Rate Of Return

I read that ITV are instituting a scheme they call "Rate of Return" on commissioning programming. It boils down to the fact that your budget will increase if you've included proven big name stars, and will dissipate if you include unknown actors. What a brilliant idea? How many hours of programming a year can David Jason actually manage?

Still everything that stars touch turns to gold doesn't it?

Is it appropriate to mention that last night BBC Four screened a programme called Cast & Crew: Brideshead Revisited (repeated at the weekend) which gathered together the people who made that landmark TV series back in 1981. I wonder how that would have fared in a Rate of Return world?