Buffy to pull up stakes

Hobbes

UPN are the people who brought you 7 Days and ST:Voyager. So expect to see WWF spin offs in Buffy.

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April 23, 2001
Web posted at: 11:25 AM EDT (1525 GMT)

In this story:

Could get 'Angel,' too

About money


HOLLYWOOD, California (Reuters) -- "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" -- the
signature drama of the WB network -- is pulling up stakes and moving to rival
network UPN, Variety reports.

Producer Twentieth Century Fox Television's pact with UPN, which could
ultimately end up with a $150 million price tag, represents the first time in
modern TV history that a hit series has jumped networks solely over economic
issues.

Yet because networks now routinely demand
near-perpetual license agreements for
co-productions with studios, it's unlikely the
"Buffy" move will start a trend.

What the deal does do, however, is deny the WB
its third highest-rated series and the show that
heralded the network's transition from a
family-oriented broadcaster to a home for
high-quality dramas targeted at teen and young
adult women. The WB is a division of AOL Time
Warner, which owns CNN.

Meanwhile, UPN gets a solid ratings performer (particularly with young
females), one of TV's most critically acclaimed hours -- and a chance to shed its
image as the testosterone-powered jockstrap network.

UPN CEO Dean Valentine said the addition of "Buffy" will "make it possible to
launch other quality shows with it. It's a great thing for us."

UPN is expected to receive another boost as early as this week, with Paramount
Network Television set to announce that the next series in the "Star Trek"
franchise, the tentatively titled "Enterprise," will bow on the network in the fall.
While Paramount and UPN are Viacom Inc. siblings, there had been rumblings
that "Enterprise" could end up elsewhere.

Could get 'Angel,' too

As for the "Buffy" deal, UPN has agreed to pay an average of $2.33 million per
episode for the Joss Whedon-produced series as part of a two-year, 44-episode
license agreement that keeps the show on the air through its seventh season.
That puts UPN's cost for "Buffy" at just over $102 million over the life of the
deal, which begins in the fall.

UPN may also end up snagging "Buffy" spinoff "Angel" for two years -- if, as
many expect, the WB decides to cancel the latter series in the wake of its
progenitor's shift to UPN. In that event, UPN has agreed to a two-year pickup
for "Angel," at a slight bump over the show's current license fee of around $1
million.

Add the "Buffy" and "Angel" costs together, and UPN's commitment to 20th
comes out at roughly $150 million. UPN will pay for 44 episodes of both shows
even if a strike delays the start of the 2001-02 season.

There's no guarantee "Buffy" will continue to air 8 p.m. Tuesdays, though the
time slot remains the most likely home for the series.

Dispelling rumblings that he might not be happy about moving, Whedon told
Daily Variety that just the opposite is true. Stung by remarks by WB chief Jamie
Kellner in Entertainment Weekly downplaying "Buffy's" value, Whedon said he
now welcomes a shift to UPN.

"I've been dumped by my fat old ex and Prince Charming has come and swept
me off my feet," Whedon said. "I'm mostly very excited because I now have a
network that cares about my show as opposed to one that insults it."

The WB responded to Whedon's comments with a statement pointing out that it
bought the scripts for "Buffy" when no other network was interested; found a
partner in 20th Century Fox TV; shot two pilots; redeveloped the show; and
gave it a prime slot on the schedule.

About money

The battle for "Buffy" began back in 1999, when Fox Entertainment Television
Group chairman Sandy Grushow, who at the time was head of 20th Century
Fox TV, hinted that the studio might move "Buffy" to sister channel Fox if
Kellner didn't step up with a "fair market value" offer.

Fast forward to January, when Kellner said the WB would not pay more for
"Buffy" than the amount of money the show draws in ad revenue, a figure
pegged at around $1.6 million per episode.

When the WB's exclusive negotiating window expired in early March, 20th TV
chiefs Gary Newman and Dana Walden talked to ABC and NBC about "Buffy";
the networks were interested, but not willing to commit to a two-year deal.

UPN also emerged as a long shot player to snag "Buffy."

Eventually, UPN "made us an aggressive offer that will allow Joss Whedon to
produce the show the way we believe he's earned the right to after five years of
incredible work," Newman said.

Late last week, 20th informed the WB that it had a legitimate offer from another
buyer. On Friday afternoon, the WB officially passed, clearing the way for the
UPN deal.

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