Home / Arts and Entertainment / How NBC Kept ER From CBS & ABC
How NBC Kept ER From CBS & ABC
1 Nov
Summary
- NBC nearly lost the hit show 'ER' to rival networks.
- CBS offered around $12 million per episode for 'ER'.
- NBC paid $13 million per episode to retain 'ER'.
NBC narrowly avoided losing the highly successful medical drama "ER" to competitors CBS and ABC. Warner Bros. Television, the show's producer, sought to renegotiate its licensing deal as "ER" became a massive hit after its 1994 premiere.
By 1998, with "ER" being the top-rated show, NBC found itself in a weak negotiating position. CBS, through former Warner Bros. executive Les Moonves, made a "ridiculous offer" of around $12 million per episode to lure the series. ABC also expressed interest in acquiring the show.
Adding to NBC's pressure was the impending end of its other hit, "Seinfeld." To prevent losing both top-tier programs simultaneously, NBC agreed to pay an escalated $13 million per episode for "ER." This amounted to $286 million annually, consuming over half the show's generated profit.
Former NBC executives acknowledged that the network had only licensed "ER" and faced significantly higher costs once the initial contract concluded. This situation highlighted the cost of not securing a more favorable long-term deal earlier in the show's run.
