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Could Breaking Bad Move to Another Network?
Negotiations between AMC and Sony over Season 5 get problematic.
August 1, 2011 August 2, 2011 August 2, 2011
There's a feeling of deja vu present, as the The LA Times reports that negotiations between Sony and AMC about the future of Breaking Bad are not going well.
The Times reports that Sony, who produce the show, have in fact sent feelers to at least three other cable networks to discuss the potential for picking Breaking Bad up, should a deal for Season 5 fall apart completely with AMC.
Reportedly, Season 5 is going to likely be the final one for Breaking Bad, and the Times says discussions "grew heated" when AMC tried to convince creator Vince Gilligan and the show's producers that they do a final season that ran just six to eight episodes, instead of the typical thirteen. The producers rejected this, which lead to the possibility of Breaking Bad moving opening up.
The Times says AMC is looking to cut costs on Breaking Bad, on the heels of working to do so on just about all their series. The Walking Dead is having its budget cut by $250,000 an episode, which some say is a contributing factor to Frank Darabont's abrupt departure as showrunner last week – though the Times say that sources close to AMC deny this.
Earlier this year, there were prolonged negotiations for Mad Men, that eventually resulted in a two-year deal and creator Matt Weiner staying on with the series – though the Times says Weiner's increased salary may have led to them looking to trim elsewhere and Breaking Bad, like all series a few years in, is at the point where producer and actor salaries only get higher.
The scenario with AMC asking for a shortened final season for Breaking Bad is very similar to what apparently happened with Deadwood and the impasse that led to the show ending without being properly wrapped up. In this case, there seems to be more potential for another cable channel to save Breaking Bad, though the Times say one artistic issue would be whoever picked up the series would likely only agree to do so if they got more than one season – meaning the show would then have to stretch its story longer than originally intended.
Could Breaking Bad Move to Another Network?
Negotiations between AMC and Sony over Season 5 get problematic.
August 1, 2011 August 2, 2011 August 2, 2011
There's a feeling of deja vu present, as the The LA Times reports that negotiations between Sony and AMC about the future of Breaking Bad are not going well.
The Times reports that Sony, who produce the show, have in fact sent feelers to at least three other cable networks to discuss the potential for picking Breaking Bad up, should a deal for Season 5 fall apart completely with AMC.
Reportedly, Season 5 is going to likely be the final one for Breaking Bad, and the Times says discussions "grew heated" when AMC tried to convince creator Vince Gilligan and the show's producers that they do a final season that ran just six to eight episodes, instead of the typical thirteen. The producers rejected this, which lead to the possibility of Breaking Bad moving opening up.
The Times says AMC is looking to cut costs on Breaking Bad, on the heels of working to do so on just about all their series. The Walking Dead is having its budget cut by $250,000 an episode, which some say is a contributing factor to Frank Darabont's abrupt departure as showrunner last week – though the Times say that sources close to AMC deny this.
Earlier this year, there were prolonged negotiations for Mad Men, that eventually resulted in a two-year deal and creator Matt Weiner staying on with the series – though the Times says Weiner's increased salary may have led to them looking to trim elsewhere and Breaking Bad, like all series a few years in, is at the point where producer and actor salaries only get higher.
The scenario with AMC asking for a shortened final season for Breaking Bad is very similar to what apparently happened with Deadwood and the impasse that led to the show ending without being properly wrapped up. In this case, there seems to be more potential for another cable channel to save Breaking Bad, though the Times say one artistic issue would be whoever picked up the series would likely only agree to do so if they got more than one season – meaning the show would then have to stretch its story longer than originally intended.
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