Two critical darlings may be enough for DirecTV. After saving 'Damages' and 'Friday Night Lights,' the satellite broadcaster will no longer be answering desperate "save our show!" pleas.

According to Variety, DirecTV's 101 Network -- which can be seen by 19 million subscribers -- will refocus on original programming after 'Damages' launches in 2011.

"In the future, I think we're going to move away from that model," Chris Long, senior vice president of entertainment and production, said.

"There's probably 75-80 pilots out there a year that get squashed or shelved or never make it to network television or HBO, AMC or anyone else," Long told Variety. "What I like to do is go look for a diamond in the rough, maybe content that wasn't applicable for network television, maybe the financing couldn't work."

In 2008, DirecTV and NBC struck up a deal to keep 'Friday Night Lights' on the air by having both companies finance the show. In 2009, after FX announced the end of 'Damages,' DirecTV swooped in to save the Glenn Close drama. Season 4 will now air on DirecTV's 101 Network next year.

Long's plans for DirecTV see the satellite service changing the business model commonly used for producing an original series. Instead of the broadcaster paying 70 percent and the studio taking 30 percent, Long said DirecTV would come in for a percentage, but bring in outside distribution for overseas and also cover costs via product integration.

Clearly DirecTV has seen the success of 'The Walking Dead' on AMC and the overwhelming rise of niche cable shows becoming the norm in the world of TV. Long said DirecTV won't abandon acquiring programs from other countries or bringing in episodes from networks such as HBO and Showtime to promote subscription. But what's so wrong with being thought of as the great TV savior?

Saving 'FNL' certainly changed the way viewers looked at the 101 Network, putting it on the map for some. However, creating its own content along the lines of 'Damages' and 'FNL' could also sway some viewers to pay for DirecTV services.

Long is absolutely right in saying there are pitches out there the deserve a home, but aren't suited for network TV. Many of the hit cable shows on right now would never be able to flourish on network TV. Zombies and tons of blood and guts every episode? Vampires and wild sex? Can't picture those on NBC.

Still, it's strange to come out and say they won't be playing savior anymore. Saving 'Damages' and 'FNL' gave DirecTV cred among hardcore TV fans and industry players. Why can't DirecTV be the saving grace of both small, niche struggling shows while bringing its own original content to the table?