The drop in executive pay that occurred in 2008 and 2009 offered the opportunity for corporations to reduce the pay difference between the top and the bottom. 2010 was a window of opportunity to show some restraint in the amount executives are rewarded for improved corporate performance.
House of Cards, a show with Kevin Spacey, they are licensing it in an earlier window than they have done before. (It will premier on Netflix.) He says they will try a few more.