85 "Saturday Night Live" loses 100 million dollars annually according to 'RadarOnline" article (archive.is) posted 327 days ago by Mpetey123 327 days ago by Mpetey123 +85 / -0 37 comments share 37 comments share save hide report block hide replies
I'm genuinely amazed how a show like that could possibly cost even $30 million. even with extremely generous salaries:
Full Band: 100k per band member * 10 band members = 1 mil
Host actors: 200k per actor * 5 hosts = 1 mil
Writers (lol): 100k * 20 writers = 2 mil
Props and Sets: 3mil
Camera and tv broadcast/internet streaming: 3 mil
Guest Star appearances: 10 mil
Legal Department: 10 mil
Guest appearances should be free or even make them a small profit since they're there to promote their new movies
From what I've read, television series are horribly run in terms of inefficiencies and cost. So learning that SNL looses money doesn't really surprise me.
If the Late Show has 200 employees, SNL has to have close to the same number which is obviously insane but that's how they do it apparently.
Unions.