How about we look at is this way:
Before: Bandai spends 10 million (to pull a number from my butt) to produce a year's worth of show for a show that might be a flop, and will only produce a year's worth of toy/merchandizing sales.
Now: Bandai spends 5 million to produce half a year's worth of shows and then if it's a success they spend the other 5 million to produce the next half. If it's not a success, they still made their money with toys and they walk away to do something else, if it IS a success they get 2 years worth of merchandizing out of 1 year's worth of normal show costs. (As they can still sell the toys during the lull between shows and it's still an "active" property.) Cutting their costs in half, and doubling their profits. PLUS, they get to stick another show (and another toy line) in the other half a year slot which can double their profits in another way. (Since a single toy line can only sell so many toys, although Decade seems determined to push that to the limit!)
I'm surprised they haven't done this sooner, and expect it to be the new standard for all their major shows in the future as they struggle to cut costs. Watch for it!
Rob