There’s trouble brewing between AMC and Sony television over the fifth (and likely final) season of Breaking Bad.
The two sides have been negotiating over the next season and AMC reportedly wants cost cuts that would include chopping the fifth season down from the usual 13 episodes to six or eight installments. Creator Vince Gilligan and his team reportedly rejected that idea. That’s led to Sony sending out feelers to at least three other cable channels to gauge interest in picking up the series.
Both AMC and Sony indicate that they want to work out a deal. If they can’t and Breaking Bad moves to another channel, that could mean that Gilligan and his crew would have to commit to more than just one more season. Understandably, it would be highly unlikely for another outlet to want to take over the show for only one more season.
This isn’t the first issue that AMC has had over finances. Shows get more expensive to produce as they go on and AMC recently made a very expensive deal with Matt Weiner to keep Mad Men on the air. That comes at a cost and Breaking Bad isn’t the only show to feel the pinch. The Walking Dead saw its per-episode budget cut by $250,000 and soonafter, executive producer Frank Darabont left the show.
AMC is currently airing season four of Breaking Bad on Sunday nights. The July 17th premiere scored the show’s highest ratings to date. The season finale is expected to air on October 9th.
What do you think? Does it matter to you how many episodes are in season five? Would you like to see Breaking Bad continue past year five?
Image courtesy AMC.
Really? This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, cutting their best shows down to nothing. I have been looking forward to this last season but 6 or 7 episodes is NOT going to cut it. This really makes me angry. I hope they move to HBO or Showtime which would not only make for more creative freedom but would allow far more production value. Make the move Breaking bad, I’d love to see a few more seasons that surpass your AMC limitations.
Why in the world is AMC pinching pennies on such acclaimed shows?! Let the creators work their magic, and stop taking the money out of their purses AMC! You won’t continue your streak of awards if you cut off the funding of your own programs. It’s like they decided to have children, and raised them with all the comforts, but on;y for the first year or two, and then are throwing them out on the street as toddlers to get jobs because they can’t afford them anymore. Dudes! you have to fund these show properly or give them up to… Read more »
ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS ON TV…..YET ANOTHER GREAT SHOW WILL BITE THE DUST DUE TO THE SUITS THAT MAKE THESE OH SO STUPID DECISIONS. CMON GUYS…..GET IT TOGETHER AND GET ON WITH A 13 EPISODE SEASON AND BRING IT BACK NEXT YEAR. THIS CAST IS OUTSTANDING AND THE SHOW IS A WINNER. SURELY YOU SEE THIS????
[…] the deal is done. Following extended negotiations, AMC and Sony Pictures TV have come to an agreement regarding the end of Breaking […]
I’ve been watching the show with inticipation that something will finally happen to end all of this crazyness. I sure would continue to watch the show, but if the cartel kills off gus then walt wouldn’t need to cook anymore and he would be free. I don’t think that would happen seeing that the cartel would probably offer walt something and he wouldn’t give that up. I just hope it ends properly with all the fans getting what they want, and I believe with the writer it can happen.
It’s a remarkable show…it should finish its season the way it was written.AMC needs to cut cost elsewhere…
I don’t understand why AMC can’t hold on for one more season of 13 episodes. Even more distressing news, however, is how The Walking Dead may not be the same due to budget cuts. The Walking Dead is likely the best show on television and it needs to be able to tell the best story it can. Well, hopefully the budget cut won’t affect the quality of the show.
This 10 years later. The Walking Dead is ranked #77 as best show ever. Breaking Bad is ranked #3. Breaking Bad ended early because of money. They bet on the wrong horse.
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls066095353/
[…] a small update to our report from yesterday regarding the fifth (and likely final) season of Breaking […]
i really hope that they neogotiate to 13 epsidoe final season, because i really dont want 6th season, but 6 episode final season is too short.
Let Breaking Bad go out the way it needs to. Let all the storylines play out and let the creator finish his vision. Too much quality tv is being limited these days while the bachelor and Big Brother dominate the airwaves. This news discourages me from getting invested in another show of Breaking Bads caliber because its going to get short-seasoned or cancelled to replace it with another NCIS or Law and Order or CSI.
THE STORYLINE HAS WHERE TO ,YES IT DOES.AFTER WALT KILLS THE MAIN MAN,HE AND JESSE WILL BE AT THE TOP,AND THEY WON’T HAVE COOK METH NO MORE. THEY CAN HIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE DIRTY WORK.
AMC is making a lot of dumb decisions lately.
BEST SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN LOVE IT,YOU PEOPLE ARE A BUNCH OF DUMB A—-.
isn’t this one of the best shows on tv? why would they be cutting the episode order? wouldn’t you want more or at least the same number as before? That’s pretty cheap and lowdown…..and sounds really, really dumb.
Oh no. If it does move to another cable network I hope it is one that I get for free. If it is only 8 episodes and ends properly,then I will be satisfied with it. 6 episodes is way to few. I think they can do a 13 episode season. That would be much better. Instead of AMC alway’s showing the same 100 movies over and over again,which turns people off,show different movies like they used to do,and maybe more people will watch again,and therefore that will mean more revenue for the network and more money for Breaking Bad.