I think you could argue that 6 episodes isn't a season. Only Torchwood ever made that work.




The Jedi Master

Syfy has so many commercials, I can't stand to watch it anymore anyway.

Yup, the last show I watched live on SyFy was "Caprica" and out of each hour broadcast only about 41 minutes was the actual episode.

That's not exclusive to SFC. Most channels now have switched to "5 act" shows over 4, inserting another commercial break to increase revenues.
From a high of 50 mins from as early as the late 60s till as recently as the mid-80s, shows are down to just over 40 mins now.



The Jedi Master

30 minute show is typically 23
hour is about 43

That research was conducted by me with my DVR

Anyway, no more eureka sucks...they had two super hot chicks on that show, that alone should have kept it on the air.

At least the major networks will keep a show on the air as long as it still makes them money. SyFy is so irrational that they'll cancel a show even if it's still making money for them.

Years ago my buddy explained that Star Trek shows get canceled before 8th season, because their main cast's contracts were finished by end of 7th season, and renegotiated contracts would make continuing financially impossible. Even for a Paramount hit with huge fanbase over decades.

I'm guessing this is perhaps a variation of that, but maybe involving cable/Sat networks wanting a bigger cut as a show gets more popular?

Actually, for both TNG and DS9 the cast originally signed 6 year contracts. In all cases but one (Terry Farrell), the cast and the studio negotiated a 1 yr contract for a 7th season before the series ended.

When TNG started, no one had a clue how long the show might last. After all, TOS lasted 3 yrs. When the time came for Shatner's crew to retire from the films after ST6, it made sense the TNG crew would shift to films. However, the end of S6 was too soon in Paramount's eyes, they wanted a new film about 3 yrs after ST6, so stretching out to an S7 and then having the film begin production immediately following would mean an end of 94 date for ST7.
After that happened, it was decided that 7 was a good number of seasons, so DS9 was then planned around that length despite all the actors initially having 6 yr contracts, although as mentioned Terry Farrell couldn't come to an agreement and so she was killed off in the S6 finale. Voyager and Enterprise AFAIK worked off that template and all actors signed 7 yr contracts from day 1, although in the event Enterprise didn't need it!
While the idea of running DS9 or Voyager into an 8th year might have been entertained, the increased costs would've made it sheer folly unless they'd become the biggest hits on TV like Law and Order or something.

If SFC signs all its shows' actors on to 5 yr contracts from day 1, it's likely the reason the shows all end on or before S5.



The Jedi Master

Obviously I've never worked in showbiz before but I wonder how exactly those tv contracts work? If an actor signs a contract to be on a show for 5 years and let's say the show gets cancelled after the first season, does the actor get paid for 5 seasons? If not, then what kind of committment does a tv contract really have?

That makes sense. I guess it's a case where the costs would rise so high to re-sign the actors after 5 years that unless the show is getting mega ratings, it won't be worth it to the network.