Product Placement and the WGA Strike – Where Will The Money Flow

If content is truly king, then advertisers will certainly be looking elsewhere to spend their marketing dollars.  At a time when the networks are already losing viewers to cable, DVDs and the Internet, the WGA strike is forcing viewers to look elsewhere for content and the fear is that many viewers may never come back.

But the networks are not willing to give up that easily.  As expected, shows that are scripted daily (David Letterman, Colbert Report, etc.) are immediately going to reruns, but according to TVtracker.com it appears as the networks have been preparing for the strike by increasing the number of pilot and series orders.

With additional content, the networks will be able to continue the flow of advertising – at least thru January 2008.

The following is a network-by-network roundup of broadcast scripted pilot and series orders so far. Also included are previously announced alternative series orders and midseason replacement series.

ABC shows not yet aired this season:

• ACCORDING TO JIM (comedy)
• CASHMERE MAFIA (drama)
• DANCE WAR: BRUNO VS. CARRIE ANN (alt)
• DUEL (alt)
• ELI STONE (drama)
• SUPERNANNY (alt)
• WIFE SWAP (alt)
• LOST (drama)
• MISS/GUIDED (comedy)
• OPRAH’S BIG GIVE (alt)
• WANNA BET (alt)

CBS shows not yet aired this season:

• AMAZING RACE 12 (alt)
• THE CAPTAIN (comedy)
• JERICHO (drama)
• JINGLES (alt)
• MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD (alt)
• THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (comedy)
• SURVIVOR 16 (alt)
• SWINGTOWN (drama)

The CW shows not yet aired this season:

• CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS (alt)
• EIGHT DAYS A WEEK (comedy)
• FARMER WANTS A WIFE (alt)
• ONE TREE HILL (drama)
• PUSSYCAT DOLLS PRESENT: THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT DOLL 2 (alt)

FOX shows not yet aired this season:

• 24 (drama)
• AMERICAN IDOL 7 (alt)
• CANTERBURY’S LAW (drama)
• HELL’S KITCHEN 4 (alt)
• KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 2 (alt)
• NEW AMSTERDAM (drama)
• NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (alt)
• RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES, THE (comedy)
• TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (drama)
• UNHITCHED (comedy)

NBC shows not yet aired this season:

• 1 VS 100 (alt)
• AMERICAN GLADIATORS (alt)
• AMNESIA (alt)
• THE APPRENTICE 7 (alt)
• CLASH OF THE CHOIRS (alt)
• IT CROWD (comedy)
• MY DAD IS BETTER THAN YOUR DAD (alt)
• WORLD MOVES (alt)