Major impact of the strike

[arnoldevns]

If this strike is prolonged - and I mean like the 22 week strike in the 80s - there could be some major long-lasting implications from it that the writers and producers will never recover from.

1. Shift in viewership: fairly soon people are going to tire of the late night reruns and they'll start to sample other things. Nightline will do well in this environment as will shows like TMZ, Access Hollywood, etc that air opposite the talk shows in many markets. Some people will find something else to do instead of watching TV. The longer the strike goes the harder it will be for the late night shows to win them back.

2. A social commentary void: thing said on the Daily Show, Leno, and Letterman are often repeated many times the next day. They can shape our perception of our leaders and politicians too. That commentary is missing right now. As we approach the 2008 presidential election season, the politicians right now have little to worry about from comedians poking fun at them. How much difference does that make in the election? Not much. But it's some difference - and a difference that will be gone unless the strike is solved soon.

 

[azumanga]

Shift in viewership: fairly soon people are going to tire of the late night reruns and they'll start to sample other things... The longer the strike goes the harder it will be for the late night shows to win them back.

Back in 1988, was Carson and Letterman on NBC in wall-to-wall reruns during the strike?

 

[arnoldevns]

Shift in viewership: fairly soon people are going to tire of the late night reruns and they'll start to sample other things... The longer the strike goes the harder it will be for the late night shows to win them back.

Back in 1988, was Carson and Letterman on NBC in wall-to-wall reruns during the strike?

I believe so. However, at the time there was little competition for late night viewing. That's not the case these days.

A bigger problem that could be faced by the writers and producers is the fact that some of these reality shows that the nets will put on in place of scripted dramas and comedies could take off and be very hard to replace on the fall schedule.

 

[BlueWanderer]

Here's something else to think about, how will the future dvd market will be affected?

I think once all of this is over, future dvd releases will be much more expensive than before due to "passing the costs" to the consumers.

 

[Skynet74]

NBC plans on taping the Tonight show again starting November 19th with guest hosts since Leno refuses to cross The Picket line. This could get very interesting.

 

[azumanga]

NBC plans on taping the Tonight show again starting November 19th with guest hosts since Leno refuses to cross The Picket line. This could get very interesting.

Interesting indeed -- where did you get that info? And do the other late-night shows have other contingency plans besides reruns?

 

[Skynet74]

NBC plans on taping the Tonight show again starting November 19th with guest hosts since Leno refuses to cross The Picket line. This could get very interesting.

Interesting indeed -- where did you get that info? And do the other late-night shows have other contingency plans besides reruns?

I read it online somewhere yesterday. It seemed to be a reptable source. I only wish that I could remember where. I think I could probably find it again. I'll go look and come back with the info if I can locate it.

 

[Skynet74]

Ok I located The Tonight show info: It can be found at the following link which has extensive Strike coverage News. Right now the info is at the bottom of their front page. if you don't see it then go to the next page because it will probably eventually get pushed off the front page as new stories are posted. http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com


Tonight Show Returns With Guest Hosts After Leno's Nonwriting Staff Laid Off
A news report says NBC informed the nonwriting staff of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that they will be laid off at the end of next week in the wake of the show shutting down for the writers’ strike. Leno is still refusing to cross the picket line, but the network is talking about bringing the show back on the air Nov. 19 with a bunch of guest hosts.

 

[TexasTom]

I think once all of this is over, future dvd releases will be much more expensive than before due to "passing the costs" to the consumers.

The difference in DVD costs will be neglible -- writers are asking for an increase from 4 cents to 8 cents per DVD. Assuming that the two sides "compromise" at the halfway point, that would suggest a final cost of 6 cents, which is a whopping 2 cent increase. Assuming that is per episode, a season set DVD with 24 episodes would end up costing an extra 48 cents in royalties, which might translate to a price increase of $1 at retail (assuming that it doesn't just come out of the profit margin).