Sheen sitcom shutdown could cost millions
As Charlie Sheen heads back to a rehabilitation facility, weeks of salacious headlines are now giving way to a steep financial price for the star's behavior.
In fact, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that if "Two and a Half Men" is forced to shut down permanently, it could jeopardize as much as $250 million in domestic syndication revenue for producer Warner Bros. Television and millions more in lost ad revenue for CBS.
In its eighth season, "Men" remains the most-watched comedy on television, averaging 14.7 million viewers, and is second only to ABC's "Modern Family" among the ad-coveted younger demographic of 18-49-year-olds. CBS sells 30-second spots in "Men" for more than $200,000, according to media buyers, generating more than $3 million per episode. Kantar Media reports that the show grossed CBS more than $155 million in ad revenue last season alone.
And "Men" also is the network's linchpin on Monday nights, helping to launch successful comedies including "The Big Bang Theory" and most recently "Mike & Molly" (both from "Men" co-creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre). There are currently only two new episodes of "Men" that have not yet aired, and while CBS will save on license fee if production remains shut down, the loss of new "Men" will certainly impact the overall performance of its Monday night lineup.
In a statement, CBS again expressed concern for Sheen's well-being but sought to distance the network from any potential deleterious effect of the actor's behavior.
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