13 Episodes?

POSTED BY: Jonwes
UPDATED: Thursday, December 21, 2006 00:32
VIEWED: 4881
PAGE 1 of 2

1 2 NEXT PAGE

JONWES

Sunday, May 26, 2002 5:11 AM

I wonder, are there just 13 episodes ordered by Fox at this point and it will be picked up for a proper 22-26 episode season later or is this all the episodes that will be ordered?

I know a lot of series are going toward 13 episode seasons on CABLE, especially if production costs are high - but I'd really like at least 21-22 episodes.

So long and thanks for the fish

WOLFRAM

Monday, May 27, 2002 4:53 AM

13 episodes ordered so far. Typical of a new series, then after a few have been aired, the network decides to either order more, or pass on the option.

TIEKA

Monday, May 27, 2002 12:34 PM

IIRC, Buffy started out with 'just' 13 episodes, and we all know how that turned out.

The one thing that gives me hope is the other networks that will be picking up the show and airing it at a later date. With two seperate networks, there are at least two places that like the idea enough to leave a spot open for Firefly. Personally, I think the market is good enough for Joss and Firefly. Even if FOX cancels it in mid-season, one of the other networks may pick it up.

Since the biggest factor for show survival is $$$, having a little bit of that recovered will keep FOX a lot happier. So whether it is $$ recovered, or alternate networks, I think Firefly has a real good chance of lasting for several years.

Tieka
to Firefly

/:>Cannot find REALITY.SYS...Universe Halted.

HAKEN

Monday, May 27, 2002 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Tieka:
I think Firefly has a real good chance of lasting for several years.

I definately hope so.

JONWES

Monday, May 27, 2002 2:05 PM

Airing twice could hurt though too, right? What if Fox's ratings suffer because everyone knows they can watch it a few days later? Will Fox take that into account? Or will they not care since it won't be making them money that way? Law & Order does this and doesn't seem to suffer, but that show is huge right now. I'm honestly suprised a deal like this wasn't worked out with FX, since they are owned by Fox, right?

JONWES

Monday, May 27, 2002 2:05 PM

Airing twice could hurt though too, right? What if Fox's ratings suffer because everyone knows they can watch it a few days later? Will Fox take that into account? Or will they not care since it won't be making them money that way? Law & Order does this and doesn't seem to suffer, but that show is huge right now. I'm honestly suprised a deal like this wasn't worked out with FX, since they are owned by Fox, right?

MOJOECA

Monday, May 27, 2002 5:22 PM

Originally posted by Jonwes:
Airing twice could hurt though too, right? What if Fox's ratings suffer because everyone knows they can watch it a few days later?

Presumably, the money the network gets from Sci-Fi (150K?) offsets the lower ratings for the first-runs on FOX.

But, I wonder if it's myth that audience builds for first-run presentations from watching encores. ABC runs Alias repeats on ABC Family, but I don't believe their first-run ratings ever went up significantly. Same with FOX's 24. Once and Again was airing on Lifetime (and still does) but it was canceled. Encores, I think, are mostly viewed by die-hards who just want to re-watch. Science Fiction shows, being a niche, aren't expected to be the next ER. So I think it's just a "this is a frellin' expensive show, how do we make are money back if it tanks?" kinda deal.

And that concludes my very first post on this site. Woo-hoo!

TIEKA

Monday, May 27, 2002 7:41 PM

I don't know about other people, but I know that I am more likely to watch a show if it has more than one time slot. I don't care if it's on different stations. If I miss an episode, I just watch the next airing. If there is no encore, I get depressed and quit watching the show all together. I never got into 24 because I missed the second episode, and there was no encore, so phhhht. I missed a great show, but it wasn't right for me. I'm sure an encore showing would have made the difference.

As for losing ratings, the name of the game is $$. If shows are aired more than once, then more advertisers get thier spots, more people are exposed to the possible merchandising and the production company just rakes it in. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the encores pay the bills.

Tieka,
sharing a with Mojoeca

/:>Cannot find REALITY.SYS...Universe Halted.

WOLFRAM

Monday, May 27, 2002 11:42 PM

(keep in mind, this is just what I *heard*)

FOX was initially rebroadcasting on FX later on in the week. Apparently, this was a source of declining ratings, and when the FX rebroadcasts were killed, the first run ratings went up to a more "acceptable" level.

again---just what I heard.

MOJOECA

Tuesday, May 28, 2002 1:07 AM

That's interesting. So 24 was being re-aired for the sole purpose of attracting new viewers and keeping regulars (who may have missed an ep)--which failed.

I wonder if FX was paying money to air 24? Complicated economics ... FX pays to air BtVS and X-Files, but both are produced by 20th Century Fox which owns FX, right? It pays money to itself?? Now when it comes to Firefly, and why it's not airing on FX, I assume the money FOX would make in ad revanue--revninu -- how the heck do you spell revenue? Oh. Right. I forgot what I was going to say. It wasn't important anyway.

1 2 NEXT PAGE