The first time these programs air EVERYTHING is paid for and profit is to be had, anything else is just double dipping and extra icing on the cake.
Nonsense. Most prime time series never make a profit. Those that do make their profits if and when the series goes in to syndication, assuming they stick around long enough to be sold for reruns on all the cable channels.
They make money when they sell content to the rest of the world during it's first run. -- No, I didn't. Honest... I ran out of gas. I... I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake.......
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