Theres a trickle-down effect.
I think its about time i step up and talk about how bad its gotten in Hollywood.
Its not just producers and other below the line workers that are suffering.
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AsDeadline laid out, theres a full-scale depression among unemployed executives, as well.
Caligiuri says that he doesnt want this to become an us-versus-them issue because everyone is struggling.
There is massive empathy [from executives].
People working across the unscripted business are down, depressed and scared, according to one senior agent.
Another said that its tough for small and mid-sized producers to compete with bigger companies with financial muscle.
The top half of my roster is doing fine.
Others believe that its the natural progression of the sector TV Darwinism as described by one producer.
The sectors too fat, there are more producers pitching shows than the system can support.
This is literally TV Darwinism, it is survival of the best positioned, he said.
If you think about the business as a whole, its severely diminished.
Weve been through an explosive 15-year content bubble.
Theres going to have to be air let out of the balloon, the market just cant support it.
For instance, cable networks that used to hand out 16-episode orders are now buying eight episodes.
Eight weeks of pre-production has turned into four and ten weeks of editing has become seven.
What seemed crazy is now the norm, said Hobin.
Theres also been a significant reduction in the cable television business.
Cable networks that used to order hundreds of hours of originals are also no longer doing so.
The NBCUniversal cable stations, Paramount networks including MTV and Comedy Central, and Warner Bros.
Discovery networks are no longer ordering the same amount of shows that they used to.
Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Discoverys U.S.
Networks Group admitted last year had been a rough time in the unscripted market.
She told Deadline that producers shouldnt focus their attention on networks such as TNT and TBS.
Networks such as Bravo, with itsRealHousewivesandBelow Deckfranchises, are booming andThe CW is buying again.
Hulu has new money to spend on non-scripted shows and Peacock has found great success withThe Traitors.
The broadcast networks are also still largely relying on classic shows.
FoxsThe Masked Singeris, arguably, the last big broadcast reality show to breakthrough in the past five years.
This will likely signal a fresh round tie-up rumors with NBCU owner Comcast.
For below the line workers, outsourcing has also had a big impact.
Hobin jokes that theres no sympathy for the devil.
Theres optimism right now because people are feeling like theyre heard, thats the biggest takeway, said Caligiuri.
This is a community and theres a collective voice.
My entire career is based on unbridled optimism, added Hobin.
Its not about who to be mad at.
Its just about shining a light on the situation.
