Firefly - 30 sec. - $81,000

POSTED BY: Hobbes
UPDATED: Friday, October 18, 2002 18:24
VIEWED: 3132
PAGE 1 of 1

HOBBES

Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:01 PM

According to http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=adrates&id=2002 Firefly is ranked 72/119 in the price of a 30-second commerical cost at $81,000.

$2,592,000 per epidode is how much Firefly makes. (59/119)
According to http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=adrates&id=2002g

The rest of the rates are pretty interesting if you're into that sort of thing.

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May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May you be in heaven an hour before
The Devil knows you’re dead.

HAKEN

Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:04 PM

So it is making enough profit to keep the series on the air?

HOBBES

Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Haken:
So it is making enough profit to keep the series on the air?

That depends on how much an episode costs I would imagine. Does anyone have some numbers on the average cost of an Ep.?

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May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May you be in heaven an hour before
The Devil knows you’re dead.

THEGN

Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:14 PM

I've read in several places that it cost 1.3 million per episode, but I don't have any authoritative source, that could be wrong.

Here's one place I read it:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=7&t=254

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In the Dark Ages, Romano-Celtic Britannia was over-run by Viking-like cultures collectively called the Anglo-Saxons. They were led by warlords called Drytinns, and the greatest warriors among them were the Thegns.

MALCOLM

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 12:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Thegn:
I've read in several places that it cost 1.3 million per episode, but I don't have any authoritative source, that could be wrong.

Thegn -

That sounds more like the licensing fee than the budget of the show. The network (Fox Broadcasting) pays a license fee to air the show. Most first year dramas cost about $1.1M per episode.

The studio (20th Century Fox TV) pays for the actual production costs. My guess is that would be closer to the $2M range for a show with a large cast and substantial sets (ala FF).

What I don't know is how the studio shares in the advertising dollars and how the network shares in the DVD and Merchandising sales, But you'd think that if there is more money coming in than going out, they'd keep it on the air. (hopefully!)

-MBS

MOLLYBLOOM

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 5:19 AM

I got this off one of the e-groups, from apparently a site called 'buffyista.com,' although I might not be correct on the spelling of that:

Tim Minear - Oct 15, 2002 11:51:38 am EDT #1941 of 2157

Well, we haven't been axed so far as *I* know. In fact, the network was so
in love with "Out Of Gas," the ep up after "Jaynestown," they've asked if
they could send it out to critics even without the fx being done. Also,
"Firefly" is cheaper to make per episode than either "Buffy" or "Angel,"
just so's ya know.

Also Matt Roush, the TV Guide critic, stated that he would be 'shocked' if Fox didn't give Firefly at least one full season. Of course, he's not exactly an unbiased source but probably a lot more credible than whoever that was over at the SF Chronicle. I have faith in Firefly. :)

JERRY

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 12:55 PM

Well, Tim's comment is at least encouraging regarding the show being given a few more weeks. As long as it's still airing, there's a chance for the ratings to pick up.

And I wonder if the perception that the show is hugely expensive has more to do with major one-time-only cost overruns on the pilot than it does with ongoing production costs. If so, it might be in a slightly better position than we thought.

COMFORTABLYNUMB

Friday, October 18, 2002 6:24 PM

From the futon critic again:

Firefly's license fee per episode is $1,300,000

This means if FOX gets the majority of the figure stated above, then Firefly is making a profit on advertising alone.

Could be why it's still on the air.