Bad economy leads to odd pickups

October 26, 2008 Industry observers say the recent cluster of low-rated shows granted full-season orders might have something to do with network executives watching the plunging Dow rather than their shows' falling Nielsens. No execs would talk on the record, but the economic crisis, combined with the cost of marketing a new series, the lack of new programming inventory because of the WGA strike and the anticipated difficulty of locking down new advertiser commitments, has networks inclined to play it safe. "Most years there would be more cancellations than there have been to date," said John Rash, senior vp/director of media negotiations at Campbell Mithun.

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