MOLI VIEW™

A few years ago, television networks asked newspapers, TV Guide, and other providers of scheduling information to stop listing reruns, which they had been marking by putting an "(R)" next to the show's title. Instead — incredibly — they wanted listings to note NEW programs, which publications now do with a — you guessed it — "(N)." Check your newspaper's listings or most online TV schedules, if you don't believe me. In this age of recycling and repurposing, reruns are the norm and new shows are oddities.

In a few months, reruns and recycled content may soon be even more common.

Right now, film and television studios are stockpiling scripts, producing extra episodes of series, and rushing new films into production because contracts with the two major writers' unions will soon expire. It seems that the writers would like a share of the new revenue streams and profits due to DVD sales, downloads, and other "emerging technologies." Imagine that!

Many writers feel that the unions failed to take a tough stance the last time they negotiated their agreement with the studios, and if they don't grab their piece of the pie now, fuggedaboutit. The studios, not surprisingly, think otherwise, so a strike is considered inevitable.

But with the multitude of TV channels and other content-hungry venues that must be provided with programming no matter what, the show must go on, whether it's old, new, or recycled. So if soon, practically everything you're watching seems really familiar, you'll know why.
Richard Pachter is The MOLI View's contributing editor for Business.

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