The A&E series LONGMIRE has been cancelled. Here in Santa Fe, thats a big topic of discussion because its filmed here (pretending to be Wyoming). After 3 seasons, the ratings were somewhat lower than in the first year, but the drop wasnt huge, something like 4.2 versus 3.8 million viewers (the numbers vary in different reports). For a series, a four-year run is the goal, because thats when enough episodes have accumulated for possibly lucrative syndication. One theory about the cancellation and about the kinds of series that other channels are debuting is that ownership is what the channels want. That way, they get all the syndication fees versus the production company getting the fees. The major networks pretty much switched to this model many years ago. Stephen J. Cannell told me thats why he stopped being a television producer, because the networks wanted to own the concepts he presented to them, giving him only a modest share of the syndication fees (if any). Because A&E doesnt own LONGMIRE, perhaps it didnt feel an incentive to keep airing it as opposed to debuting a series that is its property. Other channels are reported to feel the same way. This matters because the most creative producer/writer/creators might react the way Cannell did and decide that the 18 hour days involved in producing a series arent worth the modest financial return.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 17:15:24 +0000
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