NBC/Universal Merger

POSTED BY: jebbypal
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 6, 2004 11:28
VIEWED: 7212
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ECGORDON

Saturday, May 15, 2004 3:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dyairvatree:
You know I'd be thrilled if Joss created some new charactors and put them in the same universe. To me as much as I love the the actors of Firefly I really think it's about Joss. So as long as the universe is open to Joss I could be happy.

Just think about it. Joss' new show could be Badger and Niska: Together Again!

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

TRACER

Saturday, May 15, 2004 3:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dyairvatree:
Even though I never heard about five years here's what I do know despite American press it's Vivindi-Universal! And Vivindi is owned by the French. The only reason the Vivindi aspect hasn't been played up is everyone hates the French!

France isn't so bad, its just a shame about the people

thing is why would such a deal be arranged? 5 years....can only say i'm disappointed. But maybe when those five years are up...then Kapow!
you know

ECGORDON

Saturday, May 15, 2004 3:48 PM

Five years should bring us to the end of the film trilogy. As usual, Joss has perfect timing.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

MAKEROFPATHS

Saturday, May 15, 2004 4:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dyairvatree:

Even though I never heard about five years here's what I do know despite American press it's Vivindi-Universal! And Vivindi is owned by the French. The only reason the Vivindi aspect hasn't been played up is everyone hates the French!

That five-year figure was something some attendees at the Fusion con a couple of weekends ago passed around.
Two fans in separate posts, however, distinctly remember Nathan Fillion confirming there is such a no-can-do-TV deal but he did not put a figure on it.

A Vivendi Universal unit named Vivendi Universal Entertainment was sold to NBC owner GE Capital. NBC Universal will be 80% owned by GE and 20% owned by VU of France.

And in answer to other posts: again it must be noted that Firefly was produced by 20th Century Fox TV Studios, which owns it outright. Fox Television Network bought the rights to broadcast but gave them up when they canned FF. So it's the producer, 20th, that holds the rights and sold the film-only rights to Universal. Although what's not clear is whether TV rights were signed away but don't take effect until some years down the road. Or not. Fox probably negotiated a no-TV clause so it could wait to see whether the film succeeds and consider reviving the TV series. Which it could sell to NBC or Fox TV (again) or anyone else.

That about covers it, methinks :)

BROWNCOAT1

Monday, May 17, 2004 1:09 PM

Seems to me that everything hinges on the success of the movie, and subsequent sale of DVDs & VHS copies of the movie. If the movie does well in the theatre, and the DVDs sell well, the movie will be a success. A successful product will encourage Universal to look into sequels to the BDM, and perhaps even in to a return to TV.

Nathan confirmed there is some sort of time restriction on a return to TV (thanks 20th Century Fox ), but we all know that if Universal thinks there is money in it, they will go back to the table w/ Fox execs to renegotiate. It happens all the time in Hollywood.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

SAMURAIX47

Monday, May 17, 2004 8:05 PM

If there is a five-year no-tv-series clause... then when would the 5-yr period have started? From the time the series aired? Or when it was cancelled? Or when the deal with Universal was signed. So it could be 2007 before a series could start production.

If they only take a year to produce BDM: Serenity... shoot in summer 2004... in theaters 2005 (April?) they could start on a sequel in 2005 and have it out in 2006... the third one 2006-2007...

Jaymes

FIREFLEW

Monday, July 5, 2004 12:10 AM

What's wrong with the French? Admittedly, some accuse them of being arrogant or rude, but then, so is everyone else. The same could be said of those who would go to war illegally.

I'm speaking as an English person, so I've got some close hand knowledge of this - from both perspectives....

If this post doesn't make sense, please disregard it. I've not slept for two days now. I don't know why, but, there you go.

Jayne: "Know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I beat you with till you understand who's in command."

SOUTHERNMERC

Monday, July 5, 2004 7:19 AM

Five years? I thought I read in the transcript from Jewel Saite's appearance in a con that the term was for 10 years? Which is it? Anyone have anything more concrete?

Jayne: "You got yourself lookin' mighty hideous!"

ECGORDON

Monday, July 5, 2004 3:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SouthernMerc:
Five years? I thought I read in the transcript from Jewel Staite's appearance in a con that the term was for 10 years? Which is it? Anyone have anything more concrete?

There hasn't been anything officially announced that I am aware of, just things mentioned by Nathan and Jewel at cons. I doubt if they have seen the actual agreement between FOX and Universal. On another thread recently I speculated that it was more than likely Universal that wanted the stipulation that FOX could not pursue a new series, which would undercut their production of the film(s), rather than the other way around. I find it hard to believe FOX would not relent on giving up TV rights if enough money was involved, other than the fact they would be too stubborn to admit they were wrong for canceling the series in the first place. But then again, they essentially did that when they sold the theatrical rights.

And before anyone counters with the fact that Joss would not deal with FOX and Universal at the same time, bear in mind that FOX's tv rights probably have no stipulation that Joss would be the producer of the show. If they have the rights to the title Firefly, and the basic concept of the show, given enough incentive they could do a spinoff and leave Joss out of the loop entirely, unless Universal stipulated otherwise in their contract.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

SOUTHERNMERC

Monday, July 5, 2004 8:33 PM

So we really don't know then, gordo? Dangit. In the dark it seems.

Jayne: "You got yourself lookin' mighty hideous!"

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