The Value of Money

[BST]

We've all heard how Skiffy spent millions on this mini-series -- the last figure that I heard was $16 Million.

Now, let's put that in perspective:

$16 Million (2003)

Consumer Price Index * (CPI): 185.0 (1982-1984 = 100)
(In other words, what cost $100 in 1982-1984, costs $185 today.)

Approximate CPI for 1978: 215 (taking into account the high inflation rate from 1979-1981 -- double-digit inflation years of 1979-1980)

Which means that something costs 2.15 times what it cost in 1978.

Therefore, the mini-series (4 hours) would have cost $7.4 Million to produce in 1978, or $1.86 Million per hour. If the original series, as reported, cost an AVERAGE of $1 million per episode (or per hour) then, there really is not a lot of evidence to indicate that Skiffy "poured" so much money into the mini-series. In fact, they REALLY did do it on the cheap!

BST

* Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

[Muffit]

Pretty interesting BST :). Hey, was that you at Skiffy saying nice things about me today? Thanks so much! :)

:muffit:

[BST]

No problem, Muffit. You're a gem and don't need to be subjected to that kind of felgercarb!!

Here's a :rose: for you since you got nothing but 'onions' from that other, uh....., "person".

:D

[thomas7g]

Actually it ended up being $1 million per episode. The initial estimated costs were for $7 million for one 3 hour pilot and two 2-hour episodes.

But the initial costs in 1978 dollars were about $9 million for the 3 hour pilot. or about $19 million today. And that doesn't include the fact that computer digital effects reduce the cost of production significantly! Remember, unlike this low frills production Galactica hired the most expensive talent to do the effects, straight out of Star wars.

There were also reports that the production was actually alot larger than $9 million, and that it was 14 million. And that the studio didn't want to admit how excessively costs got out of hand.

btw, the bridge electronics were $1.4 million. And each hand painted laser bolt cost $1000. The average tv episode of that day cost about $300,000. All in 1978 dollars.