GreenMartian, on 15 May 2012 - 12:47, said:
I don't know how they make money either. Less episodes = less fillers = more storyline = happy viewers = higher ratings?
Then again, you're right. Less fillers also mean they have to make it up somewhere else. Either with fluff pieces (game/reality shows/stupid soap operas), or more quality programmes...
I completely agree that you'll have happier viewers if you have less fillers, which usually requires less episodes. Shows on Showtime, HBO, AMC, etc. prove this to be correct (usually).
But if you're selling ad time, and you go from 22-24 episodes to 6-13 episodes, then either you have to raise prices on those fewer weeks (which I bet advertisers would complain about) or you have to fill the rest of the time with something else. Now, that could be another show, which would be okay, but still expensive, or you'd have to fill it with something really cheap and that is usually game shows/reality shows or reruns.