Post by George WK Newman on May 27, 2009 9:03:29 GMT -5
The best book out there
"This Business of Television" Howard J. Blumenthal
www.amazon.com/This-Business-Television-Howard-Blumenthal/dp/0823077632/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Much of the info for the game on how the biz works comes from this book. It is like the "textbook" of the tv business. The only thing that could make it better is if it had more monetary examples.
Other Recommended Books to read;
"Desperate Networks" by Bill Carter
www.amazon.com/Desperate-Networks-Starring-Moonves-Hatcher/dp/0385514409
A contemporary insiders look at television networks, lots of insight into the executive suite, new show development and selection, and the finances as well.
"Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of WB and UPN"
by Susanne Daniels
www.amazon.com/Season-Finale-Unexpected-Rise-Fall/dp/0061340995
Daniels worked high up with the WB network, so while fairly even handed it is a bit tainted in the WB favor. It really shows the difficulties in starting a new network or "netlet" (which is what we are simulating and roleplaying). It covers the existence of WB and UPN and their eventual merger. It helps to explain how some awful shows made the air, slim pickings, and how sometimes a direction was found almost accidently (WB going after young female audience). Perfect companion piece to Desperate Networks because it covers the "netlets" while Bill Carter covers the networks.
"Disney War" James B Stewart
www.amazon.com/Disney-War-James-B-Stewart/dp/B000GWBNB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233930049&sr=1-1
As a big fan of Disney I found this book interesting but others will find it very trying at times. It's long and very "chronological" and often dry. But as for this game there is some decent information about Disney's purchase of ABC/ESPN and the running of the networks and branding by Disney in the years that followed. Not nearly as informative for game purposes as the prior 2 books listed.
"The Showrunners...." David Wild
www.amazon.com/Showrunners-Season-Billion-Dollar-Death-Defying-Televisions/dp/0060932023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233930481&sr=1-1
Showrunners are basically the guys running the show, the general manager if you will. This book looks at the 'runners for multiple shows, some which are big hits ("Friends") and some that won't make it far into their first season ("Norm"). The only negative is that it doesnt delve into the financials and it is a bit outdated. Good read though and gives one ideas for things that might go wrong on a show that can be role-playing challenges.
"Billion Dollar Kiss: The Kiss that Saved Dawson's Creek..." Jeffrey Stepakoff
www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Kiss-Dawsons-Adventures-Writing/dp/1592403654/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Just noticed this book but haven't read it yet. Looks interesting.
Websites of Other Games Like This One:
ERA / A TV Biz Sim
chrisreyes2316.proboards81.com/index.cgi
They did a fantastic job of keeping this site going for about 4 years.
ERA TV
eratv.proboards.com/
This is their new site but its still getting going.
Virtual Nets
virtualnets.proboards102.com/index.cgi
This one came from ERA users, getting pretty well used now. If you are interested in running an entire prime time network all by yourself this is the place to go.
Network Six
You might want to google this as I think they are in transition. This was a pretty cool UK based game where players owned regional franchises in the national network. It was also very technical in the "broadcasting" sense, something I have no interest in.
Websites to help producers;
IMDB.com internet movie database
www.imdb.com/
the best place to look up, look for, actors for shows you want to produce. If they have current projects on other networks or cable shows then they will not be available. Has info not just on movies, but also TV shows.
Websites to help News producers;
Vanderbilt Television News Archives
openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/
Gives a well organized summary of what stories appeared on Network news from 1968 until present day.
Today in History
www.brainyhistory.com/
Might help with story ideas for follow-up on the nightly news or news magazine shows.
Websites to help Marketing:
The Generator Blog
generatorblog.blogspot.com/
Oh, I'm sure whomever does the marketing will know how to use photoshop and such, but for a tecno-idiot like me this site was a blessing. It helped me come up with some marketing visuals.
Websites to help Sales:
Ad Age TV Rate Chart from 2006-07
adage.com/images/random/tvchart06.pdf
Shows what 30 second spots were selling for.
ER would fetch about $6.7 million in ad revenue per show, compare that to the floated out number of $4-5 million license fee per episode and you see the kind of spread that is required.
Ad Rates from 1998
www.geocities.com/hollywood/bungalow/5014/adrates.html
See how they have grown.
"This Business of Television" Howard J. Blumenthal
www.amazon.com/This-Business-Television-Howard-Blumenthal/dp/0823077632/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Much of the info for the game on how the biz works comes from this book. It is like the "textbook" of the tv business. The only thing that could make it better is if it had more monetary examples.
Other Recommended Books to read;
"Desperate Networks" by Bill Carter
www.amazon.com/Desperate-Networks-Starring-Moonves-Hatcher/dp/0385514409
A contemporary insiders look at television networks, lots of insight into the executive suite, new show development and selection, and the finances as well.
"Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of WB and UPN"
by Susanne Daniels
www.amazon.com/Season-Finale-Unexpected-Rise-Fall/dp/0061340995
Daniels worked high up with the WB network, so while fairly even handed it is a bit tainted in the WB favor. It really shows the difficulties in starting a new network or "netlet" (which is what we are simulating and roleplaying). It covers the existence of WB and UPN and their eventual merger. It helps to explain how some awful shows made the air, slim pickings, and how sometimes a direction was found almost accidently (WB going after young female audience). Perfect companion piece to Desperate Networks because it covers the "netlets" while Bill Carter covers the networks.
"Disney War" James B Stewart
www.amazon.com/Disney-War-James-B-Stewart/dp/B000GWBNB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233930049&sr=1-1
As a big fan of Disney I found this book interesting but others will find it very trying at times. It's long and very "chronological" and often dry. But as for this game there is some decent information about Disney's purchase of ABC/ESPN and the running of the networks and branding by Disney in the years that followed. Not nearly as informative for game purposes as the prior 2 books listed.
"The Showrunners...." David Wild
www.amazon.com/Showrunners-Season-Billion-Dollar-Death-Defying-Televisions/dp/0060932023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233930481&sr=1-1
Showrunners are basically the guys running the show, the general manager if you will. This book looks at the 'runners for multiple shows, some which are big hits ("Friends") and some that won't make it far into their first season ("Norm"). The only negative is that it doesnt delve into the financials and it is a bit outdated. Good read though and gives one ideas for things that might go wrong on a show that can be role-playing challenges.
"Billion Dollar Kiss: The Kiss that Saved Dawson's Creek..." Jeffrey Stepakoff
www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Kiss-Dawsons-Adventures-Writing/dp/1592403654/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Just noticed this book but haven't read it yet. Looks interesting.
Websites of Other Games Like This One:
ERA / A TV Biz Sim
chrisreyes2316.proboards81.com/index.cgi
They did a fantastic job of keeping this site going for about 4 years.
ERA TV
eratv.proboards.com/
This is their new site but its still getting going.
Virtual Nets
virtualnets.proboards102.com/index.cgi
This one came from ERA users, getting pretty well used now. If you are interested in running an entire prime time network all by yourself this is the place to go.
Network Six
You might want to google this as I think they are in transition. This was a pretty cool UK based game where players owned regional franchises in the national network. It was also very technical in the "broadcasting" sense, something I have no interest in.
Websites to help producers;
IMDB.com internet movie database
www.imdb.com/
the best place to look up, look for, actors for shows you want to produce. If they have current projects on other networks or cable shows then they will not be available. Has info not just on movies, but also TV shows.
Websites to help News producers;
Vanderbilt Television News Archives
openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/
Gives a well organized summary of what stories appeared on Network news from 1968 until present day.
Today in History
www.brainyhistory.com/
Might help with story ideas for follow-up on the nightly news or news magazine shows.
Websites to help Marketing:
The Generator Blog
generatorblog.blogspot.com/
Oh, I'm sure whomever does the marketing will know how to use photoshop and such, but for a tecno-idiot like me this site was a blessing. It helped me come up with some marketing visuals.
Websites to help Sales:
Ad Age TV Rate Chart from 2006-07
adage.com/images/random/tvchart06.pdf
Shows what 30 second spots were selling for.
ER would fetch about $6.7 million in ad revenue per show, compare that to the floated out number of $4-5 million license fee per episode and you see the kind of spread that is required.
Ad Rates from 1998
www.geocities.com/hollywood/bungalow/5014/adrates.html
See how they have grown.