TV's fall of Rome broken down at Italian Global Series fest
At Italian Global Series Fest, Scott Free chief creative officer David W. Zucker said TV's fall of Rome has broken the century-old studio model—legacy mergers, streaming's pivot back to advertising, and Wall Street pressure are reshaping how shows get made. Wednesday executive producer Steve Stark joined him Sunday to unpack the crisis.
One of the festival's biggest panels paired Zucker, whose credits include CBS's The Good Wife, HBO's Raised by Wolves, and Amazon's The Man in the High Castle, with Stark, chairman and executive producer at Toluca Pictures. Stark's resume spans The Handmaid's Tale, Fargo, Vikings, and Wednesday. Their talk focused on how global streaming accelerated television—and why many producers now see unwelcome knock-on effects across the industry.
Key Takeaways
- Zucker likened studio consolidation to a fall of Rome, citing Fox-Disney and Paramount-Warner Bros. mergers as once-unthinkable shifts.
- Streamers moved TV from long-term character bonds to monthly retention plays—and are now returning to advertising and distribution models.
- Stark warned that data can freeze commissioners; breakthrough hits are usually original, not algorithm-predictable.
- Local partnerships are essential abroad—Stark co-produced Netflix's The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 with a U.K. company for the BBC market.
- Zucker said audiences gain richer global imports, though some platforms may exploit cheaper local talent.
Why Did Zucker Compare TV to the Fall of Rome?
Zucker told the audience the industry is in an undeniable state of crisis, a sentiment echoed by producers worldwide. "Since we're in Italy: this is the fall of Rome, and it's hard not to feel that," he said on Sunday.
He called recent studio mergers tragic omens. "We've already seen Fox and Disney merge, we are seeing Paramount consume Warner Bros.—that was unfathomable even two years ago," Zucker said. He argued consolidation serves an oligarchy reshaping power in the business, and century-old studios may disappear within years.
How Did Streaming Break the Old TV Model?
Zucker traced the shift to Netflix and rival streamers. They did not just add outlets—they changed how content relates to viewers. Classic TV built long-term relationships with characters; the financial and creative goal was staying in homes as long as possible.
Netflix's subscription model demanded something new every month, not a lasting bond. "They weren't interested in a long-term relationship—they wanted something that will make you pay again next month," Zucker said. Shorter attention spans reshaped both audience habits and the shows themselves.
The irony, he added, is streamers are now re-entering advertising and distribution—trying to resurrect an industry they once blew up. "What used to be free in America for television, we now have to pay and pay and pay," he said, linking the trend to Wall Street owners who prioritize product over art.
What Did Steve Stark Say About Data and Global Production?
Stark said he misses commissioners who trusted gut instinct. Data is worth listening to, but "sometimes the information freezes everybody," he explained. "Every show that really makes a mark is unique, original, and fresh—data doesn't show you that those are successful, because there's no data to show from that."
On international production, Stark noted the BBC buys from local U.K. producers, not American sellers. For his upcoming Netflix series The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, about the bombing of a commercial flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, he partnered with a British production company to reach that market.
Zucker acknowledged the Netflix era vastly improved viewing opportunities, importing standout series from Asia, South America, and Africa. Yet he flagged a cynical side: companies exploiting local artists for cheaper product than U.S. production. "The upside is for audiences, we are experiencing much more in common than we ever have before," he said.
For more on how consolidation and streaming strategy are reshaping what gets greenlit, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage. Zucker and Stark spoke at the Italian Global Series festival panel on Sunday.