TV is soon to face reality
As the Writer's Guild strike passes into week six, TV networks and studios come closer to running out of original material. Steve Henn reports we might all soon be facing a lot more reality programming.
A WGA picket sign makes a point that so-called unscripted programs are actually written. (David McNew/Getty Images)
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Scott Jagow: Not much has happened on Wisteria Lane lately. Or at Seattle Grace. Or at The Office. The Hollywood Writer's Strike has stopped time in TV land. With no new episodes being produced, the networks could start getting . . . desperate. More reality shows anyone? Here's Steve Henn.
Steve Henn: The strike, now entering its sixth week, hit writers, actors and directors immediately. But so far, TV networks and big studios haven't suffered that much. That could soon change.
Richard Greenfield: You start to move into January and it starts to cost a significantly larger amount of money.
Richard Greenfield follows entertainment industry finances for Pali Research, but still won't speculate on how much the strike could cost. He says some time in the middle of next month, the networks will begin running out of original programming and television could get ugly.
Greenfield: From a broadcast network standpoint, I think you know, networks like CBS begin to start feeling pain.
Not to mention the rest of us:
TV Announcer: The competition is really intensifying on Dancing With The Stars.
The strike could also put the kybosh on the production of new dramatic pilots, which could mean a painful TV reality this fall.
In Washington, I'm Steve Henn for Marketplace.
