The Amazing Race > The Amazing Race Discussion
The Amazing Race 16 Ratings Thread
Caelestor:
Considering all the foreign travel, TAR may be the most expensive reality show out there (hence why CBS doesn't renew 2 cycles at once). Of course, that's why it trumps a lot of other reality TV. (I prefer to use the show game show competition; don't know why people call it "reality").
An episode of TAR costs maybe $1 million? Still considerably cheaper than NCIS/BBT. The thing that makes "reality TV" cheaper is the lack of writers' salary (see what happened in the last strike!) and building sets. Special effects also don't come cheap!
mswood:
Yeah most hour long scripted shows run between 2 million to 5 plus in budget.
Even the hour longs on the CW cost more to produce.
swimmer12:
so the amazing race is a big money gainer for cbs?
mswood:
No not really.
There are two major factors that effect reality shows versus scripted shows.
Take an hour drama, that costs say 3 million. CBS knows it will not break even during its original broadcast (very few do). They depend on 4 other revenue streams.
1. The one network rerun (ie during Dec, Jan, and Summer). TAR has no reruns. So no extra broadcast to earn more money.
2. DVD sales (and to a much much smaller degree Internet sales. TAR generates very little here, almost all scripted material performs better, and in most cases by millions (and some tens of millions of dollar).
3. Overseas Broadcast, While TAR does get broadcast out of the US/Canada region it doesn't have the same amount of coverage that many shows get. But it is very difficult to gauge how much revenue is generated here, I would say on average less then most comedies or drama.
4. Off network syndication, TAR has been syndicated but on an extremely small scale. Crime shows, octor shows, major comedies can make hundreds of millions (most make tens of millions) a rare few have over a billion in revenue for their studios.
TAR is an above average performer for CBS on its broadcast, but it really has a very limit revenue stream. Cold Case for example will make the studio more money then TAR will (in the long run). Probably a lot more.
Caelestor:
Good numbers for leg 6 due to NCAA overrun: :hearts:
4.0 and 12.4 million viewers!
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