17 Forum member companies support the Fund through additional contributions. Both viewers and critics have embraced the shows we've funded through our Script Development initiative. A blockbuster hit for six years, Gilmore Girls (The CW) was the first series funded through the Script Development Fund initiative.
How it Works:
- The fund provides seed money to the networks for family friendly scripts.
- The networks administer the process.
- If a script becomes a series, the network reimburses the Fund and the money is redeployed to seed more scripts.
- The WB Network was the first to sign on with the Fund.
- ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW now participate with the Script Development Fund.
Results:
- In 2007/2008 Broadcast Season, 45 scripts were reviewed by the script development committee of which the following were selected:
- CHUCK (NBC) - Monday, 8pm EST
- Bionic Woman (NBC) - Wednesday, 9 pm EST
- Life is Wild (CW) - Friday, 8 pm EST
- In addition, 5 FFPF shows were renewed for the 2007/2008 Broadcast Season
- Ugly Betty (ABC) - Thursday, 8 pm EST
- Brothers& Sisters (ABC) - Sunday, 10 pm EST
- Notes from the Underbelly (ABC) - Mid-season
- Friday Night Lights (NBC) - Friday, 10 pm EST
- Everybody Hates Chris (CW) - Monday, 8 pm EST
- In 2006/2007 Broadcast Season, the script development committee reviewed over 38 scripts, of which the following were selected for the 2006/2007 fall lineup:
- Betty the Ugly (ABC)
- Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
- Notes from the Underbelly (ABC)
- Friday Night Lights (NBC)
- Runaway (The CW)
- In 2005/2006 Broadcast Season, the script developement committee reviewed over 60 scripts, of which the following were selected for the 2005 fall lineup:
- Commander in Chief (ABC)
- Everybody Hates Chris (UPN)
- Related (The WB)
- In 2004/2005, the fund reviewed over 50 scripts from which the following new shows were selected:
- Complete Savages (ABC);
- Clubhouse (CBS)
- The fund has resulted in The WB’s critically acclaimed Gilmore Girls, ABC’s 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, NBC’s American Dreams, and Steve Harvey’s Big Time.
- The Coca-Cola Company
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company
- FedEx Corporation
- Ford Motor Company
- The Home Depot, Inc.
- IBM
- The J.M. Smucker Company
- Johnson & Johnson
- Kellogg Company
- Merck & Co., Inc.
- Nestle USA
- Pfizer Inc
- The Procter & Gamble Company
- Sears, Roebuck and Co.
- Tyson Foods Inc.
- Unilever United States, Inc.
- Verizon Communications
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
- Wendy's International, Inc.