With the fifth season of AMC’s “Mad Men” delayed by a dispute over, among other things, how much advertising to include in the telecasts, Advertising Age’s Brian Steinberg examines the show’s business model to determine what’s really behind the disagreement and what should happen.

The dispute may appear on the surface to be money-focused corporation vs. creative freedom, but Steinberg points out: “The fact of the matter is that ‘Mad Men’ ain’t cheap to produce, doesn’t bring in the level of advertising revenue a much-buzzed-about show ought to and has in recent years been borderline unprofitable if you take out international sales and other content extensions.”

It comes down to whether the show will make money for the network, says Steinberg, and it might serve creator Matthew Weiner well to bring a perspective to the table that gives more weight to business considerations.