The Hollywood Reporter quotes sources that claim the live production of The Sound of Music, starring Carrie Underwood, cost NBC 9 million dollars.
NBC’s live three-hour production of The Sound of Music on Dec. 5 isn’t just an interesting creative gamble. The network and chairman Robert Greenblatt are taking some financial risks, too. Sources peg the price tag of the one-night extravaganza starring Carrie Underwood and True Blood’s Stephen Moyer at as much as $9 million, though NBC won’t comment on the cost.
The initial broadcast won’t make back it’s cost, even with Wal-Mart on board as the exclusive sponsor. But Greenblatt has longer range plans for the broadcast. Don’t worry if you miss Thursday’s live telecast. NBC plan to rebroadcast at least one more time before Christmas.
And if the show is a hit, the network will turn it into a perennial, like other holiday favs, such as ABC’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, which airs every season and makes a lot of money for the network.
Mounting a live musical on TV is a pretty big gamble. We’ll see come Thursday if the 9 million bet pays off.
