The landscape of television production is changing rapidly, with top TV producers facing a very different industry compared to five years ago during the peak of the “streaming wars.” The effects of the pandemic, strikes, and corporate cost cutting have led to a decline in overall deals, show orders, and licensing deals for creators. The era of extravagant nine-figure deals for showrunners seems to be coming to an end, with creators now having to adapt to a more fractured television economy.
Despite the changes in the industry, there are still a few showrunners who are defying gravity and earning astronomical amounts of money. The older generation of creators who own a percentage of profits from mega-hits like The Simpsons or The Big Bang Theory continue to rake in over $100 million annually. However, for the younger generation of showrunners, overall deals rarely exceed $10 million as they navigate a more competitive and diverse TV landscape.
The top earners in television for 2024 include the likes of Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park, Tyler Perry, Dick Wolf of Law & Order, and Chuck Lorre of The Big Bang Theory. These veteran showrunners have managed to sustain their wealth through a combination of ownership deals, profit participation, and legacy contracts. However, the younger generation of creators, who are often more diverse in terms of race, gender, and sexual orientation, face greater challenges in reaching the same level of earnings as their predecessors.
Fortunes in Hollywood can change quickly, and this weekend’s Emmys represents a significant opportunity for the next generation of showrunners to make their mark. While some creators like Matt Stone and Trey Parker continue to dominate the industry with lucrative deals, others like Ryan Murphy and Taylor Sheridan are also carving out successful niches with hit series like Yellowstone and successful moves to streaming platforms like Netflix and Paramount+.
Overall, the television landscape is shifting towards a more challenging and competitive environment for showrunners, with older creators leveraging their ownership of legacy hits to sustain their wealth, while the younger generation faces greater obstacles in achieving similar levels of success. As the industry continues to evolve, showrunners will have to adapt and innovate to stay relevant and profitable in a fractured television economy.
