Desperate networks

the long version

In the executive offices of the four major networks, sweeping changes are taking place and billions of dollars are at stake. Now journalist Carter goes behind the scenes, capturing portraits of the moguls and stars who make it such a cutthroat business. The networks struggle for the attention of American viewers increasingly distracted by cable, video games, and the Internet. The fierce competition creates a pressure-cooker environment where anything can happen, and hit shows often get on the air purely by accident. Once the king of prime time, NBC plunged from first to last place in a single season. CBS, under the leadership of CEO Leslie Moonves, engineered one of the most spectacular turnarounds in television history. Lost and Desperate Housewives have brought ABC the kind of success it had only dreamed of--so why don't the executives responsible for those hits work there any more? Meanwhile, more and more people are watching outrageous, unconventional Fox.--From publisher description.