CW committed to schedule of scripted dramas

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/qa_cbs_warner_bosses_talk_abou.php

Q&A: CBS, Warner Bosses Talk About Their Baby, The CW
By Josef Adalian

The CW is sticking with the script.

That?s the word from CBS Corp.?s Nancy Tellem and Warner Bros.? Bruce
Rosenblum, the executives responsible for overseeing their companies?
interests in the 3-year-old network. While broadcasters such as NBC
and MyNetworkTV have begun trimming the amount of time they devote to
first-run scripted shows, The CW is devoting the bulk of its energies
to building a network based on original hourlong dramas.

In an interview with TelevisionWeek deputy editor Josef Adalian, Mr.
Rosenblum and Ms. Tellem discuss that strategy, along with their
opinion of CW Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff, the future of
Sunday nights on the network. An edited transcript follows:

TelevisionWeek: You?re building a network based on scripted
programming at a time when others are pulling away from scripted,
first-run shows. NBC is putting Jay Leno in primetime. MyNetworkTV is
moving toward syndicated shows.

Mr. Rosenblum: I don?t hear Steve McPherson talking about pulling
away, I don?t hear Nina Tassler and [CBS chief] Les [Moonves] and
Nancy talking about pulling away. I only hear Jeff Zucker talking
about pulling away.

Ms. Tellem: Yeah, we are committed to scripted programming. I think if
you look, whether it?s ?Gossip Girl,? ?90210? or ?One Tree Hill,? I
would even posit to say that our series are worth far more (than
unscripted shows). I suspect that NBC might be taking a different
position if they had on their schedule a series as successful as we?ve
enjoyed with ?Gossip Girl? or ?90210.?

Mr. Rosenblum: From a combination standpoint of the studio and the
network, it?s not less risk to go all nonscripted, because we have
found a business model and a niche with our women, 18-34 targeted
dramas that work extremely well internationally, that work well on
DVD, that work well in the digital marketplace, that have a strong
advertiser appeal in their initial exhibition on the broadcast
network, that work for both CBS and Warner Bros. As Nancy said, we
shouldn?t get caught in the fog of, NBC didn?t have a lot of success
the last couple of years. Their decisions were proper for NBC, but I
wouldn?t paint the whole broadcast network business with that brush.

TVWeek: There?s been talk that maybe CW gives Sunday back to
affiliates. Will that happen?

Mr. Rosenblum: No. Sunday is, from an audience standpoint and from an
advertiser?s standpoint, an important night, and we as a network will
work over the next handful of development seasons to continue to build
a viable and profitable lineup of programming for Sunday nights for
both ourselves and our affiliates.

TVWeek: Can we assume that Dawn Ostroff will be staying on as
president of The CW for the long-term future?

Ms. Tellem: We are really pleased with what Dawn is doing. She has
done an extraordinary job of building this network and we support her
in all that she has done.

Mr. Rosenblum: I completely agree with Nancy.

TVWeek: You sometimes hear reports of tension between CBS and Warner
Bros. over The CW, as well as other issues. True?

Mr. Rosenblum: Honestly there is not a level of tension between any of
the executives at CBS and Warner Bros. We have more than 20 years of
experiences together, between the four of us, and we have managed at
every step of the way to find far, far more common ground than (not).
In those handful of instances where there is a minor disagreement, it
gets resolved really quickly. But the common belief in building the
brand of The CW, building the network together, building content
assets that are valuable for both of our companies, far outweighs any
separate vision we might have.

Ms. Tellem: You really can?t underestimate a 20-year friendship.
That?s quite unusual in this business, but, when we?ve kind of grown
up together, whether it be [Warner Bros.?] Barry [Meyer] or Leslie or
Bruce or myself, any issues that do come up really are handled on a
very different level. And so, I do concur with Bruce. I mean, our
priorities are the same, our support of the network, it is totally
consistent. And, you know, there will be differences. But I?ve really
not encountered anything that we haven?t been able to resolve.

TVWeek: Speaking of resolve, what?s the status of the lawsuit you
filed against CBS over financing for ?Two and a Half Men??

Mr. Rosenblum: I think it?s very reasonable to expect that we will
find a lot of common ground to resolve that thing in the relatively
near future.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Warner Bros unhappy with how CW is run
    ... Unhappy over the volume of red ink associated with the network, Warner ... programmed and marketed under the supervision of partner CBS, ... though it is just in its second year), Warner Bros., sources said, is ...
    (rec.arts.tv)
  • Re: Warner Bros unhappy with how CW is run
    ... Unhappy over the volume of red ink associated with the network, Warner ... programmed and marketed under the supervision of partner CBS, ... though it is just in its second year), Warner Bros., sources said, is ...
    (rec.arts.tv)
  • Re: Moonves Kidnaps the CW
    ... The CBS network airs numerous series ... and the CW network, while potentially leading Warner Bros. ... LORELAI: In the movie, only boy hobbits travel to Mount ...
    (rec.arts.tv)
  • "Smackdown Is Expected To Play Role In The Schedule"
    ... The following is the press release issued by CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. ... ENTERTAINMENT FORM NEW 5TH BROADCAST ... Each Company To Hold 50% Interest In The CW Television Network ...
    (rec.sport.pro-wrestling)
  • Re: WB, UPN networks to merge!
    ... CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. ... Entertainment Form New 5th Broadcast ... Each Company to Hold 50% Interest In The CW Television Network ... New Television Network to Utilize the Best Programming from CBS ...
    (rec.arts.tv)
Loading