TCA: “New Fox” Will Be All About the Indies

amp8220As you know last week shareholders approved the transaction between Fox and Disneyamp8221 Walden continuedamp160 amp8220Unfortunately we39re limited in what we can say because the approval process is still ongoing and some things have yet to be resolved including the management structure at both companiesamp160 The last time we met was just two weeks after the deal was announced and we inspired a new drinking game called Business as Usualamp160 You will not hear us use that phrase today because we39ve been planning for the split between the network and the studio and setting up the direction for both companiesamp160 Upon closing the studio will move to Disney along with other Fox assetsamp160 But we are here today to talk about the networkamp8221Walden went on the reiterate that once the Disney deal is completed the Fox network which will likely have a new name will be amp8220a more focused media companyamp8221amp160 It currently has the working title New Foxamp8220I think there was some confusion going back to the initial announcement of the deal where I believe Rupert Murdoch said that New Fox would be 80 percent live and he was talking about the entire media organization which is Fox News Fox Sports and the station group which all feature largely live programmingamp160 The broadcast network will continue to have the same mix it39s had beforeamp160 And while we have Thursday Night Football this year which is a new edition that39s 11 weeks of the fallamp160 And then going into next season WWE will occupy Friday nightamp160 There39s still so much to programamp160 We don39t have a schedule like the one we used to have where there was one show in a time period and then for a certain period of time you repeated that showamp160 We39re launching shows all season longamp160 There39s plenty of opportunity for great entertainment shows and I don39t anticipate the mix to changeamp8221amp8220In the past Thursday Night Football has had an odd programming schedule with shows being split between two broadcast networks and also on the NFL network and I think having just one broadcast network focused on it is an opportunity for Fox to really communicate with the audience and make it as much of an appointment as Sunday football has beenquot Newman notedamp160 quotWe39re going to be using many of the same people from the beloved Sunday football broadcast on Thursday night and so we have really high hopes for growth in Thursday Night Footballamp8221amp160On the subject of original series programming Walden said amp8220First and foremost New Fox will be the only network to operate with complete independenceamp160 It will have the ability to pick up the best shows from any production company with no studio agendaamp160 We see this as a great opportunity to get vibrant independent studios back on broadcastamp160 amp8220Indies have gotten the squeezeamp160 Five years ago they landed 16 new series on the major networksamp160 This year that number is just 6amp160 Not good for them or the creative vitality of the businessamp160 At New Fox they39ll have more opportunity because the independents will be on a completely even playing fieldamp160 I39m talking about companies like Sony MGM Lionsgate and Warnersamp160 They39ve invested in major talent and have great IPamp160 We want to be their first choice among the big four networksamp160 The truth is hits can come from anywhere and in fact they already doamp8221The season39s toprated series on ABC CBS and NBC were Roseanne The Big Bang Theory and This Is Us Walden noted adding that they were all produced by indies and outside studiosamp160 amp8220New Fox will be an aggressive buyer from all studios and top creatorsamp8221 she saidamp160 amp8220Last season 90 percent of our development came from our own studioamp160 In this transition year we39ll be reducing that to 50 percent with the other half coming from outsideamp160 Our longterm goal is a wellrounded schedule with projects coming from everywhereamp8221After a question about how New Fox will cover the license fees of shows given the ongoing decline in ratings for broadcast network series Walden replied amp8220New Fox will have a coownership stake in anything that39s ordered going forward on the networkamp160 That39s just commonplace in our business right nowamp160 Space on a network schedule is incredibly valuableamp160 I think the shows that are wholly owned by a studio which is not affiliated with a network are typically the older juggernauts that we39ve been talking about here and decisions to keep those shows going has very much to do with keeping circulation on the networksamp160 Again keeping quality shows that have helped to define a network39s brand aliveamp160 There are a lot of reasons aside from financial that you would keep those shows moving forwardamp8221The primary juggernaut at Current Fox of course is The Simpsonsamp160 One reporter pointed out that the deal at Current Fox for that show has to be enormously expensiveamp160 amp8220Itamp8217s been on longer than some people in this room have been aliveamp8221 the reporter noted to giggles and groans from the TCA membershipamp160 Will a show as costly as The Simpsons remain on New Fox once its current deal expiresamp160 amp160amp160amp8220The Simpsons is so much a part of the brandamp8221 Walden repliedamp160 The proof is in the photo above characters from the show still stroll about between panels at Fox TCA sessionsamp160amp160amp8220There39s been such an incredible halo effect of that show and the other animated series that are on our Sunday nightamp160 There are no plans for them to go anywhere other than Foxamp160 We have a couple years of episodes already in progress on The Simpsonsamp160 Down the line what kind of decision is made I can39t really speak toamp160 But for the foreseeable future there39s so much upside and benefit to having a great Emmy Awardwinning smart provocative quality show that there39s no consideration of not ordering more Simpsonsamp8221amp8220Look there is no difference between The Simpsons on Fox and The Big Bang Theory on CBSamp8221 Newman addedamp160 amp8220As long as we39ve all been in the business networks have licensed shows they don39t have ownership ofamp160 It is challenging and I anticipate it will be challenging on The Simpsons but as Dana said The Simpsons is so associated with Fox and that association benefits both the network and the owner of the IPamp160 The Simpsons generates lots of revenue and opportunities off network through consumer products and otherwise and I feel confident that Disney and Fox are going to find a way to both have an interest in that show and I anticipate it continuing to stay on the Fox networkamp8221Click on the social media tiles above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively those of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggersamp160amp160amp160

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TCA: “New Fox” Will Be All About the Indies

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TCA: “New Fox” Will Be All About the Indies

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