Attn: JMS, re: B5 and DS9.
Kevin L Curtis
Would you please post the following message for me,
Thanks!
--
Jms at B5 wrote:
> >Why did you not stand up
> >for yourself and protect your rights and property?
>
> I could not do so; once the contracts were signed for B5, WB owned B5 lock,
> stock and copyright.
Since WB owns B5 lock, stock, & copyright (barrel)...
why doesn't WB put it on their own network? They could teach UPN
what good quality shows can do for the bottom line. And they have
a vast worldwide network of B5 fans to draw from.
--
"Nothing is a waste of time, if you use the experience wisely." -Rodin
Jms at B5
>why doesn't WB put it on their own network? They could teach UPN
>what good quality shows can do for the bottom line. And they have
>a vast worldwide network of B5 fans to draw from.
You have to understand WB's corporate structure. It is not really one company;
it is a series of mini-kingdoms who are all supposed to be competing with each
other to make their division the most profitable. (It was actually *designed*
in this dysfunctional fashion, believe it or not, because the then-head of the
studio, now gone, thought it was a Good Idea, that it would spur
competitiveness.)
Result is...one division would slit its own wrist before it would do anything
to help another division. Also the WB network has its own development slate,
and they want to control what they develop for their audience, so they would
not take a creative fait accompli.
jms
(jms...@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com
Diane K De
>Date: 5/13/99 1:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time
>
>> Since WB owns B5 lock, stock, & copyright (barrel)...
>>why doesn't WB put it on their own network? They could teach UPN
>>what good quality shows can do for the bottom line. And they have
>>a vast worldwide network of B5 fans to draw from.
>
>You have to understand WB's corporate structure. It is not really one
>company;
>it is a series of mini-kingdoms who are all supposed to be competing with
>each
>other to make their division the most profitable. (It was actually
>*designed*
>in this dysfunctional fashion, believe it or not, because the then-head of
>the
>studio, now gone, thought it was a Good Idea, that it would spur
>competitiveness.)
>
I just read a profile of Les Moonves, who is now head of CBS. It said that he
headed Warner Brothers TV until around 1995. It made me wonder what contact he
had with B5's development. Now, it makes me wonder if he was the architect of
the structure you mention.
The article also said that when he left, WB had more series on air than they
had in their history since.
(the article is on the mediaweek.com website to anyone who wants to know about
the network executive side)
>Result is...one division would slit its own wrist before it would do
>anything
>to help another division. Also the WB network has its own development slate,
>and they want to control what they develop for their audience, so they would
>not take a creative fait accompli.
>
> jms
>
>(jms...@aol.com)
>B5 Official Fan Club at:
>http://www.thestation.com
>
And, specifically, most of their pilots are designed to appeal to teenagers and
young people. If you don't have a teenager in your show, you won't get much
attention from the WB Network. And the more teenagers, the better.
DD
Scott Johnson
: You have to understand WB's corporate structure. It is not really one company
: it is a series of mini-kingdoms who are all supposed to be competing with each
: other to make their division the most profitable. (It was actually *designed*
: in this dysfunctional fashion, believe it or not, because the then-head of the
: studio, now gone, thought it was a Good Idea, that it would spur
: competitiveness.)
Interesting... This is exactly how General Motors is structured, or at
least was up until about 5 years ago. I understand they are trying to
move away from that now, because of the duplication of effort and the
inefficiency of this type of organization. In fact, I've heard several
people blame this at least partially for their terrible losses in the
early 90's.
--
Scott Johnson sco...@eecs.umich.edu
Dept. of EECS, Univ. of Michigan http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~scottdj
(734) 763-5363
Finger for PGP public key.
Steve Brinich
> You have to understand WB's corporate structure. It is not really
> one company; it is a series of mini-kingdoms who are all supposed
> to be competing with each other to make their division the most
> profitable. (It was actually *designed* in this dysfunctional
> fashion, believe it or not, because the then-head of the studio,
> now gone, thought it was a Good Idea, that it would spur
> competitiveness.)
This sounds like a Dilbert cartoon. I'm not speaking figuratively -- I
distinctly remember one in which the pointy-haired boss is explaining the
new internal reorganization into mutually competitive "Battling Business
Units", concluded by a warning not to "hack off the janitorial BBU".
That explains a great deal.
--
Steve Brinich <ste...@Radix.Net> If the government wants us
http://www.Radix.Net/~steveb to respect the law
89B992BBE67F7B2F64FDF2EA14374C3E it should set a better example
Bill Newkirk
several groups complete for getting their products to market - only a few
will be chosen...
Jms at B5 wrote in message <19990513011652...@ng22.aol.com>...
>> Since WB owns B5 lock, stock, & copyright (barrel)...
>>why doesn't WB put it on their own network? They could teach UPN
>>what good quality shows can do for the bottom line. And they have
>>a vast worldwide network of B5 fans to draw from.
>
>You have to understand WB's corporate structure. It is not really one
company;
>it is a series of mini-kingdoms who are all supposed to be competing with
each
>other to make their division the most profitable. (It was actually
*designed*
>in this dysfunctional fashion, believe it or not, because the then-head of
the
>studio, now gone, thought it was a Good Idea, that it would spur
>competitiveness.)
>
John W Kennedy
> And, specifically, most of their pilots are designed to appeal to teenagers and
> young people. If you don't have a teenager in your show, you won't get much
> attention from the WB Network. And the more teenagers, the better.
Judging from recent history (such as the cancellation of "Another World"
in favor of the lower-rated "Sunset Beach"), this seems to be the way
the industry is going. "Good demographics" no longer mean "audiences
with plenty of disposable income", but "audiences who are gullible".
Looks like we can look forward to more tabloid "news", smut-coms , fake
sports and moron-cult shows on commercial TV, all sponsored
get-rich-quick schemes, psychics, and magic potions to cure cancer.
--
-John W. Kennedy
-rri...@ibm.net
Compact is becoming contract
Man only earns and pays. -- Charles Williams