Is Dr. Crabby-pants about to grab that cane, his pain meds and the snarkiest one-liners on television and move to NBC?
Variety reports that negotiations between Fox and NBC Universal (the studio that owns the show) aren't going very well and that a deal to bring House back next season is far from being reached. As is usually the case in most negotiations, money is the primary issue and the two parties are bickering over the percentage each side will pay to run the production.
If negotiations aren't reached by April 15, Fox loses its negotiation exclusivity and NBC Universal can then shop the series around to other networks. The obvious choice would be for NBC Universal to keep the show in the family, but NBC's new president, Bob Greenblatt, is apparently attempting to reinvent the network (again) with a slate of new programming for the fall. However, given NBC's terrible luck with new series over the last few years, they might be smart to pick up a proven winner, even if it's showing signs of wear and tear in the ratings.
It's not often that a show will jump ship and move to another network when negotiations completely break down. Back in 2001, Fox and the WB failed to make a licensing deal for Buffy (one of the network's highest-rated series) and UPN swooped in and grabbed the show for seasons 6 and 7. It just goes to show that a network will indeed let go of a series if the numbers aren't right.
Will Fox give up its most recognizable series? Will NBC pick it up? Will you follow the cranky doc to another network? It should be an interesting week behind the scenes...
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© Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Art Streiber
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