Networks to producers: The squeeze is on

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Network executives love to stress that economics don’t factor into their programming decisions. At the same time the upheaval in the economy is going to force program producers to do more with less.

A lot of shows are going to find themselves with fewer writers and even on-air talent. NBC renewed ‘Chuck’ from Warner Bros., but the word is at a much lower license fee. Fox gave its drama ‘Bones’ a two-year pick-up, no doubt because it was able to cut a sweet renewal deal.

‘If you had five story editors, now you get three,’ said Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly on a conference call with media this morning about how the network is looking to trim costs. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy sell to the creative community. ‘This is a hard business to change.’

--Joe Flint

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