http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011 ... e-internet
'Mad Men' Gets A New Deal To Make More Seasons, Blow Up The Internet
by Linda Holmes
April 1, 2011
The news broke last night that after much-publicized negotiations, AMC had reached a deal with Lionsgate Television and executive producer Matthew Weiner to produce two more seasons of the award-soaked Mad Men, with the option for a possible third additional season. That would take the series to seven seasons total, which Weiner is suggesting — for all that such proclamations are worth three years in advance — is all there's going to be.
The most interesting part of the deal is the compromise that was reached on AMC's demand that the show be cut from 47 minutes to 45, to allow an additional two minutes of commercials. (Even 45 minutes is significantly longer than you'd get for a commercial-supported hour on broadcast TV.) There was a similar scuffle at the last contract negotiation, in which it was finally decided that the show could continue to be longer, but it would run until 11:02 p.m. instead of straight-up eleven o'clock. Weiner resisted, saying that cutting two minutes from each episode would fundamentally change the show.
In the ultimate deal, what they decided is that aside from the premiere and the finale, which will remain 47 minutes just like Weiner wants, AMC will air the show at 45 minutes, leaving two extra minutes for commercials. However, Weiner will submit what he's calling a "final cut" at 47 minutes, and that cut will be digitally available, according to some reports beginning eight days after the original broadcast date.
