Michael Eisner Speaks at NATPE

The 'National Association of Television Program Executives, (NATPE) convention took place January 25-27, 2010 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Several key speakers took the stage to speak on everything from social media to TV series budgets. Michael Eisner, who has been the savior of several TV networks and movie studios, spoke on the first day of the convention. Disney studios, Paramount studios and ABC TV network are some of the companies Michael Eisner saved from oblivion.

With the deputy editor of 'Variety,' Cynthia Littleton asking the questions, Eisner responded with his considerable opinion about the future of entertainment. "The future of entertainment is simply...the internet", he said.

After 20 years at Disney, Eisner left in 2005, in part, to work on internet entertainment. His company, 'Vuguru,' has a few shows ready to go. "The Booth" is about a mysterious man who sits in a booth of a cafe dispensing favors to those in need of one. Favors are rarely without strings, and this mystery man's favors come at a steep price.

Michael Eisner talks at NATPE
Photo credit: Terra King

Another web series which originally was showing on MySpace, was cancelled due to MySpace no longer using any licensed products. According to Eisner, “YouTube isn't a great place either. There isn't any way to make money. YouTube has millions of users, but they aren't making money."

The question of making money with a web series seems to be a mystery even to Eisner.  As soon as these series gain more popularity, things like product placement and commercials will be bring in money. Web series advertising will be much cheaper than a network TV show.

Internet based entertainment is already growing in popularity. Michael Eisner quoted these statistics, "75% of entertainment is viewed on TV and the internet, leaving 25% for magazines, newspapers, etc. Of that 75 percent it is split pretty much evenly, approximately 37% each. As time goes by, the internet should over take TV." Eisner also predicted a time when first run series would premiere on the internet and would then re-run on TV.

In another history making move on Eisner's part is the fact that he went to the entertainment unions (AFTRA, SAG, ETC,) and was able to cut a deal to allow actors to work for less money on web series. It usually only takes a few days to film an entire series. So it makes sense to offer less money for internet programming. The series Eisner is going to premiere soon, "The Booth" has several actors from the first season of 24. No names are revealed here.  Wait for the premiere.

The key to making it on the web is to have good content with new, fresh faces. Of course, if the producer can grab a bigger name actor for a series, that is all the better. TV stars are hot right now. Sometime in the future web stars and TV stars may be the same people.