HOLLYWOOD — Frenzied international interest in all things Michael Jackson notwithstanding, it appears there won’t be a TV special this fall.

AEG Live, the promoter behind Jackson’s 50 “This Is It” comeback concerts in London, has been negotiating for several days with movie studios for the film rights to the concert rehearsal footage as well as broadcast rights to a tie-in television special.
Although NBC was interested in the project as recently as Monday, and other networks showed interest last week, all the networks balked at AEG’s $20 million asking price for a show that would not include any new or exclusive footage of Jackson performing, several network sources said. Originally, AEG had tried to sell the special to air Aug. 29.
But logistical problems — such as Saturday being the lowest-rated night for TV — compelled AEG to stipulate that networks program the special in September, when TV viewers return to their couches in high numbers, according to a source. Some TV networks feared that the TV special would be too similar to the documentary film to be made out of the rehearsal footage.
Over the weekend, Sony Pictures emerged as the front-runner for the “This Is It” footage and the film project. The movie would be directed by choreographer Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical”), who was working with Jackson as director of the “This Is It” tour. The film would be released in October.
If AEG had had its way, the TV special also would have been directed by Ortega. The plans were for a superstar ensemble that might have included Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and will.i.am performing Jackson’s hits using the costumes, choreography and special-effects-driven illusions engineered for the singer’s comeback tour.
But no footage of the King of Pop.
“And the cost of that thing is $20 million? With no Michael Jackson? Ha!” said one network source who requested anonymity.
AEG did not immediately return calls for comment.