Lost and Heroes seem like two compelling examples of how a vibrant online fanbase can help fuel success on television, but when Carlton Cuse (an executive producer on Lost, pictured center) and Tim Kring (the creator of Heroes, pictured right) spoke at the NewTeeVee Live conference today, they said Hollywood is only warming gradually to these new technologies.
As an example of how things havena4‚¬a4„t changed, the pair pointed to the latest batch of shows debuting on network TV. Most of the shows seemed no different from shows that debuted 10 or 15 years ago, Kring said. Cuse added that the mere fact that all the new shows are debuting within a week of each other feels pretty old-fashioned.
a4‚¬AWea4‚¬a4„re not in 1974 anymore,a4‚¬¯ he said.
Kring said Hollywooda4‚¬a4„s shift to a4‚¬Atransmediaa4‚¬¯ storytelling, where the traditional show is supplemented by online content, has been a4‚¬Ataking much longer than I ever thought.a4‚¬¯ The support that Heroes received for those initiatives may not be possible anymore, he said. At that time, the TV networks knew the audience was fragmenting and they wanted to a4‚¬Afish where the fish are,a4‚¬¯ but it was still experimental and they didna4‚¬a4„t worry about making money from their online efforts. As a result, Kring wasna4‚¬a4„t exactly given a blank check, but he said he did have a4‚¬Aan open field in front of you in terms of what you can do and what you can&'t.a4‚¬¯
Cuse agreed that a4‚¬Awithin the traditional media confines, evolution is slower.a4‚¬¯ As an example, he said that when the Lost team wanted fans to create their own commercials for the show, ABC was hesitant because of the legal implications of allowing fans to manipulate the networka4‚¬a4„s intellectual property. And now, when Cuse pitches new shows with a strong online component, network executives dona4‚¬a4„t seem particularly interested &8212' they just say, a4‚¬AIa4‚¬a4„m sure youa4‚¬a4„ll figure it out.a4‚¬¯
So does that mean forward-thinking producers should circumvent the networks and create their own Web shows That wona4‚¬a4„t work yet, Cuse said. Sure, Hollywood is slow, but the Internet TV audience is only 6 percent of the total TV audience, so therea4‚¬a4„s not enough money available yet to create Web shows that compete with prime-time TV programming.
Still, Cuse and Kring both said their own mindsets have changed. Cuse said a television show producer is now like a a4‚¬Abrand manager.a4‚¬¯ As he develops new shows, hea4‚¬a4„s already thinking a4‚¬Ain a different waya4‚¬¯ about how the experience can go beyond the show itself.
Next Story: Chips for tablets: The silicon land grab is on Previous Story: Elon Musk&'s swing for the skies, SpaceX, scores $50 million
Print Email Twitter Facebook Google Buzz LinkedIn Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Delicious Google More&8230'
Companies: Abc
People: Carlton Cuse, Tim Kring
Companies: Abc
People: Carlton Cuse, Tim Kring
Anthony is VentureBeat's assistant editor, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining VentureBeat in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. (All story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com) You can also follow Anthony on Twitter.
VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters. Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
Comments