On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 7:43 AM, Jason Carpio <[email protected]> wrote:
> I can't believe I'm saying this, but that's a fair question for him to ask. > > > On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 9:39 AM, Bob in Jersey <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Rupe agrees with Ailes and Carey that the profitability of a CoCo deal >> (over the usual Seinfeld/Family Guy/et al usually seen at 11/10c) >> isn't completely clear: >> >> >> http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/rupert-murdoch-needs-to-be-convinced-conan-obrien-can-make-money-for-fox.html >> > It is a very fair question, and it is not clear what the anwer is. The issues for Fox in starting up with Conan are much different than the issues were for NBC in deciding to get rid of him. But I think it is more complicated than just "can we make a profit with late night Coco in the next year or two?". Fox has to figure out whether they want in to the late night game at all. I am not sure what exactly all the benefits to a network are - presumably more revenue from ads (but is this essentially just taken back from affiliates? Do affiliates then benefit by getting high ad rates for few minutes?). But they also get a chance to promote their own shows, both in breaks during the show, but also be getting more of their A and B and C list stars from Fox programs on as guests (but this may be less valuable to Fox which has a third less programming on weeknights). Maybe there is also some value in just accumulating goodwill and favors with celebrities and studio people (if they put a up and comming starlet or washed up actor on as a guest, the studio or agent might do something for Fox in some way?). If they do want into the late night game, then it is unlikely they will ever have a better window than this September with Coco. The free publiciity and widespread curiosity alone make this fall unique. Moreover, Conan is one of the few human beings on the planet with the demonstrated ability to do a late night talk show (this is undisputed, whether you like how he does it or not, he, like Leno and Dave, have proven they know how to do it). This isn't Pat Sajack or Magic Johnson or Chevy Chase (for each of whom, at the time, there was a theoretically sound basis for thinking they could host a late night show). This is a guy who can do it. Who else would Fox ever have a better shot to do this with? Maybe if Jon Stewart really started jonesing for a broadcast late night talk show and did not want to wait for Dave to die of a heart attack (which is how I think Dave will leave CBS). Maybe if Jimmy Kimmel gets into a fight with The Mouse. But realistically, this is it. It may be that a late night talk show does not make sense for Fox (they also do without a real broadcast news division, or a 10:00 primetime hour, or a morning show). But if they see a late night show in their short to medium term future, then they have to pull the trigger on Coco, even if it means a risk of not turning a profit the first year or two. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
