• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, August 17, 2016

Uber’s current TV campaign isn’t focused on people using the car service. It’s about getting people to work for Uber, driving “just a few hours a day.”

Anyone who has used Uber and can’t get a car in heavy rush-hour periods can understand this. More drivers, better service -- and, in theory, lower fares per ride.

But what if TV networks did the same thing: advertising to get viewers to make shows? Yes, this is crazy. But bear with me a bit. Would there be better service? Lower costs? Hmmm.....

Many would say we already have this minor-league system with the likes of YouTube and the seemingly forgotten “user-generated video” category. And yes, occasionally bits and pieces of digital media have been turned into TV shows.

Remember CBS’ “$#*! My Dad Says,” riffing from the original Twitter serial “Shit My Father Says.” Other digital media stuff has filtered through as well.

No surprise here. Unlike Uber, CBS -- and other networks -- don’t need to advertise for new TV ideas. There is lots of creativity everywhere -- the good, the bad, and plenty of ugly.

But a key component of both car service companies and TV networks is cost and expenses. This is something future TV’s program development has been called into question -- as viewership goes lower per TV show on average,  and as TV consumers race around in trying to find the lowest TV entertainment pricing.

TV analysts have already called into question increasingly sky-high TV development budgets, like Netflix, with its $6 billion development slate. So, with respect to FX Networks Chairman John Landgraf, we don’t need fewer scripted TV shows. We need more “Peak TV,” as he calls it.

We should be looking at higher peaks, longer valleys, and some deeper caves. Why? Because we are going to need it -- economically speaking.

You might be asking what kind of money could a future home-based writer/producer expect to make for such a venture?  Just look at the “sharing” economy as it exists now -- car sharing (Uber, Lyft), home/travel sharing (Airbnb).

All that probably means a couple of free car rides back to your home.