Quotar Blog

Everyone who has commented on the fact that the overall quality of pilots is generally poor is right on. Also, your numbers at the beginning are very misleading.
A third of filmed pilots are made, but networks develop many more that never get filmed. Also, it makes no sense economically.
Even putting up a show on Hulu involves huge overhead — rights clearances, payment of residuals to the actors and creators, adult content ratings, subcaptioning, etc., not to mention trying to sell advertising for a show that will never air. And unless you’re willing to throw in some money for advertising it in your own right, no one is probably going to watch it.
The American Idol route might get more ratings, but the networks would never go for it, simply because what shows get put on the air are about a lot more than just which pilots are the “best.” Networks need shows that fit particular slots — so a worse drama might get picked over a better sitcom if drama is what they’re looking for. And they will always give weight a pilot with an established creator/actor/etc., because those are proven properties they can sell to advertisers.
They wouldn’t want to risk fan ire by airing a pilot that they couldn’t pick up to series for other reasons. Also, judging a pilot it a very different beast than judging an episode of a TV show.
You are judging not only what’s on the screen, but where the series could go. There are a lot of great shows that, by this method, would have gotten picked up on the strength of their pilot…

Bron: By: EMT