They don’t have the dollar magnitude of their movie counterparts. Still, the most expensive TV shows can cost studios an arm and a leg and the possibility of failure to win the audience’s favor sends shiver down the big bosses’ spines. Many turned in respectable returns for the networks, but some did flop, which is probably their only claim to fame.
Our list is dominated by drama series, with an animated theme, a reality show and a sitcom thrown in for variety. Here are ten of the most expensive TV shows (calculated with cost per episode) ever:
10. Sea Patrol: $1 million per episode
The Australian TV series had a successful run between 2007 and 2011 for a whole five seasons featuring the fictional Royal Australian patrol boat and its crew. The story revolves around legal issues faced by the Australian navy in its waters, including illegal fishing, asylum seekers and criminal engagements. Its first episode ranked as the second most popular series premiere in Australian TV history with two million viewers glued to the screen during the show’s initial telecast. Navy boat rentals, on-location logistics, and a large crew of actors and support easily racked up the cost to produce one Sea Patrol episode to 1 million dollars.
9. Father of the Pride: $1.6 million per episode
It’s considered by many as one of the most expensive TV series flops of all-time. The story about a family of lions with a Las Vegas show for a living didn’t just click with the viewers. The series lasted for just one season from August 2004 to May 2005 before DreamWorks gave it the axe. Father of the Pride was part of a CGI animated films trend in primetime TV back then. Critics had a field day churning out the reasons for the dismal performance, including: the show being promoted as just a dessert to DreamWorks’ big project at that time, Shrek and Shrek 2; or that it’s a close semblance to South Park in story and dialogue treatment. An aggressive promotional campaign during the 2004 Summer Olympics and the nine-month CGI production turnaround were some of the top costs for the show.
8. ER: $2 million per episode
One of the longest running TV drama series, ER had churned out 331 episodes since it introduced the world to George Clooney’s charm. Its creator, Michael Crichton, had the ER plot in his head since his medical residency days in the seventies, but it was only after collaborating with Steven Spielberg in Jurassic Park that the story was fleshed out. The original set was filmed in an abandoned L.A. hospital. Over time, the original cast including Clooney pursued different paths, but the show kept on earning ratings. It went to win 22 of its 124 Emmy Awards nominations. As they became popular, the cast, including Clooney, demanded a bigger slice off the production budget which contributed to increased production costs.
7. X Factor USA: $3.5 million per episode
Ever notice Simon Cowell being a little more edgy in X Factor than in American Idol? He created X following his success, or his newfound fame, mainly thanks to his sharp commentaries in Idol. To make the show a little different, the X features aspiring solo and group music artists. The logistics of pulling together raw talents across the country aside, the major costs for the reality TV show were the celebrity judges’ talent fees. Britney Spears, Paula Abdul and Demi Lovato were some of the judges that helped America get its new batch of singing talents, with a flair for drama to boot.
6. Terra Nova: $3.9 million per episode
No, it’s not a remake of the seventies childish adventure show, Land of the Lost, although it probably had inspired British writer Kelly Marcel, whose idea in turn was the basis for Terra Nova. Both series feature a family that struggles to survive in a place inhabited by dinosaurs, which is about the only similarity between the two shows. Terra follows a family that left a dying future earth to settle in past earth along with a handful of pioneer settlers. The series ran for one season, from September to December of 2011. Fox didn’t give specific reasons for the cancellation even as fans clamored for a second serving. One episode took up to nine days of shooting, but what really drove up costs were the six weeks of post-production, double the average for a TV show. Maybe Fox had second thoughts?
5. Lost: $4 million per episode
The series set off a resurgent trend in the early 2000s towards sci-fi plots reminiscent of Buck Rogers and Space 1999 mixed with a Twilight Zone flavor. The series produced 121 episodes or six seasons. It was so popular that it inspired a new batch of similar thematic series including Flashforward and The Event. In its first season alone, Lost got an average 15.69 million viewers per episode. Likewise, critics have often ranked the series among the top ten TV series of all time. Remaking a crashed jetliner and transporting it to Hawaii where the shoot was done and hosting a large acting cast (70 original survivors) chewed a big chunk off the show’s budget.
4. Deadwood: $4.5 million per episode
The western is back and gone again. Deadwood had a critically acclaimed successful three seasons from March 2004 to August 2006. The plot took us back to the nineteenth-century Dakota Territory and weaved together fictional and historical figures like Seth Bullock, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The series had an expansive set and large ensemble of actors that racked up production costs. Despite garnering ratings, studio bosses decided to end the series, planning for a two-part movie instead. The film project, however, never pushed through. Fans are still hoping that the Deadwood movie idea shows some sign of life.
3. Game of Thrones: $6 million per episode
It has the making of a fully fledged film. With 275 actors, an elaborate medieval set, weaponry and costumes, and a pan-European on-location shooting sites, such as in Croatia, Ireland and Malta, Game of Thrones easily made it to the top three most expensive TV series ever. The show is based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy trilogy; it has earned a cult across countries, prompting HBO to renew the season for the sixth time.
2. Rome: $9 million per episode
The tale of Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo is told with the Roman Empire as backdrop. Massive sets, elaborate costumes and extensive CGI use made Rome the most expensive TV production ever, barring talent fees. For two seasons—2005 and 2007—Rome regaled us with the detailed life, politics and challenges to one’s survival in the Roman times. The show gained huge ratings, which caused the studio bosses to talk about a movie version in 2008. We’re still waiting for the rise of Rome once more.
1. Friends: $10 million per episode
The riot group of city buddies Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross carried the day, or to be exact, ten years of successful Friends season runs (and until now, reruns) from September 1994 to May 2004. It’s a critical darling, a resounding commercial success, and a cultural icon of its time. A simple studio set that shifts back and forth in a coffee shop, the characters’ rooms and the occasional other interior scenes and perhaps a three-camera setup couldn’t make Friends any more expensive than regular sitcoms.
As the cast became famous and the pillars of the series, they started demanding higher fees. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer actually became close friends in real life. Starting from season three, they agreed to negotiate a collective salary scale with the studio, ensuring each of them got the same pay. Starting at $75,000 per episode, the scale shot up to one million dollars per member per season finale episode. They also won a royalty arrangement for Friends reruns. Not that the NBC was being friendly, the cast simply had that rare chemistry that shot ratings off the mark.
What lessons can be learned from the most expensive TV shows?
The production of high-budget TV shows offers several valuable lessons for creators and producers.
- Invest in Quality Talent: Successful shows often feature high-caliber actors, directors, and writers. Investing in top talent can elevate the overall production quality and draw larger audiences.
- Focus on Strong Storytelling: A compelling narrative is crucial regardless of the budget. Shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad thrived on well-crafted stories that captivated viewers, proving that solid storytelling can justify high production costs.
- Leverage Marketing Strategies: Effective marketing can enhance a show’s visibility and audience engagement. High-budget productions often allocate significant resources to marketing, creating buzz before the premiere. This approach can be vital in ensuring a strong viewership from the start.
- Utilize Technology Wisely: Innovations in technology, such as CGI and virtual production, can significantly impact production quality. Shows that harness cutting-edge technology, like The Mandalorian, can create immersive experiences that attract viewers.
- Be Mindful of Audience Expectations: Understanding what viewers want is essential. High production costs should align with audience expectations for quality and entertainment value. Keeping an open dialogue with fans can help producers tailor content to meet these demands.
Key Insights
- High Production Costs: The list highlights TV shows with significant production costs, ranging from $1 million to $10 million per episode. These expenses include logistics, set construction, CGI, and talent fees.
- Diverse Genres: The list includes a variety of genres such as drama, animation, reality TV, and sitcoms, illustrating that high production costs are not limited to a single type of show.
- Successful and Unsuccessful Ventures: While some shows like “Friends” and “Game of Thrones” were both critically and commercially successful, others like “Father of the Pride” and “Terra Nova” struggled despite their high production budgets.
- Notable Cancellations: Several high-cost shows, such as “Terra Nova” and “Deadwood,” were canceled despite fan support, often due to unsustainable production costs.
- Star Power and Talent Fees: The success and increasing salaries of cast members significantly contributed to the rising production costs, as seen with “Friends” and “ER.”
- Impact of Special Effects and Sets: Shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Rome,” and “Lost” had substantial costs due to elaborate sets, on-location shoots, and extensive use of CGI.
- Historical and Fantasy Settings: Historical and fantasy series, such as “Rome” and “Game of Thrones,” tend to have higher production costs due to the need for period-accurate props, costumes, and extensive visual effects.
- Short-Lived High-Cost Series: Some high-budget series had short runs, often limited to one or two seasons, due to the high costs involved in production, like “Terra Nova” and “Rome.”
FAQ
- Why do some TV shows have such high production costs?
High production costs are often due to factors such as extensive use of CGI, elaborate set designs, on-location shoots, and high salaries for cast members. For example, shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Rome” required detailed sets, period costumes, and advanced special effects, all of which significantly increased their budgets. - How do high production costs impact a show’s longevity?
High production costs can impact a show’s longevity by making it financially challenging to sustain, even if the show has a dedicated fan base. Shows like “Terra Nova” and “Deadwood” were canceled despite their popularity because the costs outweighed the revenue generated. - What are some examples of successful high-cost TV shows?
Successful high-cost TV shows include “Friends,” which had high cast salaries, and “Game of Thrones,” which had significant expenses due to its large cast, elaborate sets, and extensive on-location shoots. Both shows achieved critical and commercial success, justifying their high production budgets. - Why was “Father of the Pride” considered a flop despite its high budget?
“Father of the Pride” failed to resonate with viewers despite its high budget. Critics pointed out its similarities to “South Park” in terms of story and dialogue, and it struggled to establish its own identity. Additionally, the aggressive promotional campaign did not translate into long-term viewership. - What factors contribute to the high production costs of reality TV shows like “X Factor USA”?
The high production costs of reality TV shows like “X Factor USA” are often driven by logistics, such as nationwide auditions and live performances, as well as high talent fees for celebrity judges. The show’s need to consistently deliver high-quality live performances also contributes to the overall cost. - How did the salaries of the “Friends” cast affect the show’s budget?
The “Friends” cast negotiated collectively for equal salaries, which increased significantly over the show’s ten-year run. Starting at $75,000 per episode, their salaries eventually reached $1 million per episode for each cast member by the final season, substantially raising the show’s production costs. - What are some reasons high-budget shows get canceled despite fan support?
High-budget shows can get canceled if their production costs are too high to be offset by advertising revenue and viewership numbers. Despite fan support, shows like “Terra Nova” and “Deadwood” were not financially sustainable due to their expensive production requirements. - Are animated TV shows like “Father of the Pride” typically expensive to produce?
Animated TV shows can be expensive to produce, especially those with advanced CGI and detailed animations. “Father of the Pride” had high production costs due to its nine-month CGI production turnaround and extensive promotional campaigns. - How do on-location shoots impact the budget of a TV show?
On-location shoots can significantly increase the budget of a TV show due to travel expenses, logistics, and the need for detailed set designs specific to each location. For instance, “Game of Thrones” filmed in various European locations, adding to its high production costs. - What makes a TV show worth the high production investment?
A TV show is worth the high production investment if it achieves strong viewership, critical acclaim, and long-term commercial success. Shows like “Friends” and “Game of Thrones” justified their high budgets by becoming cultural phenomena with enduring popularity and profitability.
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