Ah, pity the poor television network. It wants to kill a show, and the Internet keeps bringing it back:
Just a few years ago, a syndication sale for a modest performer like “Community” would have been unthinkable. Only the most popular and durable network comedies, such as“Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory,” which this season are each drawing more than 15 million viewers an episode, were a lock for syndication, the corner of the business where the big money is made. In the past, TV executives would have to wait until a series made it to a fourth season — putting it close to the magic number of 100 episodes — before gearing up their syndication pitches to TV station groups and cable channels hungry for network reruns.
But earlier this month, the online video service Hulu announced that it was acquiring the Internet rights to “Community,” which is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and NBCUniversal. The cable channel Comedy Central, owned by Viacom Inc., also has been in talks to license reruns of “Community.” That syndication deal, if consummated, could convince NBC to bring back the show, which costs about $2 million an episode to produce, for a fourth season.
“‘Community’ has not been a wild ratings success, but it is a show that people really love and they tell 10 other people about it,” said Andy Forssell, Hulu’s senior vice president for content acquisition. “It is a good fit for online audiences, and in today’s digital and aggregated universe, shows like that can survive and thrive.”
In a few years, we won’t even need TV networks like ABC, NBC and CBS. We don’t need them NOW. All they do is add an extra level of bureaucracy. Sites like Hulu and Netflix can buy shows directly. Hell, Sony Pictures could put this show on it’s OWN Website, bypassing tghird parties entirely.
The lines between the Internet and television are blurring. Soon, there won’t be any line.
