS Studios
4
Two And A Half Men
Original
Comedy
Warner Bros TV/Chuck Lorre Productions
5
CSI
Original
Crime drama
CBS Studios/Jerry Bruckheimer
6
Survivor: Hero/Villain
Original
Reality competition
Mark Burnett Productions
7
Survivor: Samoa
Original
Reality competition
Mark Burnett Productions
8
The Big Bang Theory
Original
Comedy
Warner Bros TV/Chuck Lorre Productions
9
Criminal Minds
Original
Crime drama
ABC Studios/Mark Gordon Company
10
CSI: Miami
Original
Crime drama
CBS Studios/Jerry Bruckheimer
is the second highest-rated show on Metacritic,
new media
following another critical darling, AMC’s Mad Men.
lC
BS is not only the number one broadcast network,
but its website, CBS.com, is the number one broadcast
l The CBS online brand includes wiki-gadgets and links,
network site in online streaming, with 6.3 million
message boards and games. The “real time viewing
unique visitors per month. Part of the reason for
room” allows viewers to catch up on their favourite
that is because the other network websites have
shows while chatting with other viewers.
given way to Hulu (NBC, Fox and ABC shows can
all be accessed there), while CBS has retained some
l CBS currently offers no shows on On Demand, despite
the fact that similar broadcast networks such as
independence.
NBC and ABC do. CBS online does, however, have
standalone webisodes that are series in themselves, not
lO
ther popular CBS interactive sites include: popular
food site CHOW; popular music site Last.fm; popular
connected to CBS shows. For instance, Hook Me Up, a
movie ratings site Metacritic; and popular television
dating show, and Clark And Michael, a mockumentary
information and trivia site TV.com. The Good Wife
about Michael Cera’s ambitions to write a TV series.
20
FOX
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Kevin Reilly
Main commissioner Marcy Ross/Mike
Darnell
“The fourth of the ‘Big Four’ networks, Fox
is the most popular among the 18-49s with
its innovative and slightly edgier suite of
programming.”
Target demographic
Adults 18-49
Original versus acquired Original
Key titles
American Idol, House, The Simpsons, So
You Think You Can Dance, Glee, Family Guy
International commissions
Genres of programming
Reality-competition, comedy, drama,
action, animation, sports, docu-reality,
musical-drama
International adaptations Average viewership
7.66 million
Ranking
4th
International acquisitions
✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
Crime drama, action-adventure, supernatural,
broad comedies
Latest international commissions:
Traffic Lights (Keshet, Israel), Dan and Becs
(RTE, Ireland), Outnumbered (Hat Trick, UK)
Top-performing show
American Idol
Top-performing international production
American Idol
Slogan
So Fox
21
FOX
general information
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Lindsay Sloane (co-head, drama programming)
Suzanna Makkos (co-head, comedy programming)
Marcus Wiley (co-head, comedy programming)
Launched 9 October 1986
Owner News Corporation
Network president (CEO) Kevin Reilly
Address
10201 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90035
United States
Telephone (310) 369-1000
1211 Avenue of the Americas, Third Floor
New York City, NY 10036
United States
Telephone (212) 852-7000
Website www.fox.com
Sister networks FX, Fox News, Fuel TV, Fox Movie
Channel, Fox Soccer Channel, Nat Geo, Speed
Number of subscribers 112 million
Target demographic Adults 18-49
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition ABC, NBC, CBS
USP The newest of the ‘Big Four’ broadcast networks,
Fox is perceived as having younger, more innovative
programming that its counterparts and has been
unafraid to stoke controversy.
Brand extensions Hulu.com, TMZ, Hitviews, DirecTV
(via News Corp)
Key commissioners
Marcy Ross (EVP, current programming)
Mike Darnell (president, alternative entertainment)
Terence Carter (co-head, drama programming)
22
FOX
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Audience profile
channel insight
The Fox Broadcasting Corporation, or Fox, as it
is known for short, is a phenomenon of American
broadcasting history. It was the first network to break
the dominance of the traditional ‘Big Three’, which
had controlled US television for decades. By doing
so, it paved the way for others to enter a market that
seemed to have incredible barriers to entry. Fox did
this by being the most innovative in its programming,
which consistently challenged the status quo until the
breaking point when Fox became the most popular
network among the coveted 18-49 demographic a
decade ago. From that moment on, the dominant
broadcasters became known as the ‘Big Four’.
FOX Viewer (2009)
Male
45%
Female
55%
Median age
Median Income (25-54)
46
$53,000
Source: Nielsen/MRI
its focus, Fox set the ball rolling for high-concept action
with 24, without which shows such as Lost and Prison
Break might not have arisen. Furthermore, with The
OC, Fox reinvented the primetime soap for the first time
since the days of Dallas – paving the way for Desperate
Housewives and other imitations.
Funded by News International, the parent company
At the same time, Fox pushed shows such as Nip/
of 20th Century Fox film studios, Fox launched in 1986
Tuck and The Shield, considered too challenging for
with the aim of directly competing with the establishment
mainstream audiences, to sister channel FX, which
that was ABC, CBS and NBC. In order to survive, it was
quickly became synonymous with edgy drama.
forced to gain ground aggressively on all sides – and its
Fox also had to find other ways to distinguish itself
formula was simple: to provide the quality mainstream
from the other three. It did – and to this day still does –
entertainment lacking on the other networks.
only air two hours of network programming during the
The network’s first line of attack was the relatively
prime time hours, and three hours on Sundays, compared
poor choice in TV drama provided by the other networks,
with the three weeknight and four Sunday night hours
particularly for younger demographics. The network
broadcast by the big three networks. This allows many
threw its resources behind quality mainstream drama
of its stations to air local news during the 10pm time
and comedy. It scored success after success with shows,
slot. Fox’s original reason for the reduced number of
such as 21 Jump Street, Married With Children, and the
primetime hours was to avoid fulfilling the Federal
breakout hits The Simpsons and The X Files. By the
Communications Commission’s requirements at the
1997-8 TV season, Fox had three of its shows in the
time to be considered a network, and to be free of
Nielsen top 20 – The X Files, King Of The Hill and The
resulting regulations, although FCC rules have been
Simpsons. By the late 1990s, The Simpsons had become
relaxed since then.
a cultural phenomenon, while Fox had also managed to
wrestle primetime NFL football away from CBS.
Fox also does not air soap operas nor other network
daytime programming, such as game shows or talk
In the 2000s, Fox made a spectacular reversal –
shows, despite being a major network. Because of this,
confounding industry observers. It moved away from
affiliates have more time for syndicated programming.
drama in favour of the new genre of reality TV. This
The business model at Fox is well integrated, with the
gamble paid off enormously – shows such as American
majority of its primetime programming being produced
Idol garnered enormous numbers of new viewers (one
by one of its studios (20th Century Fox TV, Fox TV
episode of Idol drew an audience of 37 million). In reality,
Studios, or Fox 21) – although the one big exception to
this move away from drama was deceptive. The channel
that is House, which is produced by NBC-Universal and
had simply pared down its traditionally large slate by
licensed by Fox in the US.
concentrating on a number of high-profile series – in
The current network president, Kevin Reilly, has
particular, 24, The OC, and Bones. Consistently ahead of
a strong reputation as a developer of quality drama,
the curve, and proving that mainstream innovation was
previously seen when he ran NBC’s entertainment
23
FOX
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
current programming
division and, prior to that, FX. Reilly came into the
post in 2007 and is seen as primarily responsibe for
the network’s movement towards more female-skewing
The Fox channel is at a crucial moment in its
series, such as Glee.
development with major changes under way at the
network away from the public eye. Fox has traditionally
Key trends
promoted itself as the more risqué network among the
l Fox produces two syndicated daytime courtroom
big four; it does not air original daytime programming
shows, Divorce Court and Judge Alex, along with two
like soaps or talk shows – devoting its resources to the
syndicated game shows, Don’t Forget The Lyrics and Are
traditional four pillars of its success: sports, reality TV,
You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? The latter two were on
quality drama and animated comedies, all of which are in
the primetime schedule until 2009, when they moved
need of regeneration.
into syndication in the local markets.
In addition, the network is now trying to brand itself
l While many networks are reducing the number of
as a major name in one of the last genres remaining
long-term, first-look deals they make with producers,
unconquered by it: live-action comedy. The network,
Fox in 2010 seems to be bucking this trend. Jonah Hill,
perhaps more than the others, provides huge opportunity
for instance, launched his own production company,
for co-productions. This is reflected in its line-up
JHF, and signed a first-look TV development deal with
for 2011. Fox was the first network to completely embrace
Fox. Under the deal, Fox has bought an untitled single-
European reality formats. In 2011, reality provides a main
camera comedy spec written by Hill, while the network
staple of the network’s output – yet behind the scenes
will also have first rights to future JHF projects in
it is a crucial time. With TV producer Simon Cowell
television.
leaving American Idol (now in its 10th season) to form the
l In November, 2010, Fox’s number two programming
long-delayed The X Factor, time will tell whether viewers
executive, Matt Cherniss, announced he was leaving.
remain loyal to the show. The 2011 line-up features
Cherniss was brought in by Fox Entertainment
new reality shows – a large number from previously
president Kevin Reilly in May 2008 as Reilly was in
established European formats such as Gordon Ramsay’s
the early stages of building his development team.
Kitchen Nightmares, Secret Millionaire and So You Think
Cherniss was credited for having a major hand in
You Can Dance?.
developing Glee and new comedy Raising Hope. Fox
Surprisingly, Secret Millionaire has ended up not being
did not end up replacing him, indicating a move to
renewed for a second season, even though it performed
create an executive structure with fewer layers.
decently for Fox in its Wednesday 8pm timeslot. Rival
l Analogue broadcasting on Fox largely ended on 12 June
2009 as part of the transition to digital television.
ABC stepped in, picking the RDF (Zodiak) series up for a
March 2011 debut.
Schedule
Fox’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
9.00
9.30
10.00
Mon
House
Lonestar
Local programming
Tue
Glee
Raising Hope
(Cancelled)
Wed
Lie to Me
Hell’s Kitchen
Local programming
Thur
Bones
Fringe
Local programming
Fri
Human Target
Sat
Cops (back to back)
Sun
The Simpsons
Running Wilde
(Cancelled)
Local programming
Local programming
America’s Most Wanted
The Cleveland Show
Family Guy
Local programming
American Dad
24
Local programming
10.30
FOX
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Much in the way Fox rejuvenated the primetime soap
Animated comedy has long been a staple of quality at
with The OC, the network has been undertaking a massive
Fox – the channel that brought the world The Simpsons.
push in the area of situational comedy. For the past few
In 2011, this tradition is found on its Sunday night
seasons, Fox has tried to develop live-action comedy but
line-up (running directly against the Sunday night drama
with little success. It tried star-driven vehicles such as
offered by other networks). The new shows in this line-
Til Death and Back To You, as well as quirkier fare more
up, Bob’s Burgers and American Dad, represent a direct
recently, such as Running Wilde, all to no avail. In fact, the
attempt to maintain this high standard.
latter series, created by Arrested Development showrunner
commissioning trends
Mitch Hurwitz, was cancelled midway through its debut
season, due to abysmal ratings.
It is here that there appears to be some scope for
Fox’s commissioning trends in 2011 can be summed up
international co-productions. In the past, the channel has
succinctly as a massive push for dominance in the sitcom
commissioned pilots of British shows Absolutely Fabulous
field. A huge effort is being made to rejuvenate this genre
and Footballers’ Wives. For the upcoming comedy slate
and to dominate it with a new generation of shows –
in 2011, some also have a foreign format behind them.
some of them based on British and European originals.
The first of this new generation of Fox sitcoms, Traffic
Names such as Dan & Becs, Tagged and Outnumbered are
Lights, (based on the Israeli Ramzor) is a new comedy
all based on British shows of the same name, while Night
about single men in their 30s. The series also highlights
Shift is based on an Icelandic series.
Aided by this European influence, Fox sitcoms are
the breakthrough that many UK actors have made in US
television, with Kris Marshall (from My Family) landing a
intended to be different, edgy, yet mainstream – much as
starring role in the comedy.
its dramas are – banishing the image of the cheap sets
At the same time as trying to break into comedy, Fox
and bad jokes familiar to TV audiences in the 1980s and
must fill a void left by the end of two of its biggest shows.
1990s. In this area, the opportunity for further
Since the mid 2000s action dramas like 24 and Prison
co-production is clearly quite enormous.
TV drama represents a continuing and vital part of
Break have been the network’s specialties. It is now trying
to fill the void in the wake of both shows. Current titles
Fox’s slate for 2011, with shows such as Ridley Scott’s
such as Human Target (from The OC producer McG)
medieval series Marshal (a British co-production) clearly
explore the familiar Fox action drama territory of urban
demonstrating the breadth of its material.
paranoia and conspiracy-based suspense that has worked
development slate: genre breakdown
so well for it in the past. But the ratings for that series
were not been particularly strong. Even Fringe, which
Sci-fi/supernatural 7%
started out strongly, waned towards the end of 2010,
Social drama 3%
barely registering 5 million viewers on average (between
Family drama 1%
Comedy
drama 2%
11 October and 28 November).
Of course, the network still has House, which is its top
Sketch comedy 1%
Sitcoms 42%
drama series for the fourth consecutive year. The new
season, which began in early October 2010, has garnered
on average more than 10 million viewers at the time of
Animation 17%
publication, with an excellent uplift of 26% from DVR
playback viewing – if you include catching up from a
Action drama 5%
Crime/legal drama 17%
Medical drama 3%
Reality compeition 2%
DVR device in the seven days after transmission, House’s
total numbers rise to 12.7 million (between 11 October
and 28 November). Unfortunately, Fox does not profit
from the show’s international success, as the studio
Source: Attention Inc
financing House is NBC-Universal.
25
FOX
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
There are approximately 140 shows currently in
aired on 28 August 2007 on BBC 1, featuring hapless
development.
parents trying their best to tend to their three precocious
and boisterous kids. In production
Commissions with a UK or international origin
(ie, outside the US)
Sky Jockeys (Animation) – Zodiak USA, UKTV
Dan and Becs (Sitcom) – Sony Pictures Television
Follows the comedic adventures of airline employees.
A look at a relationship from the very different
Script ordered.
perspectives of the two people involved. Based on the
Irish TV series Dan & Becs, created by David Coffey,
Tagged (Sitcom) – Shine International
which premiered on RTE in 2007. Pilot script ordered.
A medical examiner investigates bizarre death cases.
Based on the book Dead Center: Behind the Scenes at
Heel (Animation) – Machinima.com, Shine International
the World’s Largest Medical Examiner’s Office by Shiya
An animated comedy about a sociopathic dog, Cosmo,
Ribowsky and Tom Shachtman. Pilot ordered.
that is jealous of his owner’s family and plots to get rid of
them and all the other animals so he doesn’t have to share
Tiny Monsters (Sitcom) – 20th Century Fox, Shine,
his owner. Picked up.
Electric Dynamite
Comedy about a group of mean girls in junior high.
Marshal (Social drama) – 20th Century Fox Television,
In development.
Scott Free Productions
Drama that centres on the life of William Marshal, who
Traffic Light (Sitcom) – 20th Century Fox Television,
served as a medieval knight to four kings and gained
Keshet Broadcasting
significant power in Europe. Based on the Grahman
A comedy about three men who have been friends since
Shelby novels The Devil Is Loose and Wolf At the Door.
college. Now in their 30s the men must juggle their
In development.
romantic relationships with the desire for freedom. Based
on the Israeli series Ramzor, which aired in 2008 on
My Parents Are Gonna Love You (Reality
Channel 2 Keshet. Set to air in March 2011.
Competition) – Angel City Factory
Reality show in which individuals try to trick their
The X Factor (Reality Competition) – Fremantle Media,
parents by introducing them to a new, famous and
Syco Entertainment
obnoxious significant other. The longer they can keep
Reality series in which contestants with musical
up the ruse, the more money they have a chance to win.
aspirations compete for a recording contract. Based on
Based on the format from Banijay Entertainment’s JES
the UK version of the same name. Ordered to series.
Productions’, Mes Parents Vont T’Adorer, which aired in
France on NRJ 12. In development.
Key US commissions:
Allen Gregory (Animation) – 20th Century Fox, Chernin
Night Shift (Sitcom) – Sony Pictures Television, Shine
Entertainment
International
When a seven-year-old socialite who behaves more like an
Three graveyard shift workers try to entertain themselves
adult than a child finds himself in public school, he must
while working at a gas station. Based on the Icelandic
adjust to the culture shock to fit in. Ordered to series.
series Naeturvaktin (The Night Shift), which premiered on
Stod 2 in 2007. In development.
David Hubbard Cop Drama (Drama) – 20th Century
Fox, Adelstein Productions
Outnumbered (Sitcom) – 20th Century Fox Television,
When a police profiler’s family is murdered, he becomes
Hat Trick Productions, Chernin Entertainment
agoraphobic and works from his apartment in New York,
Comedy based on the British series Outnumbered, which
refusing to go outside. In development.
26
fox
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Full Nelson (Social drama) – Jerry Bruckheimer
development slate: producer breakdown
Television
US producer 7%
Chronicles a woman’s rise in the music industry in the
International producer 8%
In-house 58%
1980s. Based on the life of music executive Kathy Nelson.
Script ordered.
Sequestered (Sitcom) – 20th Century Fox Television,
Chernin Entertainment
Studio
27%
A group of 12 jurors must live together when they are
sequestered for a lengthy trial. In development.
Terra Nova (Sci-fi/supernatural) – 20th Century Fox,
Source: Attention Inc
DreamWorks Television
A family from 100 years in the future travels back in time
international producers account, apparently, for only
150 million years to prehistoric times in order to correct
8% of Fox’s development slate, in truth the network is
the damage that has been done to Earth and save the
relying a fair bit on European formats in almost all of
world. Set to air in mid-2011.
its fields and this has created an atmosphere in which
internationally driven ideas are welcome at the network.
Texts From Last Night (Sitcom) – Sony Pictures
new media
Television, Happy Madison
Comedy focusing on a group of friends and their lives,
lF
ox has a constantly maintained website with
inspired by the regrettable texts highlighted on the blog
scheduling information and promotional material
Texts From Last Night. Script ordered.
relating to its new shows. In addition, like most other
Analysis
networks, viewers are able to watch full episodes of
Fox’s producer breakdown reveals a discrepancy;
their favourite shows, which they may have missed,
although many of its new shows are of overseas origin,
through the website.
almost all of its producing is done in-house. The truth
is that opportunity for international co-production has
lH
owever, like a number of its fellow networks, Fox
perhaps never been stronger at Fox than now. Although
is a partner in Hulu.com, which has slowly gained
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
American Idol
Original
Reality-competition
Fremantle/19
2
The OT
Original
Sports
Fox Sports
3
Glee
Original
Musical-drama
20th Century Fox/Ryan Murphy Productions
4
House
Original
Medical-drama
Universal Media Studios
5
24
Original
Action-drama
20th Century Fox/Imagine
6
Bones
Original
Crime-drama
20th Century Fox
7
Family Guy
Original
Animated comedy
20th Century Fox
8
The Simpsons
Original
Animated comedy
20th Century Fox/Grace Films/Akom
Productions (Korea)
9
Raising Hope
Original
Comedy
20th Century Fox
10
Lie To Me
Original
Crime drama
20th Century Fox/Imagine
27
Fox
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
momentum as the online home of ‘catch-up’ for
network shows. Fox was actually an original partner
in the venture alongside NBC-Universal, with old Fox
product also available on the premium service of Hulu.
l Fox’s digital strategy has raised its game since the
introduction of Glee to its schedules. Hardie Tankersley,
vice-president of online content and strategy at Fox
Broadcasting, has said in interviews that an online
strategy is much easier to build around a new show,
which is why a series such as Family Guy, while
immensely popular online, lacks many web extras.
After the TV premiere of Glee, Fox kept the show
available online over the summer as a free download on
iTunes and via streaming on Fox.com and Hulu. Since
then, Fox has partnered with Hitviews to promote Glee
through its roster of YouTube stars. Futhermore, Fox is
also having some writers tweet in character for Glee –
as it is also doing for Homer Simpson.
l Fox is also trying to ramp up innovation on advertising
formats for streamed TV. It is experimenting with
‘pause ads’ and clickable interstitials to figure out what
units work best. It seems its digital strategy is still
some way off becoming fixed.
28
ABC
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Details
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Description
President Paul Lee
“Sometimes referred to as the Alphabet
Network, ABC is one of the three old
Main commissioner Patrick Moran (Studio) powerhouses of US broadcasting; rich
in history and revitalised by heavyweight
Channing Dungey (Network)
serialised dramas of the past few years”
Target demographic
Adults 18-49
Original versus acquired Original
Key titles
Dancing With The Stars, Grey’s Anatomy,
International commissions
Modern Family, Desperate Housewives
International acquisitions
Genres of programming
Drama, comedy, reality
International adaptations ✔
✗
✔
Average viewership
9 million
Ranking
2nd
Top-performing show
Dancing With The Stars
Current opportunities
Comedy, game shows, crime drama,
high-concept action
Latest international commissions:
Sunnyside (Littlefield Company, Sweden),
Identity (ITV Studios, UK)
Top-performing international production
Dancing With The Stars
Slogan
Start Here
29
ABC
general information
Launched 12 October 1943
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Network president (CEO) Paul Lee
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key commissioners
Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs (EVP, scripted creative)
Patrick Moran (SVP, drama development, studio)
Samie Kim Falvey (SVP, comedy development)
Channing Dungey (SVP, drama development)
John Saade (SVP, alternative series, specials &
late-night)
Quinn Taylor (SVP, movies, mini-series &
programming acquisitions)
Address
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
United States
Telephone (818) 460-7777
77 West 66th Street
New York City, NY 10023
United States
Telephone (212) 456-2700
Website abc.go.com
Sister networks Disney Channel, ABC Family, ESPN,
ESPN2, ESPNews, Playhouse Disney, SOAPnet
Number of subscribers 112 million domestic homes
Target demographic Adults 18-49
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition CBS, Fox, NBC
USP Out of the ‘Big Four’ networks, ABC has managed
to attract the greatest proportion of female viewers
with its soapy primetime dramas and lifestyle reality
shows with high production values. It’s light, familyfriendly and Disney’s flagship broadcaster.
Brand extensions and joint ventures Hulu.com,
Greengrass Productions, Victor Television Productions,
ABC Kids, ABC News
30
ABC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
channel insight
network president McPherson – has resulted in
less positive buzz about the network’s current and
ABC has come a long way since it first broadcast in
1948. Owned by the Walt Disney Company, ABC is
one of the ‘Big Three’ networks (which also include
CBS and NBC), but it originally started as a radio
station owned by NBC. It wasn’t until the early
1950s that the ‘Alphabet Network’ had the means to
broadcast television. ABC’s dominance in the ratings
held strong through the early 1980s, with successes
such as The Wonder Years, MacGyver, Growing Pains
and Who’s The Boss? When the Walt Disney Group
acquired ABC in 1996, the network restructured its
youth programming, from live-action Friday night
programming (TGIF) to mostly animated Saturday
morning programming (One Saturday Morning).
But in recent years, the focus has clearly been on
scripted dramas, comedies and reality programming.
With many tent pole shows, ABC still enjoys its status
as one of the big three networks in the US.
upcoming content.
From a producer’s perspective, this means the
network is seeking new opportunities for buzz-worthy
content. Many networks are embracing the trend
of remaking foreign hits. Though mainly reliant on
domestic commissions, ABC did enjoy early success in the
international sector with the Colombian import Ugly Betty
and, of course, the powerhouse that is Dancing With The
Stars, which is produced by BBC Worldwide. A slew of
international reality formats, including RDF’s Wife Swap,
Shed’s Supernanny and Talpa’s Dating In The Dark makes
ABC a major buyer of non-US creative properties.
Key trends
l In the summer of 2010, London-born Paul Lee
replaced Stephen McPherson as the president of ABC
Entertainment. Previously, Lee ran sister network ABC
Family and was lauded for a successful rebranding of
Many attribute the successful shift in programming
that channel. He was also in charge of the launch of
that lifted ABC from the weaker ratings of the early 2000s
BBC America, having worked at the BBC for a number
to Stephen McPherson, the former ABC Entertainment
of years. Since his arrival, there has been a major
Group president. In the autumn of 2004 and under his
executive shake-up at ABC, including new marketing
guidance, ABC launched shows that are still the network’s
and development heads.
lasting successes: Desperate Housewives, Lost and Extreme
Makeover. Later, shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and
l According to Kantar Media, ABC earned $5.9bn in
Dancing With The Stars added to the slate and made ABC
advertising revenue during 2009, making it second
a true ratings competitor to the dominant CBS.
only to CBS in terms of generating ad dollars.
The brand became decidedly more female-oriented as
l ABC darling Shonda Rhimes spread her scope at the
evening dramas such as Grey’s, Housewives and Brothers &
Sisters embraced their soapy style. In the past two years,
network, developing a political drama, Without A Box
a push towards comedy altered ABC’s midweek line-up
and a second medical drama, Off The Map. The medical
and brought the network new successes. But the end of
drama was picked up to series and begins airing in
several of its hit dramas – and scandals surrounding then
January 2011. On top of Grey’s Anatomy and Private
Practice, Shonda Rhimes’ series could potentially take
up an entire night on the schedule.
Audience profile
l ABC’s first foray into a comedy block since the days
The ABC Viewer (2009)
of TGIF (1988-2004) has been met with critical
Female audience
59%
acclaim and ratings wins. Wednesday night
Male audience
41%
programming includes family comedies Modern
Median age
Mean household income (Demo: 25-54)
52 yrs
Family, Cougar Town and The Middle, which were all
$64,000
renewed for a second season.
Source: Nielsen/MRI
31
ABC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
l On the flip side, every single new drama that premiered
Among the hour-long shows, however, much of the
that same season – except V – was cancelled by the end
autumn schedule was new and premiered to weak
of the season. This illustrates the trouble ABC has had
numbers, with the exception of the reality stalwarts
with maintaining and/or improving its drama slate.
and established dramas. Two shows on the initial 2010
autumn schedule have already been cancelled: My
l There has been something of a ‘Lost’ effect on ABC
Generation and The Whole Truth, both dramas.
ever since the JJ Abrams-produced series announced
The majority of programming is geared towards a
its end. The scramble to create shows that can attract
female audience, with light-hearted family dramas and
the diverse Lost audience has resulted in plenty of false
procedurals dominating the landscape. The only new
starts for all the networks. V was ABC’s attempt, while
serialised offering is the superhero comedy-drama No
shows such as The Event on NBC tried to fill the gap –
Ordinary Family, while three new procedurals have
both with extremely limited results.
premiered since September 2010.
Schedule
current programming
l Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, two shows from
It is evident that ABC is searching for its next major
prolific TV writer Shonda Rhimes, have had interesting
hit. With Lost no longer on air, and ratings for Grey’s
stories in 2010. Although still the highest-rated
Anatomy and Desperate Housewives not quite at their
Thursday night drama, Grey’s Anatomy has been in
2007 peak, the channel is aware that it needs a
ratings decline for quite some time. But its spin-off,
replacement. Equally, on the unscripted side, the
Private Practice, which has always received lower
stalwarts Extreme Makeover, The Bachelor and Dancing
ratings, is enjoying some of the best ratings of its life
With The Stars continue to perform well, but it has
span, thanks to a few episodes that have tackled more
been a number of years since ABC has managed to
serious subjects for the usually light-hearted drama,
successfully launch a new reality giant (outside of the
including a co-worker’s rape.
weaker summer schedules).
Looking at autumn 2010, most of the Wednesday
l The winner of several Emmy and Golden Globe
night comedy block remained unchanged, thanks to
Awards, Desperate Housewives has long been
solid first-season performances – and in the case of
touted as the show that turned ABC around.
Modern Family, excellent first-season numbers. The
It has a worldwide audience of more than 120
mockumentary-style comedy averaged 9.39 million
million viewers and consistently wins its Sunday-
viewers in its opening season (September 2009 to May
night timeslot, except when ousted by sports
2010), and the scheduling consistency has seemingly
programming (American football in the autumn).
paid dividends, with the second season averaging
The show is currently contracted to stay on the air
12.36 million (as of 1 November 2010).
until 2013.
ABC’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
9.00
9.30
10.00
Mon
Dancing With The Stars (back to back)
Castle
Tue
No Ordinary Family
Wed
The Middle
Thur
My Generation
Grey’s Anatomy
Private Practice
Fri
Secret Millionaire
Body Of Proof
20/20
Sat
College Football
Sun
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Desperate Housewives
Brothers & Sisters
Dancing With The Stars
Better With You
Modern Family
Detroit 1-8-7
Cougar Town
32
The Whole Truth
10.30
ABC
l As a ratings juggernaut, ABC’s Dancing With The Stars
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
l In a marketing blunder, ABC promoted the serial
has in every way been the response to Fox’s American
mockumentary My Generation – intended as a comedy-
Idol. Adapted from the hit UK format Strictly Come
drama about a group of 20-something high-school
Dancing, and now with several international spin-offs,
friends on the verge of reunion – as a soapy, primetime
this series has not only been a huge success for the
melodrama. It became the lowest-rated premiere on the
network, but has put BBC Worldwide on the map as
network and was cancelled after only two episodes.
a US producer. Dancing far outpaces dance shows on
every other channel, including Fox’s So You Think You
commissioning trends
Can Dance and CBS’s Paula Abdul offering, Live to
Dance. Attempting to expand the brand, ABC launched
The success of ABC’s Wednesday night comedy line-
a spin-off, also created by BBC Worldwide, in autumn
up is apparent in the network’s current commissioning
2010 called Skating With The Stars (based on the
trends. The search for sitcoms dominates the board, and
successful British version Dancing On Ice), but the
the supposed implication is that ABC plans to launch
show was cancelled after six weeks of low ratings.
a second comedy night, or at least add an hour to its
current night of comedy.
There are very few reality shows in development, with
l Currently in its fifth season, Brothers & Sisters is one
of ABC’s few serialised dramas. Starring several big
game shows more prevalent than other unscripted fare.
screen stars and a few TV darlings who launched
Overall, this might reveal that ABC is choosing to both
their careers on ABC, the show is a uniquely complex
rely on the reality series that are currently working, and
primetime soap, as it deals with three generations of
instead focus development on what the network really
a family but without the theatrical melodrama usually
needs: more hits that can be sold internationally and
present in daytime soaps. Sally Field, one of the stars,
syndicated. This explains the focus, after comedy, on
has gone on to win several awards for her performance.
crime/legal procedurals and action dramas.
The small amount of sci-fi shows in development
l Better With You is ABC’s first attempt at a traditional,
indicates that ABC is perhaps less concerned than
multi-camera sitcom for a number of years. A writer
its competitor networks in finding a replacement to
from the seminal hit Friends wrote the pilot episode,
the departed Lost, which perhaps is a good decision,
which helped propel it to consideration early in
considering how poorly the series that have attempted to
development. Despite middling ratings, it has been
capture the Lost audience performed in the past year.
picked up to a full 22-episode first-season order.
development slate: genre breakdown
l Off The Map is the first Shonda Rhimes-produced
Comedy
drama 6%
show not written by Ms. Rhimes herself. As a vehicle
to propel the career of one of her writers, Off The Map
TV
Specials 1%
features many of the usual Shonda Rhimes medical
Social drama 12%
Family
drama 4%
Political drama 2%
Sci-fi/supernatural 5%
Music 2%
Action
drama
6%
drama elements – extremely good-looking doctors
with personal secrets, who are all destined to become
romantically engaged. Because of its similarity to both
Sitcom 42%
Game
show 2%
Private Practice and Grey’s in these respects, Off The
Map was screened on a different night – Wednesdays
Docureality 1%
at 10pm. Despite premiering to unfortunate ratings
as a result of political coverage on another network,
Reality
competition
1%
the pilot repeated to better ratings, and thus the series
currently seems a promising replacement to the
barely watched legal drama The Whole Truth.
Medical
drama 1%
Crime/legal
drama 15%
Source: Attention Inc
33
ABC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
There are approximately 170 shows in development
of a year as they bid to lose hundreds of pounds in
for ABC. Some of the latest key titles from the different
weight. In production.
genres include:
Gavin & Stacey (Sitcom) – Baby Cow Productions,
Commissions with a UK or International origin
(ie outside of the US)
BBC Worldwide
101 Ways To Leave A Game Show (Game show) –
featuring a couple who conduct a romance over the phone
Endemol Entertainment
for weeks before meeting in person. In development.
Comedy based on the British series of the same name,
A quiz show in which contestants are literally ejected after
answering incorrectly. In production, ordered to series.
Go Girls (Comedy drama) – ABC Studios, South Pacific
Pictures, All3Media
5th Of July (Crime drama) – BBC Productions
Four friends make promises to each other that they set
A cop drama set in San Francisco. Pilot script ordered.
out to fulfil. Based on the New Zealand series of the same
name, which aired on TV2. Pilot script ordered.
Bobbe J Thompson Basketball Comedy (Sitcom) –
Sony Pictures Television, Shine International
Headhunter (Action drama) – ABC Studios
An adopted basketball star’s life is up-ended when his
Revolves around a headhunter who gets mixed up in
biological mother resurfaces and wants to be a part of his
a corporate power game. Based on the Danish film
life. Pilot script ordered.
Headhunter, directed by Rumle Hammerich and released
in October 2009. In development.
Awkward Situations For Men (Sitcom) – Warner Bros.
Television, Heyday Films, Bonanza Productions
I Hate This Place (Sitcom) – Electus
British humorist Danny Wallace plays a version of himself
A father and son must work together to manage the
as he and his wife relocate to the US, only to find that
eccentric tenants of a building that the family has been
everything he does clashes with local culture and causes
managing for generations. Based on the Spanish series
problems. Based on Danny Wallace’s book, Awkward
Aquí No Hay Quien Viva, which aired on Antena 3. In
Situations For Men. Pilot being re-shot.
development.
Being Erica (Social drama) – ABC Studios, Temple
Identity (Crime drama) – ABC Entertainment Group,
Street Productions
Mark Gordon Company, ITV Studios
Based on the Canadian series of the same name, which
Revolves around a division of the police force that
premiered on 5 January 2009 on CBC, in which a woman,
specialises in identity theft. Based on the British series of
Erica Strange, is given the chance to go back and change
the same name created by Ed Whitmore, which first aired
the mistakes she made in her past. Pilot script ordered.
on ITV on 5 July 2010. Pilot script ordered.
Burying Brian (Social drama) – ABC Entertainment
Los Roldan (Comedy drama) – ABC Entertainment
Group, Eyeworks 3 Ball Productions
Group, Ventanarosa
A woman turns to her three best friends when her
A working-class man saves the life of a woman who
husband dies in a freak accident. Based on the New
then hires him to run her company, despite her family’s
Zealand series Burying Brian, which aired in New
protests. Based on the Argentinian telenovela Los Roldan,
Zealand on TV One. In development.
which aired on Telefe. In development.
Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition
Million Dollar Mind Game (Game show) –Merv Griffin
(Docu-reality) – Eyeworks 3 Ball Productions
Entertainment Group
Reality show that follows individuals over the course
Game show where home viewers send in their questions
34
ABC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
to six contestants who work together to answer them
Otherwise Illegal (Crime drama) – ABC Studios, Mark
within a 60-second time frame. Based on the Russian
Gordon Company
game show What? Where? When?. Distributed by Shine.
Drama that centres on an undercover FBI unit that uses
Series ordered, no airdate announced.
illegal methods to solve crimes. In development.
Packed To The Rafters (Family drama) – Lionsgate
Ghost World (Supernatural) – ABC Studios, Sander/
A couple’s grown children are never far from home. Based
Moses Productions
on Australian series of the same name, which aired on
A male ghost helps a female detective to solve crimes in
Seven Network on 28 August 2008. In development.
New York in the hope that helping her will lead to clues
about his own life and death. They must also deal with
Sunnyside (Sitcom) – ABC Entertainment Group,
the mysterious connection they feel with each other.
The Littlefield Company
Script ordered.
A man moves his family back to his hometown. There,
he tries not to become like his parents. Based on the
Poe (Period crime drama) – Warner Bros TV
Swedish TV series Solsidan, which premiered on TV4 on
Writer and detective Edgar Allen Poe solves mysteries in
29 January 2010. Pilot script ordered.
19th-century Boston. Pilot script ordered.
Tall And Greenbaum (Social Drama) – Sony Pictures
Analysis
Television
The majority of ABC programming is still developed
Two friends run a small production company that films
in-house and commissioned through the network’s
weddings, bar mitzvahs and other family celebrations and
respective studio. That said, a number of international
must juggle their personal lives with their professional
commissions have made it to the air recently – though
lives. Based on the Israeli series Tall And Greenbaum,
with varying levels of success. Interestingly, the source
which is scheduled to air on Channel 2 Keshet in 2011.
of its international dealings is not limited just to the
In development.
UK or Canada – it also has imports from New Zealand,
Sweden, Argentina, Israel, Australia and Denmark
Key US commissions
in development.
Ed Burns Buddy Comedy (Sitcom) – ABC Studios,
Brillstein Entertainment
Two buddies’ lives are complicated when a bully from
development slate: producer breakdown
their childhood moves in between them. Pilot script
US producer
6%
ordered.
International producer 8%
In-house 50%
Awkward Family Photos (Sitcom) – Sony Pictures
Television
Based on Mike Bender and Doug Chernack’s website,
Studio
36%
awkwardfamilyphotos.com, and the book Awkward
Family Photos. Pilot ordered.
Cutthroat (Comedy drama) – 20th Century Fox
Television
Source: Attention Inc
A seemingly normal suburban mum finds that the skills
she’s developed secretly running the family business – a
drug cartel – come in handy for navigating Beverly Hills
society. Pilot ordered to reshoot for 2011.
35
ABC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
Dancing With The Stars
Original
Reality-competition
BBC Worldwide (UK)
2
Desperate Housewives
Original
Comedy-drama
ABC Studios
3
Grey’s Anatomy
Original
Medical-drama
ABC Studios/Mark Gordon Company
4
The Bachelor
Original
Reality-competition
Warner Horizon TV
5
Lost
Original
Action-drama
ABC Studios/Bad Robot
6
Modern Family
Original
Sitcom
20th Century Fox TV
7
Brothers & Sisters
Original
Drama
ABC Studios
8
Castle
Original
Crime drama
ABC Studios
9
Private Practice
Original
Medical drama
ABC Studios/Mark Gordon Company
10
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Original
Reality
Endemol (Netherlands)
new media
l In September, Disney/ABC Television Group and The
Nielsen Company announced the debut of ABC’s My
l ABC network’s website, abc.go.com, gives its audience
Generation Sync iPad App on the App Store. Though
access to full episodes of its hit shows online, watched
the television series was cancelled, this app was a first
through an ‘abc player’. As well as featuring original
of its kind, and was created to enhance the experience
webisode series such as Andy’s Dreams, blogs to each
of watching a series on TV by providing synchronised
of its shows and games and trivia, the website also has
interactive content and social media functionality on
links to sister channels such as ABC News, which offers
the iPad.
live streaming of events.
l However, the main online traffic for ABC’s shows is
now at Hulu.com, after ABC signed a deal with Hulu’s
founders, NBC-Universal and News Corp (which own
Fox). ABC took a 28% stake in the online video service,
and in exchange has given Hulu an exclusive licence
to distribute ABC shows online. Not all content is
available indefinitely, though. Full episodes of available
shows rotate, showing anywhere from three to 10 of the
latest episodes, depending on the programme. Once
a full episode has rotated off the website, users can
subscribe to Hulu+ (premium subscription) to view
episodes from all seasons.
l In 2008, ABC agreed to release hit shows such as
Lost and Desperate Housewives for free over videoon-demand cable services, initially starting with Cox
Communications and then Time Warner Cable. In
November 2010, Bright House Networks announced
that it had added select ABC programming to
Primetime On Demand and the newly launched
Primetime HD On Demand.
36
BBC America
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Herb Scannell
“Owned by BBC Worldwide, this network
features predominantly UK programming
from the BBC as well as other UK
broadcasters.”
Main commissioner Richard de Croce
Target demographic
Adults 25-54
Key titles
Top Gear, Doctor Who, Come Dine With
Me, Luther, Primeval, Being Human, The
Graham Norton Show
Genres of programming
Drama, news, comedy, lifestyle, talk
show, classic UK, acquired films, awards,
specials
Average viewership
161,000
Ranking
43rd
Original versus acquired Acquired
International commissions
International acquisitions
International adaptations ✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
US-UK collaborations (scripted and
unscripted), hybrid genres, original formats
Latest international commissions:
Sunnyside (Littlefield Company, Sweden),
Identity (ITV Studios, UK)
Top-performing show
Doctor Who
Top-performing international production
Doctor Who
Slogan
A Little Brit Different
37
BBC America
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
general information
Launched 29 March 1998
Owner BBC Worldwide, BBC Television
Network president Herb Scannell
Address
1120 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10036
United States
Telephone (212) 705-9300
Website www.bbcamerica.com
Sister networks BBC World
Number of subscribers 67.8 million
Target demographic Adults 25-54
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition History, Bravo, FX, Sundance, HBO, PBS
USP One of the top five fastest growing channels in
basic cable, BBC America has the backing of Britain’s
strongest international TV brand, which brings a
perception of high-quality (if somewhat niche for US
audiences) UK comedy and drama.
Brand extensions and joint ventures BBC World News
Key commissioners
Richard De Croce (SVP, programming)
Julie Gardner (SVP, scripted programming)
Rachel Smith (VP, original programming)
Linda Giambrone (SVP, production)
Jane Tranter (EVP, BBC Worldwide Americas,
programming & production)
38
BBC America
channel insight
There’s no doubting that BBC America is a channel
on the rise. It is one of the top five fastest growing
channels in basic cable, up 33% in viewers from
October 2009 to October 2010. In fact, 2010 was
its fifth straight year of growth.
However, life didn’t start out so promising for the BBC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
The challenge will be not to lose the top-tier titles to
the bigger cable and premium cable outfits. Torchwood,
for instance, has now been set up with Starz, after its
2009 season finale secured 3.3million viewers (Live + 7
Day) on BBC America. This could well happen to other
choice titles as parent company BBC Worldwide looks
to maximise the value of its greatest assets. It means
BBC America will have to increasingly produce original
offshoot. Struggling to get much notice from its launch,
content for the channel and acquire more product from
the channel decided to focus on repeats of popular
distributors outside of Worldwide.
lifestyle shows such as Changing Rooms and Ground
BBC America is not subject to funding from the UK
Force. In those days, such reality-lifestyle fare was non-
licence fee by law – the BBC cannot fund any of its
existent on US cable; the channel needed to establish a
channels that are not available in the United Kingdom.
niche away from just UK expats – and this was a genre
This means that the channel carries advertisements.
non-UK viewers found appealing. Nevertheless,
However, it has adopted a slightly different ad
it remained limited.
sales strategy to other cable nets. It airs 40% fewer
It was not until soap EastEnders was removed from
commercials per hour than any other basic cable channel
the schedules in 2003, and replaced with programming
– the supposed benefit to advertisers being that the
that had greater ‘buzz’, such as The Office and mini-series
audience is likelier to remember each advertisement.
State Of Play, that the channel started to appear on the
The BBC America viewer is apparently the most
radar of US audiences. It developed a small, cult-like
affluent in all of basic cable (with a national reach). The
following among US viewers appreciative of the best of
median household income of $68,000 is higher than any
British TV. Over the years, high-profile series including
of its competitors and significantly higher than the cable
Torchwood, Primeval, Doctor Who, Skins, Peep Show and
average of $54,000. Furthermore, 29% of BBC America’s
The Inbetweeners have appeared on the channel. BBC
audience in the adults 25-54 demographic watch
America has in some ways had the luxury of selecting the
the channel’s programming with a DVR, the highest
best UK content, irrespective of the UK broadcaster. Yet,
proportion of any cable network.
ironically, once these non-BBC shows have aired in the
US, it’s the BBC brand that has benefited.
Audience profile
Recognising that it couldn’t just rest on its laurels,
especially as other cable nets began to acquire more UK
The BBC America Viewer (2009)
content, BBC America increased its programming budget
Male
under the leadership of Garth Ancier. It became involved
Female
44%
with co-producing some UK series, including Sharpe’s
Median age
46.4
Challenge, part of the Sharpe series of TV movies co-
Median household income
produced with ITV, as well as The State Within and Jekyll,
University graduate
43%
Household income greater than $75,000
53%
both co-productions with the BBC.
By 2010, it could certainly be claimed that BBC
56%
$68,000
Source: Nielsen/MRI
America was no longer a channel satisfying the needs
of the expat community, but one with some presence in
the cable landscape, driven by a couple of destination
programmes. Doctor Who’s record-breaking year on the
channel along with Top Gear’s loyal US viewership (and
iTunes downloaders) provides a strong launching pad for
new channel head Perry Simon to build on.
39
BBC America
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Primetime Audience Composition
P18-24 6%
P25-34 14%
Primetime Geographical Distribution
P35-44 23%
E Central
11%
W Central 12%
S East 20%
P65+
10%
S West 11%
P55-64
22%
Pacific 20%
P45-54 25%
N East 26%
Key trends
l The new season of Doctor Who broke BBC America’s
l BBC America HD, a high-definition simulcast version
ratings records with its season premiere on Saturday,
of BBC America, was rolled out nationally by DISH
17 April 2010, delivering 1.2 million viewers in Live
Network, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications
+ Same Day, making it the channel’s highest-rated
on 10 February 2010.
telecast ever. At the time, Doctor Who also became the
number one TV series in the iTunes store.
l BBC America has won four Golden Globe Awards
and 10 prestigious Peabody Awards. BBC World News
America received double honours in the 69th Annual
l Perry Simon’s first appointment was to hire former
Discovery, IFC and Bravo production and development
Peabody Awards for overall excellence and is an
executive Rachel Smith to a newly created position
Emmy award-winner.
of vice-president, original programming. The
current programming
appointment reinforces BBC America’s commitment
to developing original content. Reporting to Richard
De Croce, senior vice-president programming, Smith
The channel is known predominantly as an entertainment
is overseeing all aspects of non-scripted programme
and news network showcasing the best British comedies
development for the channel. As well as working
and dramas, with a speciality in science fiction, together
closely with BBC Worldwide Productions, Jane
with trustworthy journalism – not always the hallmark
Tranter’s group, Smith is in charge of developing
of US news media.
BBC World News America is a current affairs news
relationships with show creators, talent, agents and
writers in the US and UK to identify and develop
programme produced by BBC World News primarily
formats, concepts and genres specifically designed for
for US audiences. It’s a US-facing newscast with a
BBC America.
global perspective and focuses on four stories each
night, combined with some hard-hitting interviews and
l Series on BBC America have inspired writers and
roundtable discussions. The programme is shown daily
producers in Hollywood to adapt shows to the US
in its full hour format on BBC America between 7pm and
market. The Office is the most famous example of this,
8pm – and for the first half hour (on tape delay) on the
however, there have been many other adaptations
BBC News channel in the middle of the night in the UK.
commissioned, including Life On Mars, Absolutely
It is hosted by Matt Frei between Monday and Thursday,
Fabulous, Gavin And Stacey, NY-LON and, most
and Katty Kay on Friday and often has renowned veteran
recently, MI-5 (known in the UK as Spooks) and
US correspondent Ted Koppel as a contributing analyst.
BBC World News is not currently widely available in
Being Human.
the US as a separate channel and is only seen in a
40
BBC America
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
half-hour telecast on some public channels. It is instead
1980s version of Clash Of The Titans and even some Star
World News America that represents the BBC News brand,
Trek: Next Generation reruns that aired in the middle of
and has done so with much success. In 2010, World News
the night.
America was a recipient at the 69th Annual Peabody
The channel has tried to take advantage of chef
Awards. The award given was Unique Broadcast, Unique
Gordon Ramsay’s popularity in the US. Ramsay’s Kitchen
Perspective, and the show was described as “a nightly
Nightmares was a staple of the schedule in 2010. Then
newscast like none the United States has ever had, it
in December, Ramsay’s Best Restaurant launched for
places our actions and concerns in a global context.”
an 11-episode run. The cooking theme did well for the
(69th Annual Peabody Awards Recipients List).
channel – it also acquired ITV Studios’ Come Dine With
The dramas that have performed well for BBC
Me, which aired for a 22-episode season. At the same
America in 2010 include the big BBC brands Doctor
time, ITV Studios was also able to leverage that success
Who and Top Gear, as well as Being Human. It will be
by structuring a deal with BBC Worldwide to produce a
interesting to see whether the new season of Being
US version of the show that is set to air on BBC America
Human achieves any uplift from the US adaptation that
in 2011.
recently premiered on SyFy.
The other core elements of the schedule include Planet
Perhaps the most disappointing performance of
Earth, The Graham Norton Show, the occasional UK
the year was that of the Idris Elba crime drama Luther.
documentary (for example, My Big Breasts And Me, which
The premiere episode opened with 191,000 viewers,
outperformed Luther) and acquired US programming.
which was higher than the channel average, but not as
strong as the opening episode of ITV drama Law &
acquisitions/commissioning trends
Order: UK, which attracted more than 271,000 BBC
Since BBC America has been mostly an acquirer
America viewers.
of content from the UK and very little has been
The greater worry for Luther (whose lead is known
by US fans of The Wire) was that its audience fell by
commissioned, we combined our genre breakdown
28% in the first two weeks, despite a strong critical
for all acquired series in 2010 together with commissions
reaction from a number of US reviewers. Some criticism
so far announced for 2011.
What might be surprising is that the two largest
regarding the show’s performance was levelled at BBC
America’s schedulers, who placed the drama on Sundays
sub-genres are reality and sci-fi/supernatural. However,
at 10pm, which created a bizarre scheduling clash against
the latter is consistent with current strategy. Saturday
the final half-hour of another BBC drama, Sherlock, on
nights have been themed as ‘Supernatural Saturdays’,
PBS. This led to the unfortunate situation of Luther
and the channel has taken advantage of the emerging
receiving lower ratings than BBC America repeats of the
sci-fi content coming out of the UK. This looks set to
Schedule
BBC America’s November primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
9.00
9.30
10.00
10.30
11.00
11.30
Mon
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Top Gear (back to back)
Tue
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares (back to back)
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Wed
Star Trek:The Next Generation
I’d Do Anything (back to back)
Star Trek:The Next Generation
Thur
Star Trek:The Next Generation
Heroic Heroes Hall of Fame (movie)
Fri
Star Trek:The Next Generation
Law&Order: UK (back to back)
Sat
Doctor Who (back to back)
The Graham Norton Show
Star Trek:The Next Generation
Sun
Heroic Heroes Hall of Fame (movie)
Luther
Heroic Heroes Hall of Fame (movie)
Star Trek:The Next Generation
41
BBC America
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
continue into 2011 with the newly commissioned Outcasts.
Deeley taking four royal wedding enthusiasts on a
Meanwhile, reality is certainly likely to grow, particularly
tour of London for a series of experiences related to
with regard to original commissions. Come Dine With
the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate
Me is likely to be the first of many direct adaptations or
Middleton. Set to premiere on 12 April 2011.
commissions for the US (and other non-UK) markets.
Outcasts (Sci-fi) – BBC, BBC America and Kudos Film
and Television
development slate: genre breakdown
Talk show 4%
Set on a newly discovered planet in 2040, the series
Comedy 15%
Reality 19%
explores issues of power, politics and sex as a group of
refugees from Earth start a new society. Ordered to series.
Reality
competition 4%
Sci-fi/
supernatural
18%
Come Dine With Me (Reality) – ITV Studios
Culinary competition show in which four amateur cooks
vie for a cash prize given to the best overall dinner party,
with a US facelift. Ten one-hour episodes have been
Documentary
15%
News magazine 7%
Drama 7% Awards 4%
ordered. Set to air early in 2011.
Crime drama 7%
Modern Monarchy: Dos & Don’ts (TV Special) – BBC
This new special explores the right and wrong way to
Source: Attention Inc
behave as a member of a Royal Family by looking at
monarchies around the world, including the UK. Set to
premiere in March 2011.
There are only five shows that have been announced as
being in development for BBC America. The titles are
BBC America Reveals: Louis Theroux (Documentary)
listed below:
– BBC
Showcasing Louis Theroux, one of Britain’s most
Commissions with a UK or International origin
(ie outside the US)
revealing and individual documentary-makers, at his
Royally Mad (TV special) – BBC America
Prison, to wealthy Americans killing game in South Africa
Two-part royalty-themed special features host Cat
and private security firms profiting from lawlessness
best. From ‘lifers’ behind bars in California’s San Quentin
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
Doctor Who
Acquired
Sci-fi
BBC Wales
2
Top Gear
Acquired
Reality
BBC
3
Law & Order: UK
Acquired
Crime drama
Kudos Film & TV/Wolf Films/NBC Universal
4
Being Human
Acquired
Sci-fi
Touchpaper
5
Primeval
Acquired
Sci-fi
ITV Studios/Impossible Pics/M6 Films/Pro 7/BBC
6
Come Dine With Me
Acquired
Reality
ITV Studios
7
Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
Acquired
Docu-reality
ITV Studios/Optomen
8
The Graham Norton Show
Acquired
Talk show
BBC
9
Clash Of The Titans
Acquired
Movie
MGM
10
Star Trek: Next Generation
Acquired
Sci-fi
CBS Studios/Norway Corporation
Source: Nielsen/Attention Inc
42
BBC America
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
in Johannesburg, these all-new documentaries feature
America. The free app, which has been downloaded
Theroux adopting his trademark low-key but tenacious
more than 1 million times since its launch in mid-
style to illicit candid and controversial responses, holding
November, offers several hundred titles to customers,
a mirror up to the behavior and attitudes he encounters.
with access based on their cable TV tier.
Titles include Louis Theroux: Behind Bars, Louis Theroux:
Johannesburg and Louis Theroux: African Hunting Holiday.
Set to premiere in March 2011.
new media
lT
he BBC iPlayer is an internet television and radio
service, developed by the BBC to stream whole
episodes of its shows. However, due to licensing
agreements, as well as rights agreements with third
parties, all BBC iPlayer TV programmes are currently
only accessible from IP addresses allocated to the UK.
An international version of the iPlayer will be launched
in 2011. The international version will not be giving its
content away free but will, instead, make revenue either
via advertising, one-off fees for shows, or monthly
subscriptions for the global iPlayer service.
lB
BC America’s On Demand service is well-equipped,
offering its current and classic hit series with more
than 25 hours of programming a week and a 25%
refresh rate. The service includes premiere replays
24 hours after their channel broadcast, full-length
‘director’s cut’ versions of favourite episodes and some
never-aired-before scenes. From January to October
2010 BBC America On Demand received more than
14.5 million orders, which is up 13% compared with the
same 10 months in 2009 (12.8 million). BBC America
VOD is the Top 20 of the 48 ‘TV Entertainment’
channels on Comcast systems. BBC America’s series
to have each have drawn more than 1.5 million orders
on VOD are: Doctor Who, Torchwood, Top Gear,
Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Being Human, Robin
Hood and Primeval.
l I n January 2011, Comcast issued an update for
its Xfinity TV app for iPads and iPhones that lets
customers stream almost 3,000 hours of TV shows
and movies from HBO, Turner Broadcasting System,
Showtime Networks, Starz Entertainment and BBC
43
TLC
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Eileen O’Neil
“Mainly docu-based reality series that
focus on the authentic and revealing lives
of real-life extraordinary characters the
audience can learn from.”
Main commissioner Nancy Daniels
Target demographic
Women 25-54, except for Turbo Thursdays,
which are Males 18-49 and Males 25-54
Original versus acquired Original
Key titles
Trading Spaces, Junkyard Wars,
Jon & Kate Plus 8
International commissions
Genres of programming
Reality, lifestyle, health/medical,
property, auto
International adaptations Average viewership
1.11 million
Ranking
23rd
Top-performing show
Sarah Palin’s Alaska
International acquisitions
✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
Reality-competition, food, health/medical,
property
Latest international commissions:
Bama Belles (BBC Worldwide), 600 Pound
Mom (Darlow Smithson), William And Kate:
A Royal Love Story (TVF International),
and William, Kate And 8 Royal Weddings
(ITV Studios)
Top-performing international production
What Not To Wear (format)
Slogan
Life Surprises
44
TLC
general information
Launched 1980
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key commissioners
Nancy Daniels (SVP, development & production)
Brent Zacky (VP, programming)
Rita Mullin (VP, development)
Owner Discovery Communications, LLC
Network president (CEO) Eileen O’Neill
Address
One Discovery Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910
United States
Telephone (240) 662-2000
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90067
United States
Telephone (310) 975-5906
Website tlc.discovery.com
Sister networks Animal Planet, Discovery, The Hub,
Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet
Green, Science Channel, OWN (50%)
Number of subscribers 99 million
Target demographic Women 25-54, Turbo Thursdays
are Males 18-49, Males 25-54
Service hours 24 hours a day Monday-Sunday
Competition A&E, Bravo, Lifetime, E!, Style, Discovery,
WE, HGTV, Food, Oxygen
USP A non-fiction network, primarily after female
viewers, TLC is known for showing extreme characters,
often with abnormal features in crazy situations,
where the storytelling pulls on the emotional heart
strings.
Brand extensions How Stuff Works, TLC Family, TLC
Home
45
TLC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
channel insight
Kate Plus 8 bucking bronco for all it was worth – and
as measured by ratings alone, it was worth a lot. While
Without doubt, this is a channel that UK and
international producers should be targeting. The
Learning Channel (TLC) was originally founded
in 1980 as a non-fiction channel geared towards
offering both entertaining and educational
programming. Owned and operated since 1991 by
its parent company, Discovery Communications, TLC
imports a large portion of its content from the UK
through its parent company’s relationship with
BBC Worldwide.
the schedule has been somewhat unpredictable, some
of TLC’s newer series started to find their feet towards
the end of the year. Big World, 18 Kids And Counting and
Cake Boss have helped the network re-establish itself.
Producers should note that character-driven family and
ensemble casts are in favour here. Interestingly, many
series are structured to work without a narrator.
Key trends
l Much of the credit for TLC’s transformation as a
Through the years, TLC in the US has revised its
channel goes to BBC’s current director of vision,
brand to garner new audiences and raise its viewership.
Jana Bennett. At TLC, Bennett transformed the
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the success of
channel’s ratings and revenue performance. She
shows such as Junkyard Wars, A Wedding Story, A
introduced a new editorial direction under the
Baby Story and Trading Spaces (shows that might be
slogan ‘Life Unscripted’, which included reality-drama
considered precursors to what we consider reality
and interior design shows, some of them based on
television today) started the shift of programming from
popular British formats. By the time she left and
purely educational series to shows that focused on
returned to the UK, TLC had the youngest adult
interior design and reality drama.
audience profile among US cable channels, with a
Today, programming is almost solely based on docu-
median age of 40, and a 15% year-on-year growth in
reality drama and lifestyle shows focused on home
audience among the 18 to 34-year-old age group. It was
design, emergency-room dramas, extreme weather, law
also, at that time, the strongest performing network for
enforcement, dating and human interest programmes.
women in daytime.
In 2008, TLC launched the slogan ‘Life Surprises’
alongside a branding makeover and the intentional
l There is a portal within TLC’s site for producers
shift from home-improvement shows to family-focused,
interested in pitching to the channel. Executives at the
reality-based dramas. At that time, Jon And Kate Plus 8
network say the best place to begin is with the parent
was the highest-rated show on TLC and became a cable-
company’s producer hub: http://producers.discovery.
ratings phenomenon.
com/esub/esub.nsf.
If this network has had a wild ride in the past 12
l In January 2011, TLC president and GM Eileen
months, it’s only stronger for it. TLC rode the Jon &
O’Neill was promoted to the newly created position
of group president, Discovery and TLC Networks.
Audience profile
O’Neill now oversees both flagship networks in her
expanded role. She had been TLC’s chief since 2008
The TLC Viewer (2009)
and shepherded programmes such as Sarah Palin’s
Male
41%
Alaska, American Chopper, Hoarding: Buried Alive,
Female
59%
Cake Boss and Say Yes To The Dress. O’Neill’s promotion
Median age
41.9
is part of a larger restructuring of Discovery’s
Median household income
$66,706
Adults 35-54
43%
University graduate
38%
US Networks.
l The premiere of Sarah Palin’s Alaska (Sunday, 14
Source: Nielsen/MRI.
46
November 2010, 9-10 pm) was the most successful
TLC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
programme launch in the channel’s history. A total
1.8 million during its second season, while a third season
of 4.96 million viewers watched the first episode (1.6
has been commissioned.
million in the Adults 18-49 demographic). It beat the
18 Kids And Counting, which has now become 19 Kids
channel’s previous best, which was the adaptation of
And Counting, is a reality series based on a conservative
UK format What Not To Wear back in 2003.
Christian family with 19 children, and is currently in its
fifth season.
Interestingly, Sarah Palin’s Alaska has not been
current programming
renewed for a second season. After a record-breaking
TLC’s current programming has had its ups and downs
premiere, subsequent episodes fell off significantly
over the past year. The channel has perhaps relied too
in overall and demo ratings. Episode two dropped by 40%
heavily on the huge success of Jon & Kate Plus 8 and
to 3 million total viewers, while the final episode (nine)
included a very scattered and inconsistent schedule, but
garnered 2.5 million for the Mark Burnett-produced show.
has been searching for its next big hit. The likes of Little
The channel has a long history of importing UK
People, Big World, Cake Boss and 19 Kids And Counting
formats and successfully reversioning them for the US
developed into some solid series for the channel and
cable market. The most prominent – and still the most
carried on what TLC is known for – character-driven and
successful of all these – is the BBC format What Not To
family-focused casts.
Wear. The series has just been commissioned for a ninth
season on TLC and the ratings show no sign of slipping.
Schedule
Another format doing well is ITV Studios’ Four Weddings,
The schedule tends toward stacking by theme or editorial
the second season of which premiered in September 2010
sensibility, rather than by title alone. It does not not
and attracted 1.3 million viewers.
strip. Weekends carry mostly one-off hours, off-network
TLC does also acquire a lot of programming, from
news magazine reversions and, most recently, a few
both the US broadcast networks as well as the UK.
specials such as Extreme Couponing (29 December, 2010)
Documentary-based news show 48 Hours: Hard Evidence
and William & Kate: A Royal Love Story (7 November,
was originally aired on CBS and credited with being one
2010). The latter was produced with UK-based TVF
of the first to air in its sub-genre. Now in syndication,
International.
TLC airs re-runs of the show. Meanwhile, BBC
Other key titles to note include Cake Boss, which
documentaries such as Too Old To Be A Mum and Honey,
premiered in 2009 and garnered high ratings, with an
We’re Killing The Kids have found themselves on the TLC
average of 2.3 million viewers during its first season and
schedule in recent times.
TLC’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
Mon
Little People, Big World
Tue
19 Kids And Counting (back to back)
Wed
Documentary
Thur
Fri
9.00
9.30
10.00
Cake Boss
10.30
11.00
11.30
Fabulous Cakes
Little People, Big World
The Little Couple
19 Kids and Counting
Documentary
Untold Stories Of The ER
Police Women Of Dallas (back to back)
Pawn Queens
Police Women Of Dallas
What Not To Wear (back to back)
Homemade Millionaire
What Not To Wear
Untold Stories Of The ER
Sat
48 Hours: Hard Evidence (back to back)
Dateline: Real Life Mysteries
Sun
19 Kids and Counting
What The Sell?
Sarah Palin’s Alaska
47
Sarah Palin’s Alaska
TLC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
obesity, leaving her six daughters worried for her life.
commissioning trends
Their only hope is weight-loss surgery, but to qualify,
The latest commissions reflect the recent trend and focus
Dominique has to shed 112lbs. Set to air February 2011.
of TLC to air one-off documentaries and location-based
reality shows that appeal to either women or families.
My Forty Year Old Child (Documentary) – Darlow
Competitive reality series account for only 6% of their
Smithson Productions
shows in development, while docu-reality series represent
Nicky Freeman is 40, but with the body of a 10-year-old.
more than a third of their slate.
Gabby Williams is six, but no different to a newborn. Both
age one year for every four and doctors have no idea why.
A specialist in Florida tries to unravel the truth behind
development slate: genre breakdown
TV special 19%
Reality
compeition
6%
their mysterious conditions. Aired January 2011.
Documentary 37%
William & Kate: The Wedding (TV Special) – ITV
Studios
Live coverage of the wedding of Prince William to Kate
Middleton. Set to air April 2011.
William, Kate & 8 Royal Weddings (TV Special) – ITV
Studios
Reality 38%
This special revisits the glamour and spectacle of previous
royal weddings – from Queen Elizabeth to Prince Charles
Source: Attention Inc
and Lady Diana. Set to air April 2011.
The Queen (TV special) – ITV Studios
There are approximately 20 shows in development for
Follows the love lives of the British monarchy.
TLC. Some key titles from the different genres include:
Generations of love stories of love are brought to life
using dramatic re-enactments, archival footage and
Commissions with a UK or international origin
(ie, outside the US)
first-person accounts of the people who were there, all
exploring the family’s long and complicated history with
romance, weddings and divorce. Set to air February 2011.
Bama Belles (Reality) – BBC Worldwide
Reality show that follows five southern women as they
Key US commissions
juggle work and home. Wrapped (ordered to series).
Cake Boss (Reality-competition) – High Noon
Entertainment
Freaky Eaters (Documentary) – Shed Media
Reality show that follows chef Buddy Valastro as he seeks
An adaptation of the BBC series with the same name.
out new members for his bakery team. In production.
The show follows a different person each episode. Each
one has an eating disorder, and with the help of a team of
Chandra Levy project (Documentary feature) – Atlas
experts, a number of techniques are employed to help the
Media Corp
person overcome his or her problems and develop more
A feature-length doc following the murder of Capitol
healthy diets. Ordered to series.
Hill intern Chandra Levy, and the mysterious case that
captivated the nation.
600 Pound Mom (Documentary) – Darlow Smithson
Productions
Homecoming (Reality) – Authentic Entertainment
Dominique is imprisoned within her house by morbid
Reality show that will let viewers watch reactions as
48
TLC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
development slate: producer breakdown
soldiers return home to their loved ones. Ordered
to series.
International producer
31%
Brad Garrett kids reaction project (Reality) – Ryan
US producer
69%
Seacrest Productions
Brad Garrett hosts a series focused on children’s points
of view of the world around them. The project includes
interactions with kids in the studio and in the field, as
well as user-generated segments. Ordered to series.
Extreme Births (Documentary) – Pioneer TV
Explores four extraordinary stories of pregnancies that
Source: Attention Inc
faced seemingly insuperable obstacles. Aired in
January 2011.
Analysis
Extreme Couponing (Reality) – Sharp Entertainment
TLC does not have an in-house production arm, nor does
Reality show featuring individuals who go to great
it use any of the US studios to produce any of its content.
lengths to find discounts for their shopping needs.
It all comes either from independent US production
Ordered to series.
companies or international producers, who form a solid
31% of the channel’s commissioning slate. The majority
Pawn Queens (Reality) – Varuna Entertainment
of those foreign indies come from the UK, but this should
Reality show follows individuals who run a pawn shop
not stop other European-based producers pitching to the
that caters to women. Airing winter 2010/11.
network, as the factual market in Europe is, according
to a number of executives within the Discovery family,
The Man Who Lost His Face (Documentary) –
highly respected in the US.
Morningstar Entertainment
A massive facial tumor threatens to kill Jose Mestre. Jose
and his sister Edith travel from Portugal to Chicago,
where plastic surgeon Dr McKay McKinnon attempts to
perform life-saving surgery. Set to air February 2011.
Kitchen Boss (Reality) – High Noon Entertainment
Reality show where chef Buddy Valastro shares his
family’s favorite Italian dishes. Ordered to series.
49
TLC
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
Sarah Palin’s Alaska
Original
Reality-documentary
Mark Burnett
2
19 Kids And Counting
Original
Reality-documentary
Figure 8 Films
3
Kate Plus 8
Original
Reality-documentary
Figure 8 Films
4
Cake Boss
Original
Reality-documentary
High Noon
5
What Not To Wear
Original
Reality
BBC Worldwide (UK)
6
Toddlers & Tiaras
Original
Reality-documentary
Authentic Entertainment*
7
Little People, Big World
Original
Reality-documentary
Gay Rosenthal Productions
8
Say Yes To The Dress
Original
Reality
Half Yard Productions
9
LA Ink
Original
Documentary
Original Media*
10
Four Weddings
Original
Reality-competition
ITV Studios (UK)
* Denotes production companies in which Endemol has a majority stake
new media
lT
LC’s website is intensely media-rich in an effort to
further engage its linear TV audience. Its website is
filled with video content and offers ‘sneak peaks’ and
behind-the-scenes clips of its 25 shows currently on air.
lT
he site offers games geared towards children and
games surrounding the cast of characters from its
reality-documentary drama series. The site actively
uses social networking sites such as Facebook and
Twitter to target its core audience (women aged 18-54).
In staying current with the new media curve, the site
also offers mobile applications, wallpaper, ringtones,
mobile video, mobile web and text alerts.
l I n addition to offering content related to its roster
of television series, TLC’s website has five additional
content sections under the headings of Cooking,
Family, Home, Style and Weddings. Under each
category, site visitors can access featured stories and
instructional content, and each category is directly
related to TLC’s shows that fall under these content
sections. For example, under the Wedding section, the
site features its series Cake Boss, Say Yes To The Dress
and Four Weddings.
50
PBS
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Paula A Kerger
“America’s only public service broadcaster
that airs current affairs, period dramas
– often out of the UK – and quality
documentaries.”
Main commissioner John F Wilson
Target demographic
All Adults
Key titles
Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece Theater,
Charlie Rose, Frontline, Baking With Julia,
American Experience
Genres of programming
Documentary, news magazine, period
drama, novel adaptations, children’s,
sports, arts, cooking, TV movie
Average viewership
1.39 million
Ranking
14th
Original versus acquired Acquired
International commissions
International acquisitions
International adaptations ✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
Documentaries, kids, period drama,
current affairs
Latest international commissions
South Riding (BBC Drama North), America
Revealed (Lion), Upstairs Downstairs
(BBC Worldwide)
Top-performing show
Antiques Roadshow
Top-performing international production
Antiques Roadshow (adaptation)
Sherlock (acquisition)
Slogan
Be More
51
PBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
general information
Launched 5 October 1970
Owner Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Network president (CEO) Paula A Kerger
Address 1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314
United States
Telephone (703) 739-5000
Website www.pbs.org
Sister networks None
Number of subscribers 112 million
Target demographic All households
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition Discovery Channel, History,
BBC America, Ovation
USP Without facing the pressure of advertisers, PBS
is in the unique position of airing content it perceives
to be in the public interest. It is the only public
broadcaster in the US.
Brand extensions PBS Kids Sprout, NPR (National
Public Radio), PBS Sports
Key commissioners
John F Wilson (SVP, chief television programming
executive)
Brian J Reddington (SVP, development)
Winnifred Lenihan (VP, development – WGBH Boston)
Dalton Delan (EVP, programming – WETA Washington)
Stephen Segaller (VP, content – WNET New York)
52
PBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
shows. News programmes are produced by WETA-TV
channel insight
in Washington DC, WNET in New York and WPBT in
Public service broadcasting is not something
usually associated with the commercially driven US
broadcasting sector, but PBS (Public Broadcasting
Service) does actually have a unique presence
in the US media landscape. There are 354 local
public stations that have collective ownership of the
national organisation that is PBS. Unlike the model of
America’s commercial television networks, in which
affiliates give up portions of their local advertising
airtime in exchange for network programming, PBS
member stations pay substantial fees for the shows
acquired and distributed by PBS.
This relationship means that PBS member stations
Miami. The Charlie Rose Show, Secrets Of The Dead, NOW
On PBS, Nature, Cyberchase and NewsHour with Jim
Lehrer come from or through WNET in New York.
Once a programme is offered to and accepted by PBS
for distribution, PBS (and not the member station that
supplied the programme) retains exclusive rights for
rebroadcasts during the period for which such rights were
granted. The suppliers do maintain the right to sell the
programme in non-broadcast media such as DVDs, books,
and occasionally PBS-licensed merchandise (although
these local stations often also grant such ancillary rights
to PBS, which is better resourced at capitalising on these
rights). So in other words, a local station produces a
have greater latitude in local scheduling than their
programme that PBS can then distribute across all other
commercial counterparts. Scheduling of PBS-distributed
member stations in the US, which in turn decide when to
series may vary greatly from market to market, and this
schedule it.
can be a source of tension as stations seek to preserve
PBS stations are commonly operated by non-profit
their localism while PBS strives to market a consistent
organisations, state agencies, local authorities, or
national line-up. However, PBS does have a policy of
universities in their community of licence. Unlike the
‘common carriage’, which requires most stations to
BBC, or public broadcasters in most other countries,
clear the national primetime programmes on a common
PBS does not own any of the stations that broadcast its
schedule. This allows PBS to market these shows on a
programming. This is partly due to the origins of the
national basis.
PBS stations themselves, and partly due to historical
Unlike its radio counterpart, National Public Radio,
licence issues.
PBS has no central programme production arm or news
Historically, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,
department. All of the programming carried by PBS,
which is in charge of running PBS, has received 15-20%
whether news, documentary or entertainment, is created
of its annual operating revenue from Federal sources and
by (or in most cases, produced under contract with) other
25-29% from State and local taxes. This leaves anywhere
parties, such as individual member stations.
between 53% and 60% of public television’s revenues
WGBH in Boston is one of the largest producers of
coming from private membership donations and grants.
educational programming, including American Experience,
Most stations solicit individual donations by methods
Masterpiece Theater, NOVA, Antiques Roadshow and
including pledge drives or telethons, which can disrupt
Frontline, as well as many other children’s and lifestyle
regularly scheduled programming.
PBS has a very positive brand in American society.
Since the mid-2000s, Roper polls commissioned by PBS
Audience profile
have consistently placed the service as America’s most
trusted national institution. Meanwhile, The Chronicle
The CBS Viewer (2009)
of Philanthropy, an industry publication, conducted the
Adult female audience
43%
largest study of charitable and non-profit organisation
Adult male audience
33%
popularity and credibility back in the mid-90s. The study
Kids (2-17)
24%
showed that PBS was ranked as the 11th “most popular
Median age
62
charity/non-profit in America” from more than 100
Source: Nielsen Media Research/MRI
charities researched.
53
PBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
l There are now more than 1,500 public media producers
making content for PBS, either for the channel or on its
long-standing partnership with the BBC, from whom,
politically, it made sense to acquire content.
rich interactive platform. By the end of 2010, the PBS
On a more pragmatic level, PBS has never suffered
online video player was averaging 22 minutes’ viewing
from the confines imposed by a rigorously competitive
time per programme among audiences 18-plus and
marketplace that is commercial US broadcasting. This
ranked 19th among video sites, with more than 104
means it can air series that it believes are in the public
million streams. In addition, PBS KIDS.org was the
interest, where ratings matter less. Much of the content
number one children’s video site in streams and unique
out of the UK fits into this mould. Another aspect to
users, according to comScore.
consider is that British programming is notoriously
short in terms of series length. While that may have
l PBS KIDS celebrated the Christmas holiday season
traditionally been a problem for many other US
with strong ratings. The channel’s shows held four of
networks, which seek runs of 13-24 episodes, PBS has
the top 10 spots in children’s programming among kids
lapped up the short-runs, mini-series and one-offs that
aged two to five for September, October and November
proliferate UK airwaves.
2010, according to Nielsen ratings. Curios George was
Some of the 2010 highlights include the hit BBC
ranked number one in September and tied for number
mini-series Sherlock, which premiered on 24 October,
one in November, while The Cat In The Hat Knows A
2010. The Hartswood Films and BBC Wales production
Lot About That held the number one spot in October.
also received some production financing from Boston
PBS member station WGBH. Sherlock was part of a
l Over the years, PBS has been known for showing
something called Masterpiece Theater, which is PBS’s
a great deal of UK content, from soaps such as
drama anthology series that has been airing for 41
EastEnders to cult comedy Red Dwarf. This led some
years. Masterpiece (PBS dropped the ‘Theater’ in 2008)
member stations to use the slogan ‘Brilliantly British’
is best known for presenting adaptations of novels and
to promote their UK programming. KTEH in San
biographies, as well as original television dramas.
Diego, for instance, has been using this slogan since
Because of its anthology style, the structure is perfect
2007, and has the enviable claim of having aired
for quality short-run UK dramas. These can be one-offs
some episodes of British content before they have
for two hours on Sunday night, such as Bleak House, or a
aired in the UK.
six-parter such as Wallander, the second season of which
aired in September 2010 on PBS. Other series that were
l 2010 saw PBS continue to receive a large amount of
part of the 2010 Masterpiece series include Northanger
its financial support through donations, from both
Abbey, Foyle’s War, feature film Endgame (distributed by
individuals (during its Pledge drive) and organisations.
Target Entertainment), BBC’s Small Island and Lewis.
For instance, in December 2010, Newman’s Own
Masterpiece is mostly scheduled on Sunday evenings, but
Foundation awarded $2.2m to advance the PBS’s
with some of the longer series, such as Lewis, PBS airs it
commitment to ensuring all Americans have access
on Friday nights as well as Sundays.
to the arts.
The latest UK series to air on Masterpiece is the Julian
Fellowes-written period drama Downton Abbey, which
current programming
premiered on PBS on 9 January 2011. This series was
ironically produced by NBC-Universal owned Carnival in
Taking a look at the PBS primetime schedule, one
the UK. Yet the studio decided against airing it on one of
might think it is, in fact, UKTV programming. The
its US channels (eg NBC) and opted to sell it to PBS.
channel is full of British content – a long tradition
PBS has also adapted British programmes into
going back decades when episodes of Doctor Who used
domestic shows, the most famous of which is Antiques
to be transmitted back in the 1970s. One of the reasons
Roadshow. The series has a strong following in the US,
for an abundance of UK programming is a result of a
having been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding
54
PBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Reality programme in 2006 and again in 2007. It is a
of Boston produces nearly two thirds of the channel’s
mainstay of the PBS schedule and the channel’s
original primetime content, while the central organisation
top-rated series.
in Arlington, Virginia, does release some information
The channel acquires a great deal of UK product for
regarding latest commissions. As would be expected, the
other day-parts too. For instance, classic comedies such
core of the commissioning is documentaries, with mini-
as Are You Being Served are still on the schedule, as are
series the other significant genre.
detective series including Miss Marple and Poirot.
On the domestic front, PBS commissions a number
development slate: genre breakdown
of documentaries from small US production companies,
often regionally based (rather than in the entertainment
Documentary 56%
capital of Los Angeles). A large volume of docs come out
Mini-series 33%
of ITVS, the Independent Television Service, based in
San Francisco.
PBS Kids is an immensely popular part of the PBS lineup. It competes effectively with The Cartoon Network and
Nickelodeon, and in some demos it ranks as the number
one kids channel. Continuing with the UK trend, PBS
Variety
11%
Kids has imported a number of British children’s series
from the BBC and ITV, including Tots TV, Teletubbies,
Boohbah and Thomas The Tank Engine. It has also
Source: Attention Inc
brought in children’s shows from Canada (The Big Comfy
Couch, Theodore Tugboat, Wimzie’s House and Polka Dot
There are more than 30 shows currently in development
Door) and Australia (Raggs).
for PBS, and many other specials being developed by
commissioning trends
various member stations. Some of the key titles are:
Commissions with a UK or International origin
complex task, given that most of the original commissions (ie, outside the US)
Assessing PBS’s commissioning choices is a highly
America Revealed (Mini Series) – Lion Television
come out of the 354 members stations. That said, WGBH
Schedule
PBS’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
9.00
9.30
10.00
10.30
Mon
Antiques Roadshow
American Experience
Chautauqua: An American Narrative
Tue
Pioneers of Television
Frontline
Pioneers of Television
Wed
Bear Island
Nova
Nova Science Now
Thur
California’s
Communities
California’s Gold
California’s
Communities
Fri
Washington Week With
Gwen Ifill and National
Journal
Keeping up
Appearances
As Time Goes By (back to back)
Sat
Antiques Roadshow
Pioneers of Television (back to back)
Sun
Nature
Masterpiece: Downton Abbey
California’s Gold
55
Pioneers of Television
Last of the
Summer Wine
Are You Being Served?
Masterpiece Classic
Keeping up
Appearances
PBS
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Four-part series that soars through the sky to uncover
Roger Ebert Presents At The Movies (Variety) – PBS
what makes America work. Based upon the BBC’s award-
A weekly programme featuring movie reviews by film
winning Britain From Above. In development.
critics Roger Ebert. Ordered to series.
Aurelio Zen (Mini-series) – BBC Worldwide and WGBH
Nova: Smartest Machine On Earth (Documentary) –
Boston
Little Bay Pictures
Italian detective Aurelio Zen helps to solve mysterious
This doc gains unprecedented access to super-computer
crimes in his country while dealing with the many
‘Watson’ and its creators, going behind the scenes at IBM
difficulties in his life. Picked up.
to give viewers a first-hand look at the technological feats
and hurdles to develop Watson. Premieres February 2011.
Upstairs Downstairs (Mini-series) – BBC Worldwide
and WGBH Boston
A depiction of life in a fashionable London townhouse
Analysis
as seen through the interactions of two families from
From the international perspective, BBC Worldwide often
different levels of society. Picked up.
acts as a co-production partner on some projects. PBS
is clearly open to working with UK and international
South Riding (TV movie) – BBC Drama North
producers, although it also seems to acquire a high
Based on Winifred Holtby’s 1936 novel, South Riding has
volume of content from the international sector.
been adapted to the screen by Andrew Davies (Pride And
Prejudice 1995, Northanger Abbey 2007, and Sense And
Sensibility 2008). Set to air in March 2011.
development slate: producer breakdown
Key US commissions
International
producer
33%
In-house 11%
Doo Wop Dreams (Documentary) – Rhino Records and
WQED
US producer 56%
Documentary special pairing original doo wop groups
with contemporary artists by the producers of the PBS
specials Doo Wop 50 and More Doo Wop 50.
In development.
Doo Wop Spiritual (Documentary) – Rhino Records and
WQED
Source: Attention Inc
Documentary special dedicated to religious-themed doo
wop music by the producers of the PBS specials Doo Wop
50 and More Doo Wop 50. In development.
Ratings/top titles
In October 2009, PBS signed up for Nielsen ratings
The Story Of Shakespeare (Documentary) – MacNeil/
for the first time. These ratings are not the traditional
Lehrer Productions and Unapix-Docere
overnight-style ratings that commercial broadcasters
Six-part series examines Shakespeare – the man and the
have, but rather a weekly ratings report. There has been
themes of his plays. In development.
some difficulty in assessing the ratings because many of
the local stations have varied schedules, and the lack of
Carson (Documentary) – Peter Jones Production
consistency has meant it is far easier to report on local
A documentary on legendary late-night talk show host
ratings (for example, WGBH in Boston or WNET in
Johnny Carson. In development.
New York) than the overall national performance of
the channel.
56
PBS
Some highlights include:
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
l The network has also developed a PBS Antiques
Roadshow game app, available for the iPad, iPhone and
l Masterpiece debuted the extremely popular new
iPod touch. It lets players virtually collect, appraise
Sherlock series, which garnered approximately
and bid on real antiques, with new collectibles from
4 million viewers, nearly three times the channel’s
different cities added regularly.
average viewing figures.
l 2010 also saw PBS relaunch its website with new
l The Emmy-nominated Antiques Roadshow marked its
tools that will allow users to access both national and
15th season in 2010. It remained PBS’s highest-rated
local video on PBS.org, and significantly enhance
series, seen by almost 10 million viewers each week,
the visibility of the programming from local stations
its viewing figures up by nearly 10% on their 2009
nationwide. It did this by building a new middleware
performance.
platform called Merlin that is powering many of
the new features on the site, including tools for
l The Ken Burns documentary series The National Parks:
automatically posting local content on the site. Merlin
America’s Best Idea averaged 5.5 million viewers per
is a local and national publishing platform that allows
episode. Burns has a strong record at PBS, with his
PBS to use metadata to integrate local content from
2007 mini-series The War attracting an estimated
350 PBS stations across the country into PBS.org.
15.5 million viewers for the premiere episode.
l When visitors access PBS.org, the site automatically
l The PBS NewsHour is one of the more popular news
recognises the user’s location from his or her IP
programmes in the US, with 2.7 million people on
address and then serves up a front page that mixes
average watching the programe each night (in 2010),
PBS’s signature national programming with select
and 8 million individuals on average watching it in
local shows. Virginia viewers, for example, who visit
the course of a week. NewsHour is broadcast on
PBS.org can see national shows mixed in with local
more than 300 PBS stations, reaching 99% of the
programming and content from WETA (their local
viewing public.
station). Users can also select other local PBS stations
and their programming will automatically be displayed
l In November 2010, Curious George: Follow that Monkey
along with the PBS national fare. Anyone who clicks on
attained the top spot of children’s programming for
the local programme at PBS.org will then be taken to
that month, and in the top 10 for the entire year.
the local site to see the video.
l The site has around 4,700 hours of video, of which
about 2,000 hours is local programming.
new media
l In late 2010, PBS announced the debut of its App
for iPhone and iPod touch, featuring more than 300
hours of free video, including full-length programming
from Frontline, PBS NewsHour and others, as well
as scheduling details, previews and a new tune-in
reminder calendar that can be synced with iCal. This
app was developed by PBS and Bottle Rocket Apps and
came on the heels of the PBS App for iPad.
57
HBO
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President Sue Naegle
“A premium content TV service that is
known for featuring the best movies and
original series that television has to offer
– resulting in receiving more Emmys in the
past decade than any other cable player.”
Main commissioners Gina Balian,
Casey Bloys
Target demographic
Adults 18-49, professional
Key titles
True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, The Wire,
Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The
Sopranos, Sex & the City
Genres of programming
Drama, single-camera comedy, sketch
comedy, period drama, TV movies, comic
specials, documentaries, sports, acquired
movies
Average viewership
690,000
Original versus acquired Original
International commissions
International acquisitions
International adaptations ✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
Comedies, period dramas, documentaries,
historical TV movies
Latest international commissions
Taxi 22 (Attaboy Films, US/Canada),
Google Baby (Brandcom, UK)
Ranking
31st
Top-performing show
True Blood (2010)
The Sopranos (All-time)
Top-performing international production
In Treatment (2010, US adaptation of
Israeli series); Rome (All Time)
Slogan
It’s more than you imagined. It’s HBO
58
HBO
general information
Launched 8 November 1972
Owner Time Warner
Network president Sue Naegle
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key commissioners
Gina Balian (Co-head, drama development)
Casey Bloys (EVP, comedy series)
Susan Ennis (SVP, original programming)
Jocelyn Diaz (VP, drama development)
Sara Bernstein (VP, documentaries)
Nick Hall (original web series)
Jennifer Sherwood (VP, TV movies development)
Brad Saunders (director of development, mini-series)
Address
1100 Avenue of the Americas
New York City, NY 10036
United States
Telephone (212) 512-1000
2500 Broadway Suite 400
Santa Monica, CA 90404
United States
Telephone (310) 382-3000
Website www.hbo.com
Sister networks Cinemax, The CW, TNT, TBS, Cartoon
Network, Boomerang, CNN, truTV, Adult Swim, Turner
Classic Movies
Number of subscribers 29 million
Target demographic Adults 18-49, professional
Service hours 24 hours a day, Monday-Sunday
Competition Showtime, Starz, The Movie Channel, Epix
USP Simply put, HBO is known for featuring the
highest quality original series that television has to
offer – and naturally that comes at a price.
Brand extensions HBO HD, HBO Family, HBO Comedy,
HBO Zone, HBO Latino, HBO Go, HBO Picturehouse
59
HBO
channel insight
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Audience profile
The HBO Viewer (2009)
HBO was one of the first cable channels offered in
the US when it was launched in 1972. In many ways,
it has been a trendsetter for US broadcasting, being
the first channel to release DVDs of its highly soughtafter original content, as well as the first channel to
introduce pay-per-view boxing events. In fact, back
in 1975, it was the first channel to offer signals via
satellite with the ‘Thrilla-in-Manila’ boxing match
between Joe Frazier and Muhammed Ali.
Male
53%
Female
47%
Median age
18-49
Median household income
34
60%
$65,300
Proportion of African-Americans
25%
Proportion of Hispanics
13%
Source: Nielsen/MRI
Early release of blockbuster films was the initial driver
in subscription to HBO. In 1991, HBO (and sister channel
most secondary rights. DVD sales of the channel’s major
Cinemax) became the first cable channels to provide
shows have been a major factor in the huge profits that
multiplexing for its cable subscribers.
HBO has made over the past decade. For instance, Sex
In 1997, as a premium-pay cable station without
commercials, HBO took advantage of the freedom of
And The City made approximately $118m in DVD revenue
in 2007 in the US alone.
airing content with explicit themes that network channels
There is also the added bonus of syndication on either
would not be allowed to broadcast. Its first original
basic cable or broadcast network channels. Since the
programming show was OZ – a one-hour dramatic
majority of US households still choose only basic cable
narrative series set in a prison. In 1999, everything
subscriptions (ie, do not pay the extra fee for HBO or
changed when HBO presented its second one-hour
Showtime), there is a demand from these audiences to see
narrative – The Sopranos. The series ran for seven seasons
HBO content. So the channel has managed to place a high
and received 111 Emmy nominations and 21 Emmy
value when selling the series to other US broadcasters.
awards. More importantly, it created HBO’s current
The Sopranos, for instance, was sold for a record $2.5m
business model, which centres on high-quality original
per episode to basic cable outfit A&E. With 78 episodes
series and on extrapolating the full value of those series.
of the mafia classic in the library, it has taken advantage
This approach has spawned internationally
of the show’s real value. Repeats of Curb Your Enthusiasm
recognisable hits and critical darlings including The Wire,
can be found late night on The CW, and Sex And The City
Sex And The City, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm,
airs on TBS. Thus HBO has two other windows to sell
Entourage, Rome and True Blood.
to, which most other channels do not – premium-pay to
When it comes to revenue, roughly 80% comes from
basic cable, and premium-pay to network syndication.
the channel’s ever-growing subscriber base. This means
Other premium pay channels, Showtime and Starz,
that HBO’s major goal is not necessarily to secure high
are following this trend. But HBO has a larger library,
ratings, but to satisfy its subscriber base. The key to this
greater pedigree and, most importantly, the largest
type of business model is that the network shows the type
subscriber base.
of content that cannot be found anywhere else.
As a result, HBO has produced very expensive
dramas and comedies that push the conventions of
Key Trends
l In December of 2010, News International-owned
standard television series. Ordinarily, such high costs
satellite service DIRECTV finally added HBO to its
would not bring in the necessary revenue to make such
on-demand line-up.
a model sustainable. But HBO has a staggering 29
million households paying on average $9.99 a month.
l Boardwalk Empire established itself as an awards
Meanwhile, since HBO finances the production of series
juggernaut this past season (September 2010-June
rather than pay a licence fee, it means the channel retains
2011), winning the Screen Actors Guild best drama
60
HBO
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
ensemble category, and at the Golden Globes, the
co-produced with BBC); acquired Hollywood movies;
Prohibition-era extravaganza also won the Best Drama
and pay-per-view boxing.
gong, while Steve Buscemi picked up the Best Actor in
There has been a trend over the past year – which
a Drama Series award.
appears to be continuing – to somewhat lighten the
tone of HBO’s content with new comedy series Funny
l HBO became embroiled in a battle with Netflix in
Or Die Presents and The Ricky Gervais Show – the latter
the past year, partly because of parent company Time
being one of the first animated series the network has
Warner’s desire to compete with the online video
presented. This is on top of Bored To Death, which peaked
subscription service in the US. Apart from competing
in 2010 with 1.1million viewers following the Curb
for movie rights, HBO has refused to sell Netflix
Your Enthusiasm’s Seinfeld reunion episode. Created by
streaming rights to its original series.
Jonathan Ames, Bored To Death follows a writer based in
Brooklyn, New York, who moonlights as an unlicensed
l When Manny Pacquiao signed a deal to leave HBO
private detective. The quirky comedy co-stars are Jason
for Showtime for his upcoming fight against Shane
Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson, and has
Mosley, it marked yet another in a series of blows to
now been commissioned for a third season in 2011.
HBO’s former status as the premier home for boxing.
The network had long been established as the home of
Schedule
the biggest fights, but Showtime has raised its game
HBO’s big new drama of 2010 was the stylish 1920s
and HBO is facing stiff competition in the premium-
gangster series Boardwalk Empire. Starring Steve
pay sports arena.
Buscemi, the Prohibition-era drama was adapted from a
chapter about historical criminal kingpin Enoch ‘Nucky’
Johnson in Nelson Johnson’s book, Boardwalk Empire:
l In 2010, HBO had exclusive deals with DreamWorks
Animation, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Rogue
The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, by
Pictures, Focus Features and network sister-companies
Emmy award-winning screenwriter and producer Terence
New Line Cinema and Warner Bros.
Winter of The Sopranos fame. The first episode, directed
by Martin Scorsese, was reportedly the most expensive
l HBO also has exclusive pay-cable rights to its own
pilot episode produced in TV history, costing $18m.
As well as garnering awards and critical acclaim,
in-house theatrical films made through HBO Films.
Typically, these pay-cable rights will also run on
the season finale had 3.3 million viewers on Sunday, 5
Cinemax during its time of licence.
December, while another 900,000 tuned in for the encore
showing. According to HBO, each episode averaged
current programming
10.5 million views across live, on-demand and recorded
audiences. This makes Boardwalk Empire HBO’s second-
HBO is known for its critically acclaimed, award-winning
most popular series behind True Blood, and the best
original programming. One of the first cable stations to
opening season for an HBO show since Six Feet Under.
pave the way for original series, HBO still fills most of
True Blood’s fourth season is set to air this year. It
its broadcast time with expensively produced dramas
is HBO’s most watched series since The Sopranos and
and comedies such as In Treatment, Big Love, the
maintains the channel’s role in presenting content
recently premiered Boardwalk Empire, Entourage and
that might be construed as taboo for US audiences –
Bored To Death.
the plight of the counter-culture of vampires in True
This programming is coupled with longstanding talk
shows (Real Time With Bill Maher and Real Sports With
Blood has been seen as an allegory for the LGBT rights
movement and even the civil rights movement.
The Ricky Gervais Show, which also aired on Channel
Bryant Gumbel); comedy specials (such as Chris Rock or
Ricky Gervais live stand-up routines); high-quality made-
4 in the UK, is an animated series of Gervais’ podcasts
for-TV movies and mini-series (such as House Of Saddam,
that earned a spot in the Guinness Book Of World Records
61
HBO
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
for the most downloads. The series is voiced by Ricky
a few high-profile projects, towards which the channel is
Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, and may
increasingly moving. Its films are not perceived as just
stake a place in entertainment history as one of the first
TV movies, and thus the channel has been able to attract
television shows to gain its content from what was first
some major talent, including Nicole Kidman, Diane Lane,
presented on the internet. The series has been picked up
Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl
for a second season in 2011.
Streep, Emma Thomson and Al Pacino.
Meanwhile, the ninth season of Real Time With Bill
HBO Sports is another significant strand to the
Maher is set to air this year. The weekly talk show, hosted
network’s genre suite. With pay-per-view boxing, Inside
by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher, presents a
The NFL and Real Sports, HBO has premium content
panel of guests ranging from actors to politicians who
that widen its demo appeal. Boxing is exclusive, and that
discuss the latest in current events and the media –
allows the channel to build content around it such as
unlike other open-forum talk shows, the guests do not
‘countdown to the fight’ programmes, as well as revisiting
have to conform to broadcast language standards of
older classic fights.
standard television networks. Hot-button political issues
One-off documentaries are also a part of the mix, and
are discussed on a weekly basis with a combination of
this is where HBO has often worked with UK producers.
conflict and humour. As a result, Real Time with Bill
In general, the documentary division airs between 30 and
Maher has been nominated for the Emmy award for
50 docs a year – in 2010 it totalled 45. Roughly 16 of the
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series from
year’s films had international content in them, with 12
2005-2010 consecutively.
being non-US films – half of which were acquisitions.
Other comedies that are set to return in 2011 include
HBO Documentary is open to working with new
Eastbound & Down, which follows the story of Kenny
producers outside the US. For instance, Marathon Boy,
Powers, a washed-up baseball pitcher who is offered
which was directed and produced by Gemma Atwal,
a comeback in the major League, and Entourage, the
was a co-pro between her company, One Horse Town
Mark Wahlberg-produced series that follows an A-List
Productions, and former UK broadcast executive Alan
Hollywood actor and his group of friends.
Hayling’s Renegade Pictures. While HBO had never
While HBO Films’ original movie slate has diminished
worked with Atwal, it had previously dealt with Hayling,
in recent years, it still continues to produce at least three
who provided a five-minute clip of the film. While the film
or four a year – with invariably one of those winning
was in post-production, HBO apparently committed to
Emmys. In the past, made-for-TV movies such as
distributing it, initially showcasing it at festivals before
Lackawanna Blues and The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers
airing on the channel.
have helped establish the network with an impressive
One-off comedy specials are also a common part
reputation in this genre. HBO Films’ 2011 slate includes
of HBO’s schedule, and this genre certainly has more
HBO’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
9.00
9.30
10.00
Mon
8.00
Real Time With Bill Maher
8.30
In Treatment:
Sunil
In Treatment:
Frances
Movie
Tue
In Treatment:
Sunil
In Treatment:
Jesse
In Treatment:
Adele
Wed
Movie
Thur
Movies (back to back)
Fri
Movie
Sat
Movie
Sun
Movie
In Treatment:
Frances
10.30
11.00
11.30
Eastbound & Down (back to back)
Bored To Death
Boardwalk
Empire
Boardwalk Empire
Real Time With Bill Maher
Taxicab Confessions
24/7 Pacquiao/
Margarito
Boardwalk Empire
Real Time With Bill Maher
Bored To Death
62
Real Time With Bill Maher
24/7 Pacquiao/
Margarito
Boxing After Dark
Eastbound
Boardwalk Empire
HBO
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
presence in comparison to other pay-TV channels. These
the development of The Ricky Gervais Show, executive
specials often include stand-up comedy performances
producers Will Ferrell, Adam Mckay and Chris Henchy
(including Chris Rock, Tracey Ullman, Dane Cook),
will merge TV with the internet by presenting original
or music gigs (such as Justin Timberlake and Kelly
comedy material based on website Funnyordie.com.
Clarkson).
There are approximately 90 shows in development
In some ways, this all goes to show what an
unpredictable mix HBO has, with content appealing
for HBO. Some of the key titles that are the latest in
to diverse demos. The common theme, though, is high
development from the different genres include:
quality, and the branding with that is programming that
Commissions with a UK or International origin
(ie, outside the US)
isn’t just TV, it’s HBO.
A Touch Away (Drama) – ABC Television Studios &
commissioning trends
Brillstein Entertainment
Current commissioning trends highlight an intent to
US version of Israeli drama Merhak Negia, a love story of
lighten the tone, while still keeping the high quality
two teenage neighbours on opposite sides of religious and
associated with HBO. Interesting to note, HBO’s three
cultural divides. Rolled over to 2011/12.
international commissions are for diversified genres –
drama, documentary and comedy. A high percentage of
Google Baby (Documentary) –Brandcom (Israel)
HBO’s key US commissions will be produced in-house
Crossing three continents, the doc follows entrepreneur
showing HBO’s commitment to overseeing the creative
Doron, who takes pregnancy and makes it into a
content of its programming.
globalised business. Doron has developed a way to
outsource the birth process – the system is driven by law
The largest percentage of projects in development
consist of comedy (21%), social drama (23%) and
and economics. In Israel, the practice of using surrogate
TV movies (27%) – the three genres that HBO has
mothers is marred by legal roadblocks, while in the US, it
historically been successful at capturing and retaining
is expensive. In India, it is affordable, but Western clients
viewership, while receiving both critical acclaim and
want white babies. Here, we learn how necessity becomes
awards. With comedy, one of the most intriguing projects
the mother of invention. Picked up, no airdate set.
is Funny Or Die Presents. Using a similar strategy to
Taxi 22 (Comedy) – Attaboy Films
Based on the French Canadian series Taxi 0-22, which
development slate: genre breakdown
aired on TVA, this comedy revolves around a politically
Family drama 2%
incorrect taxi driver. Pilot script ordered.
Social drama
23%
Comedy drama 21%
Untitled Sex Trafficking Drama (Drama) – Hat Trick
Sports
drama 1%
Productions
An inside look at sex trafficking from a female
perspective. In development.
Documentary
3%
Key US commissions
Fantasy/
Sci-fi 5%
Historical
drama 11%
TV Movies
27%
Crime/
legal
drama
7%
Game Of Thrones (Fantasy/Sci-fi) – Created By &
Management 360
Project is based on the epic fantasy series of novels
in which a battle ensues among seven kingdoms and
between two ruling families for control of the Iron
Source: Attention Inc
Throne, the possession of which ensures survival through
63
HBO
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
the 40-year winter to come. Ordered to series, set to air in
medicine, but with devastating, and later liberating,
April 2011.
effects on her family. Script ordered.
Driving Around With Joni (Comedy) – HBO
The World Inside (Fantasy/sci-fi) – Big Light
Entertainment
Productions
A group of young backpackers agree to work on
Set in the future, overpopulation is an issue and people
secret missions for the CIA in order to earn money.
live in controlled urban centres. In development.
Pilot picked up.
Until Proven Innocent (TV movie) – Sidney Kimmel
I’m With The Band: Confessions Of A Groupie
Entertainment, City Entertainment & Wonderful Films
(Comedy) – HBO Entertainment
An exploration of the legal battles and race issues
‘Dramedy’ following a young groupie as she follows
surrounding the accused rapists of the Duke University
famous rock ’n’ roll stars. Pilot script ordered.
lacrosse team. Picked up for production.
Mary Chestnut’s Civil War (Historical drama) – HBO
Analysis
Entertainment
In analysing the source of HBO’s current development
Based on the Civil War Diaries Of Mary Chestnut, the wife
slate, there is perhaps a surprisingly low level of
of a prominent politician provides eyewitness accounts of
commissioning activity with international producers
the entire Civil War. In development.
– only 5%. Part of this is because many of HBO’s
international documentaries are not commissioned but
Modern Love (Social drama) – Sony Pictures Television,
acquired – the majority of this development slate reflects
Universal City Studios Productions & BermanBraun
its dealings in drama, comedy and mini-series.
The key thing of note here is that nearly 50% of its
A divorced male editor of a love column deals with work
and family and re-entering the dating world. A varied
slate is developed and financed in-house, with HBO
look at modern love and romance. Pilot script ordered.
acting as the producer on most of its big-budget
product. This is in line with HBO’s business model of
Random Family (Family drama) – HBO Network/Home
providing consistent programming and HBO signature
Box Office
branding, and consequently retaining international
Drama based on the book of the same name outlining one
distribution rights.
poor family’s struggle in the Bronx. In development.
The Follower (Crime drama) – Lionsgate & Vertigo
development slate: producer breakdown
Entertainment
International producer 5%
A look at the dating world for a group of 20-somethings
in New York as seen through the eyes of a stalker.
In development.
In-house 49%
US producer
37%
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks (TV movie)
– HBO Films, Your Face Goes Here Entertainment, &
Harpo Films
Based on the true story of Henrietta Lacks, which was
turned into a best-selling book by Rebecca Skloot. It
Studio 9%
centres on a poor black mother in Baltimore, whose
cancerous cells – taken without her knowledge – enabled
Source: Attention Inc
some of the most significant advances in 20th-century
64
HBO
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Genre
Producer
1
True Blood (S3)
2
Boardwalk Empire (S1)
3
Entourage (S7)
4
The Pacific
Mini-Series
5
Hung (S2)
Comedy
E1 Entertainment
6
Big Love (S4)
Drama
Playtone
7
Eastbound & Down (S2)
Comedy
HBO Entertainment/Gary Sanchez Productions
8
Real Time With Bill Maher (S8)
9
Bored To Death (S2)
10
Hard Knocks (S6)
Fantasy Drama
Crime Drama
Comedy
Talk Show
Comedy
Docu-Reality
HBO Entertainment
HBO Entertainment/Closest to the Hole Productions
HBO
Dreamworks/Playtone
HBO Entertainment/Brad Grey Television
3 Arts/Dakota Films
NFL Films/HBO Sports
Source: Nielsen/Attention Inc
that its content is not available on sites such as Hulu,
new media
which lessens the brand and removes the pay-wall that
lH
BO has a robust online presence with a media-rich
exists for cable customers.
site. HBO uses new media as a means of building and
broadening the depth of its audience base. Its site
currently offers 25 videos ranging from a HBO 2010
year-in-review to trailers, behind-the-scenes footage
and previews of its current and new programmes.
lT
hrough its website, HBO offers an app for the iPhone,
iPad and iPod touch, where users can access all the
latest news and episodes of the current HBO series and
obtain extras on the characters developed in its online
series. It also offers information on the slate of films
and documentaries offered online.
lA
s premium-pay channel, HBO has developed a
different strategy over releasing its TV content
online compared with other broadcasters. It has
launched HBO GO, a video streaming service where
only subscribers can access movies, series and
content. According to an article written by Greg
Sandoval on Cnet.com: “This is the on-demand
movie provider’s attempt to hang on to subscribers
during a down economy, as Netflix and other Web
video services attract more and more consumers
looking to reduce entertainment costs. The new
streaming service is an obvious attempt by Time
Warner, HBO’s parent company, to build a Netflix
Web-streaming competitor.” It is important to HBO
65
Showtime
l Channel insight l Programming l Commissioning trends l New media
vital statistics
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Details
Description
President David Nevins
“Showtime is a premium channel that
offers movies and high-profile original
series with a dark and occasionally
comic twist.”
Main commissioner Gary Levine
Target demographic
Adults 18-49, professional
Key titles
Dexter, Weeds, The Big C, Shameless
Genres of programming
Drama, comedy drama, movies, comic
specials, documentaries, sports
Average viewership
340,000
Ranking
38th
Top-performing show
Dexter
Original versus acquired Original
International commissions
International acquisitions
International adaptations ✔
✔
✔
Current opportunities
Dramas, star vehicles, high-quality
acquisitions
Latest international commissions:
Shameless, Episodes
Top-performing international production
The Tudors
Slogan
TV. At its Best
66
Showtime
general information
Launched 1 July 1976
Owner Showtime Networks, Inc. (A division of the
CBS Corporation)
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key commissioners
Nina Lederman (SVP, series programming &
development)
Gena McCarthy (SVP, reality & alternative
programming)
Morgana Rosenburg (director, scripted drama
& comedy)
Network president (CEO) David Nevins
Address 1633 Broadway
New York City, NY 10019
United States
Telephone (212) 708-1600
10880 Wilshire Boulevard 16th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90024
United States
Telephone (310) 234-5300
Fax (310) 234-5392
Website www.sho.com
Sister networks The Movie Channel, Flix, Smithsonian
Networks, CBS
Number of subscribers 18.2 million
Target demographic Adults 18-49, professional,
high-income
Service hours 24 hours a day
Competition HBO, Starz!, Max, Epix
USP A combination of critically acclaimed hit dramas
and dark comedies, starring some of the biggest
names in TV, with challenging storylines that can
bypass the censors due to the premium-pay nature of
the channel. Also airs hit Hollywood movies.
Brand extensions Showcase, Showtime Extreme,
Showtime Beyond, Showtime Next, Showtime Women
67
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Broadcast/Attentional US Report
channel insight
international arena, ranging from the international coproduction that was The Tudors to the acquisition of ITV
After the CBS/Viacom split in 2005, Showtime
Networks became a subsidiary of the CBS
Corporation, while Viacom (through Paramount)
has launched its rival subscription network, Epix.
However, when Showtime first went on air in 1976,
it was as a service of Viacom.
series Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.
Greenblat left his position in July 2010 and was
replaced by David Nevin. Greenblat’s departure was said
to be amicable and he has since moved on to become
NBC’s president of entertainment.
Key trends
In 1978, Showtime began competing directly with
l Showtime and The Weinstein Company signed a
HBO by expanding its service to reach throughout the
US via satellite and airing original movies. By 1997, the
seven-year contract for Showtime to exclusively air
channel had expanded into feature film acquisitions
The Weinstein Company’s films during their initial
and premieres. In 2000, Showtime became Showtime
premium-channel broadcasts. The contract began with
Networks by launching several multiplex channels
the Weinstein Company’s slate of films in 2009.
including: Showtime 2, Showcase, Showtime Beyond,
l United States Of Tara, the dark comedy about a
Showtime Extreme, Showtime Family Zone, Showtime
Next and Showtime Women. At the same time, and
housewife (Toni Collette) with multiple personalities,
somewhat ahead of the curve, Showtime began testing
delivered some of the network’s best-ever premiere
subscription video-on-demand services, which has
numbers. Its opening episode was seen by 881,000
evolved into the present-day Showtime On Demand.
viewers and, factoring in later repeat telecasts, the
premiere was seen by a total of 1.5 million viewers.
Today, Showtime continues to rival its main competitor
– HBO – by broadcasting films and high-quality original
l Showtime’s international distribution unit folded at
series. Showtime has various major agreements with the
likes of Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lions
the start of 2007 and in-house shows have since been
Gate Entertainment, Paramount Vantage, United Artists,
handled by CBS Studios International.
IFC Films, The Weinstein Company and First Look
l Unlike HBO, however, Showtime’s business model does
Pictures to supply the channel with films for broadcast.
include the network working with existing US studios
Showtime’s original series have competed alongside
HBO’s original programming and include the Golden
or foreign producers wishing to maintain some degree
Globe nominated series Weeds, Brotherhood, The L Word,
of international rights. For instance, the remake of
Sleeper, The Tudors, Dexter, This American Life and Tracey
Shameless is being produced and distributed by
Ullman’s State Of The Union.
Warner Bros.
Matthew C Blank, Showtime Network’s current
l Showtime does not show advertisements on its
chairman and chief executive, has played a pivotal role
in shaping the channel’s overall strategy since he began
network, but focuses on drawing critical acclaim and
at Showtime in 1998. Blank has won numerous awards
popular buzz to keep its original programming afloat.
for his oversight of Showtime, including the Vanguard
It has a variety of promotional strategies for the shows,
Award for Programming in 1999. However, Showtime’s
such as marketing on the Amazon Kindle and iPad, as
reputation and subscription levels have risen considerably
well as provocative billboards.
in the past five years under the stewardship of Robert
Gleenblat, whom Blank appointed as president of
l Showtime’s subscriber base has grown 30% in the past
Entertainment. Greenblat oversaw breakthrough series
five years and the significant growth trend continued
Dexter, as well as some of the more recent successes,
in 2010, with Q3 2010 closing with 18.2 million
such as United States Of Tara. He was also crucial to
subscribers, up 1.6 million (9%) from a year ago
the channel, opening up its source of content to the
(Q3 2009). (Source: Nielsen, SNL Kagan).
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current programming
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
maintaining a dark, edgy tone. This series also reflects
Showtime’s willingness to look to the international
The most hotly anticipated series in Showtime’s schedule
community for co-producing and financing. The Tudors is
is actually an adaptation of a highly successful UK drama.
a co-production between Showtime, Sony, Working Title
Shameless, which Paul Abbott developed and produced
(UK), Shine International, and CBC (Canada).
with heavyweight writer/producer John Wells premiered
The network is also open to acquiring foreign dramas
in late January 2011. The series moves Showtime into the
and comedies – something not prevalent in most of the
family comedy-drama arena, and is an ensemble-led piece
US broadcasting space. ITV’s Secret Diary Of A Call Girl
rather than the dark comedies with single protagonists
was a purely British production and originally aired in
that have generally been Showtime fare.
2007 on ITV2. After buying the US rights, Showtime aired
Because the FCC censorship rules do not apply to
its first season in 2008. Since then, it has aired all three
premium-pay channels, the scope for pushing boundaries
seasons, though Showtime has not yet disclosed whether
with storylines as well as language, sex and violence is
or not a fourth season will be renewed.
high. Showtime is certainly taking advantage of this,
Showtime also produces one-off specials, particularly
and it’s no better exemplified than with Dexter. First aired
in stand-up comedy – such as Tracey Ullman’s State Of
in 2006 and originally based on the Jeff Lindsay novel
The Union. Occasionally, these turn into longer-form
Darkly Dreaming Dexter – this series has helped define
series, with The Green Room With Paul Provenza being the
Showtime’s presence in US broadcasting. The series has
most recent example. This is almost like a talk-show set-
not only secured high ratings, seasons 1-4 have each
up, where Provenza hosts fellow comics in a round-table
sold more than 10 million units in the US alone. Because
forum where they riff, uncensored and before a live studio
Showtime’s parent company is CBS, edited versions of
audience, about what it’s like working in the comedy field.
Dexter began being rebroadcast on CBS – but even those
Other key titles in the Showtime library to note are
tamed-down episodes drew too many complaints from
Weeds and The Big C, both of which have been nominated
mainstream US audiences and that strategy had to be
for Emmys and/or Golden Globes.
abandoned. The show’s fourth season finale boasted
2.4 million viewers on Showtime. The sixth season will
air in 2011.
Californication, meanwhile, first aired in 2007 and
its first three seasons garnered critical acclaim, award
nominations and one Golden Globe and Emmy Award.
High ratings for its third season finale prompted
Showtime to announce an early renewal for a fourth
season to premiere in January 2011.
Meanwhile, Nurse Jackie launched in 2009 and became
Showtime’s most watched premiere in the channel’s
history, with more than 1 million viewers for that telecast
alone. Nurse Jackie has been renewed for a third season.
The channel continues to ensure that its edgy tone
remains present across the board, no matter what genre
of programming it develops. This is a consistent policy,
and is reflected in a wide array of content choices, such
as documentary series Penn And Teller: Bullshit, which
has aired since 2003 and is Showtime’s longest-running
original series. Historical drama The Tudors was another
successful attempt at entering another genre while
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Schedule
Showtime’s autumn primetime schedule 2010
8.00
8.30
9.00
9.30
10.00
Mon
Movie
Dexter
Tue
Movies (back to back)
Wed
Movie
Thur
Movies (back to back)
Fri
How I Met Your Mother
Sat
Documentaries/movies
Sports
Sun
Dexter (back to back)
Californication
10.30
11.00
11.30
Movies (back to back)
Inside The NFL
Dexter
Movies (back to back)
Comedy special
Inside The NFL
On The Road With Austin & Santino
Movie
Dexter
Next Stop For
Charlie
I Can’t Believe
I’m Still Single
Dexter
Commissions with a UK or international origin
(ie, outside the US)
commissioning trends
With Showtime’s past critical acclaim and award-winning
Homeland (Action drama) – Fox21
series in comedy, drama and sitcoms, the development
Based on the Israeli series Hatufim, aka Prisoners Of War,
slate reflects a continued focus on these genres. In 2011,
which aired on Channel 2 in March 2010. Two US soldiers
Showtime’s development slate is composed almost
go missing in Baghdad. Ten years later, one is found and
entirely of comedy dramas (21%), sitcoms (29%) and
returns to the US to a hero’s welcome, only to come under
social dramas (30%). In line with Showtime’s past
suspicion by the CIA, which believes the soldier has
success of broadcasting series from abroad, the channel
swapped sides and is working to bring down the US.
is developing the series Homeland, based on the Israeli
In development (picked up).
series Hatufim, and Episodes, a BBC British comedy
series. Showtime is also following its past success of
Episodes (Sitcom) – BBC2, Hat Trick Productions
inviting Hollywood’s elite to star in and create original
A married British comedy team comes to Hollywood
programming. Just as The Big C’s pilot was directed by
to produce a US version of their hit series. However,
Academy award-winning Neil Jordan, The Borgias has
the husband and wife face challenges when network
enticed Academy award winner Jeremy Irons to lead
executives replace the original British lead with Matt
the series.
LeBlanc. The couple struggle to save their show and their
marriage. Began airing Jaunary 2011.
development slate: genre breakdown
Comedy drama
21%
Family drama 4%
Shameless (Comedy drama) – Warner Bros Television,
John Wells Productions
Social drama 30%
The project is based on the British drama Shameless,
created by Paul Abbott, which first aired in January 2004
Docs
4%
on the BBC, featuring a dysfunctional blue-collar family
and its perpetually-soused patriarch. The US version
Action
drama
4%
Sketch
comedy 4%
will be set in Chicago, where the 18-year-old daughter
Music 4%
January 2011.
must take care of her five younger siblings. Began airing
Sitcom 29%
Source: Attention Inc
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showtime
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Key US commissions
Vanderbilts (Social drama) – CBS Television Studios,
Alphaville (Social drama) – Tribeca Films
Simon West Productions
Set in Manhattan’s Alphabet City in the 1980s, struggling
A historical drama following the Vanderbilt family, who
artists and musicians live alongside Puerto Rican and
created railroad and shipping empires. In development.
black families in a neighborhood that gave rise to graffiti,
break-dancing and rap amid the drugs and violence that
Vanilla Word (Sitcom) – Showtime Networks
plagued the area. In development.
Comedy about day-to-day life in the porn world. Pilot
script ordered.
Boycrazy (Sitcom) – Showtime Networks
Based on Alexi Wasser’s blog ImBoyCrazy.com. A girl
Web Therapy (Sitcom) – Is Or Isn’t Entertainment
tries to navigate the world of sexuality in Los Angeles
Fiona Wallice has online video therapy sessions with
while searching for real love. In development.
clients. In production (ordered to series).
Rapture (Comedy drama) – Is Or Isn’t Entertainment,
Whales (Sitcom) – Lionsgate
Showtime Networks
A group of Harvard and MIT graduates move to Las
Based on the book Why the Long Face?: The Adventures Of
Vegas to compete in the World Series of Poker. Pilot
A Truly Independent Actor by Craig Chester, published by
script ordered.
LA Weekly Books in January 2003. A nine-year-old boy
tries to come to terms with his sexuality while dealing
Analysis
with his devout Christian mother. Pilot script ordered.
Showtime’s current development slate reflects the
network’s strong leaning on the studio system to produce
Seek And Destroy (Sitcom) – Fox21, Chernin
its content. The studios are producing an astounding 50%
Entertainment
of all Showtime projects in development. The other half of
Two comedians meet daily at a coffee shop to discuss
the channel’s development slate is closely tied, with 21%
personal matters. Sketches and man-in-the-street
being produced in-house and 25% from a US producer.
interviews will be used as they recount their stories.
It is notable that two of the three projects from
Pilot wrapped.
international producers are based in the UK, with one
hailing from Israel.
Showtime/Jackson/Labute drama (Social drama) –
CBS Studios, UppiTV
development slate: producer breakdown
Set in the Pacific Northwest, the story centres on a white
In-house 21%
supremacist family. In development.
US producer 25%
International
producer
4%
The Borgias (Social drama) – ImageMovers, Take 5
Productions
Based on the life of Rodrigo Borgia, who served as Pope
Alexander VI, and his murderous children. In production
Studio 50%
(ordered to series, set to air mid-2011).
The Wishbones (Sitcom) – Warner Bros Television, John
Wells Productions
Based on the novel The Wishbones, written by Tom
Source: Attention Inc
Perrotta and published by Putnam May 1997. A group of
guys who want to be rock stars form a wedding band in
their small town. In development.
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Top titles
Top 10 series (January-December 2010)
Programme title
Original/acquired
Genre
Producer
1
Dexter
Original
Crime drama
Showtime
2
Weeds
Original
Comedy drama
Lionsgate
3
Californication
Original
Comedy
Showtime/And Then Productions
4
The Big C
Original
Comedy
Sony/Original Film
5
Nurse Jackie
Original
Comedy
Lionsgate
6
The Tudors
Original
Period drama
Shine/CBC/Sony
7
United States Of Tara
Original
Comedy
DreamWorks TV
8
Strikeforce
Original
Documentary
Showtime
9
Look
Acquired
Drama
CapturedTV
10
Fight Camp: 360
Original
Documentary
NFL Films/Showtime
Exludes movies and sport
Rather than being viewed as an entirely separate
new media
platform, the synergy between linear and non-linear is
lS
howtime’s new media and online presence is
ultimately all about driving subscription growth.
formidable and ahead of the curve. In October
2010, it launched Showtime Anytime, a broadband
video-streaming service that is free to Showtime
subscribers through the network’s cable, satellite and
telco affiliates. Showtime Anytime gives subscribers
the flexibility to watch more than 400 hours of the
network’s critically acclaimed programming (as well as
hit movies and sports offerings) online. The service has
mobile, Kindle and iPad versions, as it tries to allow
ultimate flexibility in where or how subscribers can
watch the content.
lS
howtime’s website is video-rich, with extra content
available for all of its series that includes: clips, games
based on its series, and fan-based ‘wiki’ sites to provide
online communities for its audience base.
lT
o entice new subscribers, Showtime enables potential
subscribers to preview episodes before buying
subscriptions.
lT
he network’s online business model requires it to
complement its premium-pay status, which means
content needs to remain behind a pay-wall, and is
primarily extensions of the linear channel’s offerings.
72
Q&A Syfy
Q&A syfy
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Erika Kennair
Vice-president, programming, Syfy
How does Being Human US compare to Being
Human UK?
It’s not just the same show with different accents. The
core concept is rich and the characters are great, but
it was important for us to make the show our own if it
was to resonate with a US audience.
Syfy, the network formerly known as Sci-Fi, is part of
the NBC Universal family. One of the most popular
cable channels in the US, Syfy currently ranks in
the top 10 among 25- to 54-year-olds. Available
in 96 million homes, it airs original series, events,
blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and
fantasy programming. The channel also has a popular
website and a commercial arm called Syfy Ventures,
which explores ancillary opportunities.
What’s your advice to Brits wanting to replicate
that success?
It’s not just about great ideas. It’s about building
relationships with people we know. Being Human was
brought to our attention by someone in the industry
we knew and trusted. Zodiak and Muse are companies
with which we are familiar. It’s that kind of endorsement
that everyone in the US cable business looks for.
Can you tell us about the switch from Sci-Fi to Syfy?
Has your new positioning led to any major
programming shifts?
Our Sci-Fi positioning helped us grow into a major
It has allowed us to broaden out into areas such as reality.
network with long-running shows such as Battlestar
We have one reality show that is already doing well for
Galactica. That remains a core part of our offering.
us, Hollywood Treasures, and another debuting soon
But in 2009, we went through a brand renovation
called Face Off. That is a competition/elimination series
designed to broaden our appeal. The key has been to do
exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists. It
that without alienating our core fans, which is why we
really is amazing what they can do.
chose the name ‘Syfy’ instead of some random, unknown
brand. Also important is that the network positioning is
How much do you originate and what do you acquire?
still around imagination-based entertainment.
Last year, we did 105 hours of reality, 100 hours of
scripted and 44 movies. Peak launch times are January
So what are your editorial priorities now?
and July, but development is all-year-round. Acquisitions
In the sci-fi genre, Battlestar Galactica has a prequel
have played a big part in our success over the years. For
coming up called Blood And Chrome (a two-hour pilot).
the UK, a recent example would be Merlin from FME,
We also have shows such as Warehouse 13, which is
which is now in series 3.
returning for a third season, and Eureka, which has been
performing well since 2006. There’s also Haven, now into
Did you get any resistance to your repositioning?
its second series. We are about to debut our version of
Not really, because the sci-fi continues to play in key
Being Human, which is based on the BBC3 show from
slots. Also, the reality shows have to fit our brand
Zodiak-owned Touchpaper. It’s a really exciting project
positioning of imagination-based entertainment, so
that is being produced for us by Muse Entertainment.
they work for the audience. Hollywood Treasures was
Whenever I see the rushes come through I can’t wait to
about finding movie memorabilia that might have a
watch them, because the show looks so good.
high value, and it rated very well.
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What is primetime for you? And who watches?
Just men?
Primetime is 9pm-11pm. We skew male, but the rebrand
was about broadening that. I also think sci-fi as a genre
has widened its fan base. It’s not so strange to see
women at events such as Comic-Con. And we’ve seen
Ashley Eckstein from Star Wars: The Clone Wars launch
a clothing line called Her Universe.
What kind of brand extensions has Syfy been
looking at?
Various, because we think Syfy has the potential to
develop. We’re moving into the theatrical market and the
gaming market. We have a strategic partnership with
gaming company THQ and are also about to launch an
MMO game with Trion Worlds. We’re also looking at
extending into the kids market.
Ghostly goings on
The start of 2011 saw Syfy veteran Mark Stern named as
president of original programming for the network. One
of his first revelations was that the channel is developing
School Spirit – a reality series about hauntings at colleges
and schools. Spookiness has long been a part of Syfy’s
DNA. One of its hit shows is Ghost Hunters, which has
been delivering big ratings since 2004. Last year saw it
add a number of shows in this editorial arena. In reality,
the first episode of Fact Or Faked: Paranormal Files
averaged 561,000 in adults 18-49, making it the best
performance for a Thursday original series since 2006.
Ghostly goings-on are also part of the scripted line-up,
something which seems to be working for the Brits.
Being Human has a ghostly central character, and Syfy
has also picked up the format rights to Randall And
Hopkirk (Deceased) from ITV.
74
Q&A BBC America
Q&A BBC America
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Richard De Croce
Channel 4, Sky and independents. We’ll work with any
Senior vice-president, programming
supplier that delivers shows on-brand, mainly acquiring
shows but also sometimes co-producing. We co-produced
a six-part drama series of Luther with the BBC. That was
a big critical success for us and saw lead actor Idris Elba
nominated for a Golden Globe. [BBC America celebrated
the nomination by running an all-day marathon of
BBC America is a 13-year-old BBC Worldwide-owned
entertainment channel reaching 68 million cable
homes via major platform operators such as Time
Warner, Cox, DirecTV and DISH. The channel has been
expanding its audience for some time and is on track
for its fifth straight year of growth in primetime. Its
monthly reach for August 2010 was 24.7 million, its
largest ever. Its highest rating to date is 1.5 million
viewers for Doctor Who. This year is an important one
for BBC America, because it is reaching a scale where
it will need to spend more on original shows.
the series]. We also aired The Weinstein Company
documentary The Making Of ‘The King’s Speech’.
Do you have a special arrangement with BBC
Worldwide, your parent?
No, it’s an arm’s-length commercial supply agreement.
It has to be. You have to be transparent and fair when
buying programming.
A lot of your shows are re-versioned by rivals. How do
you feel about that?
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! But seriously,
Can you tell us BBC America’s brand positioning? Is it
just for Anglophiles?
everyone wants to be working in partnership with the
I don’t think we’d be in 68 million homes if BBC America
like to hold on to more of our formats – not that we can
was just for Anglophiles. We mainly target adults, 25-
re-make everything.
BBC, so it’s no surprise. Going forward, I guess we’d
54 years old, who are looking for quality, innovative,
slightly more male than we want. Ideally, we’d like a
Where do your viewers zap to when they’re not
watching you?
balance between the genders.
In factual, they probably head for Discovery and The
intelligent, slightly irreverent content. We probably skew
History Channel. In scripted, it’s more likely to be HBO,
What shows work best for you?
FX or AMC.
Top Gear is a great show for us, and we have some strong
On Saturday nights, we do very well with shows such as
Are you reaching a scale now where original shows
become important?
Primeval, Doctor Who and Being Human [By sourcing
Yes, absolutely. 2011 and 2012 will be big years for us
so much content from the UK, 60% of BBC America’s
in that respect. We have just hired Rachel Smith from
content is original to the US. Rival networks often acquire
Discovery for exactly that purpose. It’s early days for her,
second-run series from within the US].
but we’ll be looking for about four series over the next 18
sci-fi – a genre where the cultural barrier isn’t that high.
months. [Smith was at Discovery-owned Planet Green,
Primeval is an ITV show. Where do you source
content from?
where she was responsible for series such as Operation
A range of sources, including BBC Worldwide, ITV,
programme development at BBC America].
Wild and Dresscue Me. She will look after non-scripted
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Do you have any guidance on what producers should
be pitching to BBC America?
Well, it starts with talent. We really break through with
the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, Matt
Smith and the Top Gear presenters. So we need shows
that can be vehicles for talent, probably in the factualentertainment arena. We have a distinctive voice, so we
don’t want anything derivative. But it makes sense to
build on our strengths, so producers should probably
be thinking about shows that are complementary to our
existing portfolio.
Should people be pitching to Rachel Smith now, then?
She’s only just started, so it’s early days. And, like other
channels, we tend to work through agents, rather than
accepting submissions off the street.
bbc america’s value in the market
There are approximately 116 million TV households in
the US, of which are 105 million are connected to cable
and/or satellite. These channels make money from
subscription and advertising airtime sales. Their ability to
attract advertisers depends in large part on their Nielsen
ratings (the US BARB equivalent). Typically, channels
will start offering Nielsen ratings when they are in 3540 million homes. But it is only when they reach the 70
million mark that ad agencies start supporting them in
a significant way (since this is regarded as critical mass).
BBC America is still just short of this figure. But it is able
to counteract that thanks to the quality of its audience,
which is one of the most affluent and educated in the US
market. That said, affluence and education suggests a
slighter older demographic in a market where the 18-49
age group is the holy grail for advertisers. So, the fact that
BBC America is now moving into original production is
partly linked to the fact that it is reaching the 70 million
tipping point, but is also about making sure the channel
does not stray far from the 18-49 audience.
76
Q&A Starz
Q&A Starz
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Carmi Zlotnik
Managing director
You did something similar at HBO. How does this
compare?
Some of the things HBO does can be quite high-brow.
We are heading more in the direction of entertainment.
In our segment of the pay-TV sector (HBO, Showtime,
Starz), it’s important for us to be additive. We’re doing
that by moving away from an older sensibility. Our
Liberty Media-owned Starz is a premium pay-TV
channel that reaches about 22 million homes in the
US. Originally focused on screening theatrical movies,
the last two years have seen the company make a
major move into content origination. The origination
strategy is headed by Starz Media managing director
Carmi Zlotnik and Starz chief executive officer Chris
Albrecht, who previously worked together at both HBO
and IMG. At HBO, Zlotnik oversaw and supervised
production for shows including Band Of Brothers,
The Sopranos, Sex And The City and Six Feet Under.
viewers have disposable income and a certain level of
life responsibility, but they are as likely to enjoy video
games as Led Zeppelin. It’s a generation often referred
to as ‘adultescent’, because they still enjoy youth culture
despite being part of an older demographic.
Do you have a defined launch strategy?
We debut one major new production a quarter on a
Friday night, because that provides a focal point for our
marketing effort and that of our affiliates. But we don’t
care where or when someone sees our content, as long
as we reach the biggest possible cumulative audience
Why did Starz enter the origination business?
with a message about our brand.
The network was undifferentiated from its rivals. We
programmes – the kind of event productions that viewers
Do you have a preferred business model that partners
need to know about?
would associate with the Starz channel and nowhere else.
Not really. Spartacus is wholly owned but Camelot is a
wanted to brand the service around our own proprietary
co-production with Irish company Octagon and Canadian
Can you give us some examples and explain your
selections?
outfit Take 5, developed with the UK’s Ecosse Films.
Before my time, Starz ordered drama mini-series
Worldwide. Partners should be aware we have a video
Spartacus: Blood And Sand, which we have now followed
label, Anchor Bay, which needs to be fed. But we are not
up with a 6 x 50-minute prequel called Spartacus: Gods
too rigid. I like to think of us as a driftnet for great ideas.
Torchwood, meanwhile, is a strategic alliance with BBC
Of The Arena. On 1 April at 10pm, we debut 10 x 1-hour
Fiennes and Eva Green. Further down the line, we have
Does Torchwood suggest you’re interested in what the
UK has on offer?
a 10 x 1-hour hour co-production of Torchwood (with BBC
Torchwood is about the fact that we’ve been great
Worldwide) and a new series starring Kelsey Grammer
admirers of Russell T Davies going back as far as Queer
called The Boss (eight episodes to be directed by Gus Van
As Folk, and we also have a great relationship with Jane
Sant and produced by Lionsgate, in a deal packaged by
Tranter at BBC Worldwide. In Torchwood, we thought we
WME). The thing that unites them all is strong promotable
could see a way to make a quantum leap forward with the
elements, either in terms of actor name recognition or a
next chapter, keeping the same core cast members but
subject matter the audience is familiar with.
adding some new editorial components. That said, the
Arthurian drama series Camelot, which stars Joseph
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Broadcast/Attentional US Report
UK is a great talent pool and a very natural fit for what
we do at Starz.
How should Brits contact you? And what are you
looking for?
In truth, the people we want to work with know how
to navigate the US system. We don’t take unsolicited
material because that can present problems down the
line. Typically, the route to us is via an agent. In terms
of what we are looking for, there’s no strict criteria –
but it has to be larger than life, something that offers
enough truth and spectacle to be differentiated from
the cacophony of competition. The trick is coming up
with something that is familiar to the audience but not
derivative. The danger is that it can be so familiar it
becomes banal or so avant-garde it is impossible for
the audience to relate to it.
Programming panel
Spartacus: Blood And Sand debuted with 650,000 viewers
on 22 January 2010 and rose to 1.1 million by the end of its
run. The timeframe for upcoming productions is: Camelot
(Q2, 2011); Torchwood (Q3, 2011); and The Boss (Q4, 2011).
Starz has just announced plans for Magic City, a 10-part
series set in the 1960s about mobsters, politicians and
entertainers at a Miami hotel. It will air in 2012.
78
Q&A UTA
Q&A UTA
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Michael Camacho
traverse the sector, building relationships with production
Partner & head of alternative TV, UTA
companies, studios, cable channels – everybody in the
creative-value chain. We’re constantly on the phone,
making sure we are the hub of information in the
industry. In terms of attributes, I’d say I’m honest, loyal,
strategic and committed to taking someone’s talent and
building a long-term multi-platform business around it.
Michael Camacho is partner and head of alternative
TV at United Talent Agency (UTA), a company he
joined in 2008 after a successful 15-year stint at
Creative Artists Agency. Camacho is an undoubted
powerhouse in the field of US TV, having helped
develop the careers of reality gurus such as Mike
Fleiss (The Bachelor), Cris Abrego (The Surreal Life),
Allison Grodner (Big Brother US) and Tom Forman
(Extreme Makeover). He also represented Mark
Burnett for a time and worked with Oprah Winfrey
on the deal to launch her own cable network via
Discovery. Testament to his talent is that many clients
followed him to UTA, where he oversees a team of
agents representing top reality producers, talent and
production companies.
What have been your career landmarks (so far)?
While at CAA, I packaged Amazing Race for CBS and The
Bachelor for ABC. They have been unbelievable franchises
for the past decade. In the past couple of years, one of the
outstanding events was Endemol’s $200m acquisition of
51 Minds, the reality company co-founded by one of my
clients, Cris Abrego. Another highlight was working with
Oprah Winfrey on her new network. I really enjoy being
involved in the process of crafting game-changing deals.
What have been the big changes during your time as
an agent?
The most notable has been the rise of non-scripted
content, which has more or less coincided with my time in
the industry. In the past two to three years, the big change
What is the role of an agent in the US TV market?
has come in the cable industry, where channels have
The agent represents creative talent, both on-screen and
really understood the value of owning a successful, long-
off-screen, which also includes writers, producers and
running non-fiction series such as Jersey Shore (MTV),
their companies. He or she puts together creative teams,
Iron Chef (Food Network), Pawn Stars (History) or Real
working with decision-makers at networks and cable
Housewives (Bravo). This has made them less niche. It has
channels. The agent’s goal is to find the right creative
created a lot of opportunities for agents and producers
platforms and most marketable talent, then build a
– though it has also made the cable space a very
business around it. There are so many channels in the US
competitive area. In terms of developments regarding
you have to assess which is the best buyer for a project –
talent, the big thing is 360-degree monetisation. The
which will help your client succeed as a 360-degree brand.
question for us as agents is: can we take our talent into
other areas? We’ve seen Pawn Stars lead to a clothing line
What does it take to be a good agent? And how did
you get started?
and Iron Chef result in a food line. And, of course, there is
Oprah, who is now a big enough brand to be a network.
After college, I started in the mailroom, which is where
most agents start – in my case at CAA. From there,
How significant is the international market to you?
I became an assistant and then an agent – packaging
My colleague Joe Labracio and I look at markets such
producers and talent with the right shows. The key is to
as the UK, Holland and Israel, because our goal is to
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represent the best talent, wherever it comes from. There’s
no question that the UK has, over the past decade,
been interesting. It has had the advantage of offering
completed shows that come with a ratings track record.
I don’t think that’s so important now, because the US
industry has looked at the back catalogue of content
from the UK. But it is still an amazing incubator of talent.
At the same time, the UK has been of interest to agents,
because individual producers often own their content,
creating potential for return in the long term. The
situation is changing a bit now because US channels want
to own content IP, but there is still an opportunity there.
Are you working with any Brits right now?
We are working with Richard McKerrow of Love
Productions, who is exactly the kind of producer we
like. He’s creative, independent, entrepreneurial and
has a great sense of what it takes to make a partnership
work. Richard has shown he can succeed in the US,
exec-producing a version of UK format Baby Borrowers
for NBC and producing a new series of Kidnapped By
The Kids for Oprah Winfrey Network.
Would you advise a UK producer to set up on the
West or East Coast?
The distinction is irrelevant and I think it really limits
your opportunity to succeed. With iPads, emails and
mobile phones, you can be in touch with both coasts.
My advice is base yourself where you’re producing your
show. If you’re not ready to put down permanent roots,
then rent for six months at a time.
Have you any specific advice for young talent?
I suppose my main advice is: have patience. A lot of
young talent matriculates too quickly and doesn’t always
have the maturity or expertise to make the right quality of
show. Producers used to spend a decade in local news or
syndication before they produced big shows and I think
you can sometimes see the difference now. The key to
good reality shows is execution and you can see where
experience is lacking. In my view, that has an impact
on quality. We like Richard McKerrow because he has a
creative vision and the ability to execute that vision.
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Q&A WME
Broadcast/Attentional US Report
Isabella Zoltowski
talent from both sides of the pond. We work with the
Agent, WME
US and other London departments (such as books and
music) to package and get the most out of our slate.
If I had to pick one achievement, it would be my first
major deal as an agent, The Singing Bee. WME sold the
show in the UK first, then in the US (NBC, then CMT).
This retained ownership for the US producer, which
Isabella Zoltowski is an agent at WME, the company
that came out of the 2009 mega-merger between
William Morris and Endeavor. Based in London, she
runs a department that links UK talent with US TV.
WME is a formidable player in the TV market and was
one of the first to enter the reality fray. Alumni of the
agency include Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Ovitz,
George Shapiro and Barry Diller.
we could then roll out internationally via a distribution
partner. It was a textbook deal that we’re still replicating
with other scripted and US non-scripted producer clients.
What would you say have been the key shifts in
the business?
The maturing of the format industry is the biggest
development. These days, we can’t just turn up and tell
the US networks there’s a 35% share in Ireland so they
Can you give us your take on the role of an agent?
have to buy it now – or command huge fees on paper
It’s an agent’s role to proactively navigate the producer
formats. The US cables are particularly savvy in their deal-
through every stage of selling a show from development
making when it comes to distribution and international
to pitch/sale, deal-making to marketing. Most
ownership of both finished shows and formats, even those
importantly the US agents package shows, which means
with a track record. Consolidation in the indie sector and
they attach talent, producers and other key elements to
at the networks has been rife, and we’re seeing a huge
projects before approaching networks. The US market
impact as cable channels roll out as international brands.
is substantially different from the UK in almost every
and cable channels that often prefer to work via an
As an ex-producer, what do you see as the strengths
of the UK business?
agency. We also get approached by a lot of producers
The favourable rights position in the UK means producers
who have done one deal without an agent and regretted
are incentivised to be creative, to push boundaries on
it. Keep in mind also that there are many buyers in the
formats and genres. Creativity and execution are both key
US. So our clients benefit from the knowledge gained by
factors, because the networks and audience have a huge
all our agents packaging shows and making deals across
appetite for novelty and risk. What producers here can do
the East and West Coasts.
with small budgets is incredible.
What have been the key achievements in your
career to date?
How do you build relationships with Brits?
For me, it would be taking the helm of the TV department
easier, so relationships grow organically. Personal
of WME London at a time of great change in the
relationships really form the foundation of the
economy, the TV industry and our company. WME now
business. As individuals move around in their careers,
represents a large range of production companies from
our relationships with them keep us on top of trends,
the UK and international market, as well as on-screen
emerging patterns, new talent and shows.
aspect. WME gets many referrals directly from networks
My team is based here in the UK, which makes things
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Are most of your dealings with big UK indies?
The risk is that they don’t stick to what they are good
A lot of hits come from the super-indies, but it’s
at, and also lose focus on their main bread and butter.
important to remember that anyone can have a brilliant
Big, strong, original ideas will find a home and the key
idea. WME represents indies across Europe, Asia and the
is to have at least one element that means your idea is
rest of the world, too, so our team is of course constantly
chosen over another. That could be huge ratings, a hot
researching the various international markets/trends to
showrunner, a new production method, casting, etc.
see what’s in development and production.
Do you work project by project or form ongoing
relationships?
We do work project by project on occasion but our role
is more about building businesses than flogging
individual projects. That could involve advising a client
on whether to open a US production arm or partner/
co-pro strategically. By building an ongoing partnership,
WME has close relationships with the producer’s
development team – which means it can advise from
paper stage. One indie WME represents is in production
on what was a paper format with a big entertainment
show for a US network – this only happens in the context
of an ongoing relationship.
What are the key programme content and commercial
trends?
There are a lot of food/baking shows and a lot of repo/
salvage/pawn-based shows such as Operation Repo and
Hardcore Pawn. Shows like these do well, as long as they
have strong characters in interesting worlds. Recently
we’ve also seen the soft-scripted genre reach its apex with
MTV’s Jersey Shore. The UK is also cracking this with The
Only Way Is Essex and now Mersey Shore. From the UK an
interesting trend is lightly formatted documentaries like
Pineapple Dance Studios and its follow-ups, or fixed-rig
shows like One Born Every Minute (which can sell as a
format). People want to feel like the action will happen
even if the camera is not rolling. I predict more shows
like these and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. I’m always on the
look out for the next Beauty And The Geek, and think the
explosion in UK comedy will also translate.
What is your advice to Brits who want to crack the
US market?
I advise new indies approaching the US (without an
established US office) to concentrate on developing for
their primary market and not second-guess the US.
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This report is an abridged version of US TV: Commissioning Strategies 2011-2012 –
a comprehensive guide to the top 50 US broadcasters commissioning international
content. Also included with this package is a USB stick containing the full report,
which covers more than 200 pages of key programming and commissioning trends,
international production opportunities, interviews with top executives and top-line
ratings data. For more information please visit: www.ustvreport.co.uk