• Variety, Monday, April 13, 2009 9:30 AM

Network execs' new message to the industry: "We can't live the way we've lived in the past." The old business model of funding a pilot for $3 million to $10 million -- when it has only a 10% chance of survival -- can't be sustained much longer. Hefty license fees for shows that are only performing so-so are also too expensive.

Now, international co-productions, which network chiefs would have never considered a few years ago, are suddenly in vogue, thanks to their thrifty sticker prices. The nets are also more willing to give low-rated series another shot, "as long as producers are willing to stock 'em deep and sell 'em cheap."

The new business model is leading to a prime time full of series and long-forms that were picked up partly because of bargain-basement license fees. The fate of several shows on the bubble -- such as CBS' "Without a Trace" or NBC's "My Name is Earl" -- will hinge on whether studio and network can agree on a reduced license fee. One surprise so far: Fox picked up another full season of the critically-loathed comedy "'Til Death" because Sony was looking to bank enough episodes for syndication and gave the network a price it couldn't refuse.

Read the whole story at Variety »