On the Line with Jeff Gaspin - Part 2

NBC's been covered heavily of late on the entertainment business beat, as reporters and industry insiders evaluate and speculate on everything from The Jay Leno Show to the potential sale of NBCU to Comcast.  In an email interview with Jeff Gaspin, the Chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, talks about his rise to the top, Leno, the evolution of broadcast television, and more...

On the Line with Jeff Gaspin, Part 2: “If we get the programming right, everything else will fall into place.”

TL:  In your opinion, what can be done to help “fix” the broken or out-of-date broadcast television business model? 

JG: There is no doubt that DVR’s and the streaming of programming on the Internet are affecting the television industry on many levels, both for broadcast and cable television alike. Cable has its dual-revenue stream business model, in that its both subscriber and advertiser supported. Broadcast TV, networks like NBC, ABC and CBS, do not currently get subscription fees, just revenue from advertising.  So the model is definitely challenged.  At NBC, we are now focused on bringing the network back to its rightful place, with quality programming that will deliver large audiences that advertisers will support. And I truly believe if we get the programming right, everything else will fall into place.  

TL:  How can broadcast television save itself from seeing the kind of problems newspapers now face?

JG: I don’t pretend to have the answers to what is plaguing media, whether it’s TV or newspapers. The bottom line is consumers, especially the younger generation, are now getting their media in new ways, many via the Internet. We just saw the latest newspaper figures come out last month, the nation’s top dailies are losing thousands of readers each year. We have to be mindful of this shift and we at NBC Universal are exploring a variety of new platforms including utilizing NBC.com and Hulu. And our digital studio is now producing fully-sponsored programming that only lives on-line.

TL:  In 5-10 years, do you see broadcast television in general remaining a strong competitor in the world of scripted programming, or do you see the cable outfits leading in that category?

JG: The answer is both. We now have a broadcast studio and a cable studio at NBC Universal. The broadcast studio produces a lot of the programming you see on NBC, but also produces programming for other networks such as Fox, with shows like “House.” And at NBC, we are developing a lot of new scripted fare right now, both on the comedy and drama side.  

Our cable studio is just getting started and it’s developing and producing programming for our cable networks such as USA Network and Syfy. USA Network, which is the top-rated basic cable network, just launched yet another strong scripted series in “White Collar.” The series’ debut attracted more than 5 million viewers and topped some of the broadcast competition that night. I believe long-term, both cable and broadcast will be developing scripted fare for many years to come.

TL:  As you mentioned in an interview with “The Wrap,” NBC is “no longer programming to margin.”  What has been the impetus for this shift in philosophy?

JG:  Our goal is to put the best possible programs on the air, period. We are looking to produce good shows and do it economically.  That has always been our philosophy.

TL:  What would you say to people on the production side of the industry who have voiced concerns that the “Jay Leno Show” has not only reduced the number of available jobs now (and for at least through the duration of Mr. Leno’s current contract) but could also potentially result in further reduction of employment opportunities should other networks follow suit.

JG: We heard similar concerns when un-scripted, reality shows first took off on the broadcast networks 10-plus years ago.  There are so many opportunities for un-scripted shows right now, more than ever, with the explosion of original content at the basic cable level and also with pay cable networks. NBC is developing the same amount of scripted programming as we were prior to the launch of Jay’s show and the network is now working under a year-round programming model.  And on top of that, our cable networks like USA, Syfy and others are producing more original scripted programming than ever.

TL:  In your opinion, is it likely other networks will make an effort to mirror that format?

JG: Time will tell.  I wouldn’t be surprised though.