• TV Week, Tuesday, December 4, 2007 11:45 AM

Assuming the writers strike is settled, the networks are apparently considering the idea of running scripted programming well into summer to complete season-order commitments. With production on most comedies and dramas shut down or about to, regardless of when the strike ends, there will be a scheduling gap. So the nets are wondering how to schedule the remainder of the season if production starts up again.

Most decisions will be made on an individual basis, taking into account how many episodes of a series have aired, how many remain and how long it will take for new ones to be made. A key worry is if there will be enough time to produce remaining episodes before next season's production cycle begins. Generally, the network season has ended in May as viewership drops off over the summer, leading to lower ratings and ad revenues. However, that gap has narrowed of late.

Vince Manze, NBC's president of program planning, scheduling and strategy, sees potential benefits to an extended season. "It would be terrific to start breaking these cycles,"he says. "But you can't go too far into summer. The [viewing levels drop], you start running into the Fourth of July. I'm thinking one or two shows, at most."

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