AMC released a statement on Tuesday, confirming that it has approved production of the fifth season of the Emmy Award-winning cable drama series, which the network hopes to start airing in early 2012. “AMC has officially authorized production of season 5 of Mad Men, triggering our option with Lionsgate. While we are getting a later start than in years past due to ongoing, key non-cast negotiations, Mad Men will be back for a fifth season in early 2012,” the cable network said in the statement.
According to Deadline.com, the main road blocks in the negotiation are the changes to the show that AMC wants incorporated beginning the 5th season. It is believed that AMC wants product placement and more commercials, which essentially means cutting the show’s running time by about two minutes per episode.
