UK networks struggle with US breaks too
It's not just Australia that has trouble programming around the breaks in US episodes.
- Published by David Knox
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It’s not just Australia that has trouble programming around the breaks in US episodes.
A Variety report from MIP TV in Cannes hears from other countries about the same challenge.
“The delays U.S. networks take have an impact on our ability to make American shows the hits they should be internationally,” says Katie Keenan, head of acquisitions for Channel 5 and Viacom Intl. Media Network U.K. “In the U.K., no one would think of taking a break and breaking the momentum for an original drama that’s been commissioned.
“We’ve spent the money licensing the show, a lot of time has gone into making a big marketing campaign, and our press teams and creative teams are helping to make a success of a show,” she says. “Anything that deviates or negatively impacts your ability to do that makes the challenge of creating hits even greater.
“Canada, Australia — I’m not aware that either of those territories take as regular breaks as the U.S.,” says Keenan. “It does seem that U.S. networks are moving closer to taking smaller breaks, but they’ve really got to move all the way. I don’t think there’s a happy medium.”
9 Responses
Unlike David, the original Variety article misunderstand’s Keenan’s issue. It puts it in the context of long breaks between seasons of cable series but she’s definitely talking about network shows. I don’t think anyone who buys Walking Dead is too worried about getting two batches a year (with Fear in between).
why even bother with the breaks anymore? if you miss a show, just catch up on DVR or streaming. the thing that annoys me most shows not been shown because of award shows! things might change in the future as more shows go from 22 episodes down to 10-12 episodes a season.
These types of delays have significantly changed my viewing habits. I now record every episode of a series, sometimes it feels like it takes six months, and then only watch when I have them all. Particularly if there are story arcs I want to follow. Supernatural – approximately 19 episodes awaiting on my pvr – just a few more before I can start watching, Homeland I think I have eight, awaiting the last five or so before I start watching.
I totally understand why this would frustrate networks but communicating to viewers that a break is going to happen while we wait for new episodes from the US should be a given.
These constant 1-4 week gaps in a series make it hard to keep track of where you are in a show. It’s tolerable for a sitcom, but for drama, you want to keep the momentum going. It’s time to drop ‘mid-season’ and just run a show in it’s entirety, then what was formerly set for ‘mid-season’ can run afterwards. If a daytime\evening soaps can produce 350 odd episodes a year, then surely a show like Big Bang can film and air their 22 episode season in one run. If for some reason they can’t, say production space, actor availability, then take on the 11+11 approach with a few weeks gap in the middle, like we see with shows such as Suits.
US network dramas shoot for 9 days, cable for 15 or 16 days an episode (and they don’t work weekends or public holidays). And you have to have written the episode and done pre-production before that and have editing and post production afterwards. US network also make 22+ episodes of show so it takes 9 months to make them and they have done writing in advance of the seasons production commencing. The idea that US networks should violate the laws of physics to meet the demands of OS broadcasters who have slashed what they will pay for episodes because viewers aren’t watching them is crazy.
I think split seasons are the way to go. If a 22 episode drama can be split over 2 arcs it works for the best. 10 episodes between Fall and the Xmas Break then resume 12 episodes from Feb onwards.
US Networks usually air a block of 10 eps of a new drama to bed it in (and they have been reducing the length to 18 or 19 eps), or typically only 8, of an established drama before Christmas. They are going to save the final eps of full seasons till May sweeps. The simple solution is don’t fast track shows. It reduces rather than boosts ratings. Piracy was never that large and has nearly halved in Australia since streaming services started up, a lot of it is for a few high profile shows e.g GOT.
This is where same week fast tracking doesn’t work. Yes, holding over a new series to the new year is annoying but allows shows to go out uninterrupted, although splitting into two blocks generally works too.