Moonves on NBC's Leno move: 10 p.m. 'ain't broke'

THR's Paul J. Gough just filed this report from the UBS conference in New York, with Les Moonves predicting CBS dramas will stomp Jay Leno's new 10 p.m. show (which NBC has likewise admitted). As noted in last night's post, it's tough for NBC to make the argument that the hour is broken given CBS' performance this season. Here's Gough:

NEW YORK -- After a gloomy assessment by rival CEO Jeff Zucker and NBC's plan to give five hours of primetime to Jay Leno, CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves said that there was nothing wrong with network TV's model.

After those comments made at the UBS annual media conference two days ago by Zucker, Moonves said that CBS was having a good season in the ratings and would be doing better with advertising revenue if it weren't for the bad economy.

"I'm here to tell you the model ain't broke," Moonves told the UBS conference late Wednesday morning. "You can still make a lot of money in network television. We like 10 o'clock shows."

Moonves comments drew a chuckle from the analysts and investors. He later brought up Leno and NBC directly, asking the analyst who was conducting the Q&A if he was going to ask about it. He did.

"For NBC, probably a very good move," Moonves said. "For us, it wouldn't be a good move. We are winning four of five nights at 10 p.m."

And he didn't seem worried by the possibility that Leno's show could be a big hit.

"I would bet anyone who would like to bet that 'CSI: Miami' will beat Jay by a lot," Moonves said. "Remember: by a lot."

He said also that CBS' dramas not only rate well but they also provide a good lead-in to the late local news and also since they own the content, gives CBS "about 12 different ways" to monetize that content after its first run.

It's true that CBS is doing much better than the rest of the network, only slightly lower year over year. CBS is tops in viewers and 25-54 season to date, and tied in adults 18-49, the best showing CBS has had in two decades. He said that CBS at least had no issues with makegoods.

"Certain people are having audience erosion and certain people aren't," Moonves said. "We aren't."

Moonves touted CBS' strong schedule, where only one show has been canceled.

Comments

[Frodo]

I love CBS!!! It just cannot help but OWN ALL!!!

[leepe]

From the AP:

"Only eight of the 66 returning shows have gained viewers, five of them on CBS. Five shows have no change. "Heroes," "Private Practice" and "Prison Break" are among the big losers."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9504QC80&show_article=1

[Mikey M]

A lame idea having Leno at 10:00. I don't know anyone who watches the show. Most people prefer edigier and funnier humor for the likes of Letterman or Conna or Jon Stewart. Even The Soup with Joe McCale is funnier than Leno.
It will last a year. NBC won't admit defeat and won't say it is cancelled. They will simply say something like it is going on Hiatus.
NBC is a joke these days with Deal or No Deal and reality and game shows littering the air waves. Their Law and Orders are running out of steam, they didnt care about Scrubs and moved it all around, didnt advertise it and then let ABC pick it up and they let Journeyman go. A show that got better and better.

[Jill]

Thank God just NBC is stupid. law and order, medium, er ... these are the 10 p.m shows that they are moving/dumping for ... Leno? Yeesh.

[STYLES]

CBS has a lot of $$$$ potential.