Figuring out how the networks are doing is easy — just look at the ratings. But determining which studios are making a buck off their shows is harder to measure: Many shows are now coproduced with the nets, which, theoretically, is good for the studios (since there's a better chance of getting on the schedule), but come syndication time, studio profits will be cut dramatically. Still, they have one big advantage: Unlike the nets, studios need only one ratings bull's-eye to prosper. Below, a ranking of the top suppliers, according to how many shows each currently has on the air.
1. Warner Bros. TV
The hit machine keeps rolling under president Tony Jonas. Warner Bros. usually plays it safe with content, catering to mainstream tastes (see NBC's Suddenly Susan), and will probably continue in that direction given its dismal luck with darker fare this season (including Fox's struggling Brimstone). Of its new shows, only NBC's Jesse has big numbers, and that has as much to do with its Must See time slot as with its engaging star, Christina Applegate.
Hits: NBC powerhouses ER and Friends; ABC's The Drew Carey Show and Two of a Kind
Misses: CBS' The Brian Benben Show; ABC's Vengeance Unlimited; NBC's Trinity
Mid-season: Carey's Whose Line Is It Anyway?, a summer hit for ABC, and Norm Macdonald's promising sitcom, also for the Alphabet
Downside: Pricey development deals with such superstar exec producers as John Wells (ER) and Bright/Kauffman/Crane (Friends) have the studio committed to selling lesser fare like Trinity and NBC's Veronica's Closet.
2. Twentieth Century Fox TV
The king of quirky drama and animation is regarded as the most creative shop in town. And with the market for those kinds of shows booming, it's quickly closing the gap with perennial leader Warner Bros.
Hits: Fox champs The Simpsons, The X-Files, and Ally McBeal; ABC's The Practice and surprise winner Two
Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place; The WB's Buffy the Vampire Slayer; CBS' promising Martial Law
Misses: Fox's Living in Captivity, Getting Personal, and Holding the Baby
Mid-season: Family Guy, for Fox, could be the next Simpsons; Matt Groening's Futurama may be bumped to next fall.
Downside: The studio's recent comedy development is anything but funny. And like Warner Bros., it doesn't always benefit from development deals (witness Chris Carter's still-floundering Millennium on Fox), though so far Ally/Practice creator David E. Kelley exhibits no signs of fatigue.
3. Sony television
Sony shows a greater willingness to partner with networks, and that's certainly helped keep at least one of its weaker newcomers afloat (CBS' L.A. Doctors). But big props for anticipating the teen trend.
Hits: Fox's Party of Five; The WB's Dawson's Creek; CBS' The King of Queens
Misses: ABC's Fantasy Island; UPN's Guys Like Us
Mid-season: UPN's one hope for the future: Dilbert
Downside: NBC's Mad About You and CBS' The Nanny are ready for retirement. The seeming need to partner with nets will ultimately hurt in syndication.
4. Paramount Network TV
The most conservative studio in content and production. But producing fewer shows means taking fewer risks — and its ''sure things'' haven't performed lately: Remember NBC's Jenny? Furthermore, UPN's longtime flagship, Star Trek: Voyager, may be on its final mission.
Hits: Frasier (though NBC wishes it were more of one); CBS' JAG and Becker (just given a full-season order)
Misses: NBC's Encore! Encore!; UPN's The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer
Mid-season: NBC will likely try a revamped Lateline.
Downside: Its ties to UPN certainly haven't helped the studio — or the network.
