People forget that ST:TNG cost more than a million bucks a pop when it started, and that was a syndicated show that had no network or regular time slot. (different day and time in every city)
No EX Pro is supposed to make money of the that show but they were only able to recoup the losses ONLY after syndication. Think Return of the Jedi whom many on this board think was a moneymaker. It lost money and only recoup the money after many years.