• New York Post, Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:45 AM

The economic crisis has prompted broadcast TV networks to cut development costs at a time when some say television can't afford to remain stagnant. The shift is resulting in fewer pilots being bought and network executives taking fewer risks. "It's the toughest development season I've ever seen," says ICM President Chris Silbermann.

Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly says the cutbacks are partly due to some fundamental changes. Moving Fox to a year-round programming schedule has allowed the network to spread out costs and focus development on fewer shows that have a better chance of succeeding, he says.

What a change from only nine months ago, when the writers' strike ended and networks were green-lighting everything they could find. Critics warn that the new playing-it-safe strategy has big risks. It tends to shore up "middling old shows" and misses the potential for new shows that could become hits.

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