'Buffy' May Switch Networks

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) â€” The WB television network's top executive says he's willing to go to great lengths to keep ``Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,'' but only so far. <br><br>The drama series,

Monday, January 8th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) â€” The WB television network's top executive says he's willing to go to great lengths to keep ``Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,'' but only so far.

The drama series, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, is the young network's most popular and critically acclaimed series, but it's up for grabs after this TV season.

Since the show is produced by 20th Century Fox, there's a belief in the industry that ``Buffy'' could be steered to the Fox network. There is also talk that ABC could be interested.

Jamie Kellner, the WB's chief executive, said late Saturday he's willing to give the show's producers every cent ``Buffy'' makes to keep it on the WB.

``We will take all the revenue we can generate with 'Buffy' and we'll give it to you in a giant wheelbarrow,'' Kellner said. ``And if that's not enough, then take it to somebody else. You've demonstrated you're not the kind of partner we should be doing business with.''

Traditionally, networks pay producers a licensing fee to air the shows they make. Revenue generated from advertisers goes to the network.

Although Kellner wouldn't give specific figures, he estimated that the ``Buffy'' producers would see 50 percent more money through his proposal than they're getting now under the licensing deal. He said he's never made such an offer to keep a show.

Sandy Grushow, chairman of the Fox Television Entertainment Group, said Sunday it's possible that ``Buffy'' could end up on the Fox network, but it's his company's goal to reach a deal with the WB.

Until Kellner's public negotiating stance on Saturday, the WB hadn't made any remotely fair offer, Grushow said. He said it's ironic the WB is pleading poverty since it is owned by a company, AOL Time Warner, with a division that transformed the TV industry by demanding an expensive licensing deal for ``ER'' from NBC.

``They don't have wheelbarrows at the WB,'' Grushow said. ``They have Mercedes.''

An even higher-profile network bidding war could erupt in the coming months over ``Frasier.'' The top-rated comedy is up for renewal and its producers have grumbled about shabby treatment from NBC, but it's considered likely to stay there.

Kellner speaks to a fear in Hollywood that the growing tendency of networks to align themselves with production houses will restrict the free marketplace of programming.

Grushow is the executive in charge of both programming the Fox network and overseeing the 20th Century Fox production company.

``There should be some kind of element of fairness, even though you're dealing in Hollywood and people wear two hats and three hats sometimes, and their interests on one hand are not served on the other hand at the end of the day,'' Kellner said.

``It's a small community and there's a certain point where a bit of honor has to step in and fair play,'' he said.

Ultimately, Kellner said he believed ``Buffy, the Vampire Slayer'' would stay on the WB because the network is the best place to reach the younger, female-dominated viewer demographic that it is seeking.