Submitted by Unknown on 2002-12-04
Buffy's Not Cheap

Source: Futon Critic

Believe it or not but "Buffy" is actually one of the most expensive series on television from a license fee standpoint. UPN pays "Buffy's" distributor $2.35 million per episode for the series. That's more than NBC pays for "The West Wing" ($1.6 million), "Just Shoot Me" ($2.0 million) and just $150,000 less per episode than it pays for "Law & Order" this season. That's an astounding feat, and one that lead many (including us) to wonder why UPN plunked down that kind of cash....

Read on for the full article! (no spoilers)

Even at its maximum ad threshold, UPN would still end up eating almost $300,000 per episode no matter how well the show performed. The plan then was to use "Buffy" to earn the network credibility and help launch other series which would help make back the cost of getting the show. It certainly did the former but the latter certainly hasn't happened. And while that's not really "Buffy's" fault (it can't really help that "Haunted" and "Roswell" were failures) it does however paint the ugly picture of the ends starting to not justify the means.

This season "Buffy" has taken the surprising backseat to UPN's comedies as both "Girlfriends" and sophomore series "One on One" have slingshoted past the drama in the ratings. Furthermore UPN's comedies are the only series on its schedule to post significant gains from last season. That change certainly puts "Buffy" (which is experiencing some of its worst numbers in years) in an odd position. And while "One on One" and "Girlfriends" combined pull in about $500,000 less than "Buffy" in ad revenue, their contribution is profit whereas "Buffy," even in its heyday was always a loss. That precarious position will no doubt come into play when UPN looks at sticking with the show. Certainly however there are other significant factors at play - most noteably the involvement (or not) of star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Depending on how the producers work out how (or even if) they want the show to continue the license fee obviously will be renegotiated. Obviously if Gellar does not return UPN is in a position to push down the license fee and put more profit into the hands of the network.


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