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Cost Concerns Threaten Familiar TV Shows

Negotiations are going down to the wire on whether networks will renew several veteran series. "Networks are playing hardball when negotiating license fees, especially with their more mature shows," says a network insider. There may be surprises at the upfronts next week, with popular shows not coming back or jumping networks.

With ratings in decline and the networks saddled with covering the full costs of older shows, higher-rated veteran dramas are being given a more equal footing with lower-rated freshman and sophomore shows. "It's not that ratings don't matter, but it's a little more of a bottom-line discussion now," says the insider.

Dramas including "Cold Case," "Without a Trace," "Numbers," "Law & Order" and "The Unit" remain up in the air. Same with comedies "My Name Is Earl," "Scrubs" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine." CBS' "Case" and "Trace" possibly are vying for one slot next fall, and both recently had ratings upticks, complicating matters. NBC's "Law & Order" is expected to return for at least a partial season and match the longest-running prime-time drama record.

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