7 STUDIO HEADS UNANIMOUSLY PREDICT HOLLYWOOD STRIKE(S)
PASADENA -- TV programmers agreed with network officials that there would be one or more strike on production of programming this spring by one or more Hollywood guild, in presentations to TV critics here. Seven studio heads predicted strike, saying it was “inevitable” and would be “devastating.” If writers and/or actors go out, it would drive viewers away, cause “incalculable” loss of jobs and hurt quality of programming -- with reality shows, as planned by networks as substitute (CD Jan 11 p3) not acceptable alternative, producers said. Strike “seems inevitable because both positions are entrenched,” said Dana Walden of 20th Century Fox.
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“I think a strike would be devastating,” said Peter Roth of Warner Bros. TV: “And the impact is not simply with the number of jobs that would be lost, which is incalculable, and the impact on the economy of Los Angeles, which is devastating. The real impact is on the viewer… A strike drives viewers away from network television at a time when we can least afford it,” many of whom won’t return. He said “all of us must work toward averting a strike at all costs.” Walden used “devastating” twice in talking about impact of strike -- citing Fox employees “who are going to lose their jobs.” Eric Tannenbaum of independent Artists TV Group said strike “especially concerns us… as a new company and the core of our business is to produce scripted series for the prime-time networks… If a strike happens, for us it’s very difficult.”
With current slump in network advertising (CD Jan 16 p9) and “continuing erosion” of network viewers, “this is a terrible moment for a strike,” said David Kissinger of Studios USA. “It really is tremendously self-destructive.” Roth said industry couldn’t afford “additional losses and erosions of audience in a weak marketplace… given the number of choices now available to the viewer.” Thomas Mazza of Columbia TriStar TV said strike predictions were based on previous statements by both sides (CD Jan 9 p11), which “leave a little door of… optimism for the months ahead… So I'd like to think something positive will come out [in negotiations] over the next 6 months.”
Like TV networks, some of programmers told critics they were attempting to prepare for work stoppage by writers and/or actors. “We're trying to take steps… and we've certainly strengthened our efforts as a result of the prospects of a strike,” Walden said, and “we've accelerated” production of 2 new series. Said Roth: “I absolutely do question the qualitative impact of this kind of rushed production.” As for reality programming, Walden said nothing was being done in that area by 20th Century Fox (as opposed to co-owned Fox TV network, which is heavily involved in reality). Kissinger said “we're already beginning to see the [reality] trend burning itself out… and other forms will rise again… Blatant imitation doesn’t get an audience.” Walden said TV was “very much a cyclical business… Good, solid scripted programming will prevail.” Roth said “I think our love is with scripted programming.”
Asked about impact of AOL takeover of Time Warner, WB’s Roth said: “I think it’s great… It represents an enormous opportunity for all of us.” However, independent programmer Tannenbaum said it was “hard to compete against a hundred billion dollars worth of assets [with] that kind of leverage and that kind of resources… it’s mildly terrifying [to compete against]. It’s vertical integration to the most complete degree… On the other hand, I genuinely believe that content is king [and] if you have programming that people want, it will find an outlet.”