First-run syndication may be the best

POSTED BY: tvdir
UPDATED: Monday, December 23, 2002 16:34
VIEWED: 6698
PAGE 1 of 1

TVDIR

Monday, December 16, 2002 4:59 AM

I hope Joss can bring FF back. My take would be first-run syndication. If he can get enough oversea financing (how is the show doing oversea and Canada?)... maybe. I noticed "Starhunter" has several countries backing that show ("Starhunter" just started here in the US, but it has been on for more than two years in other countries). A lot of shows have been cancelled due to backers dropping out (last season, "Relic Hunter" and "VIP")

There's a remote chance for FF to be picked up by Sci-Fi for new episodes. They did it with "Stargate" and "Sliders." But, of course, those shows had several seasons under the belt. It was the production companies like MGM that wanted "Stargate" to continue so they could have more episodes for syndication. This is the main reason...enough episodes, better syndication, better profit. FF has only 15 episodes, just enough for Sci-Fi to show reruns as special programming.

UPN and WB. The WB may be still hard feelings toward Joss due to the problems with "Buffy" and moving it to UPN. "Angel" is under contract with the frog network.

UPN may be interested, but Paramount's main baby is "Star Trek", aka "Enterprise." That is their franchise.

Who knows? It will be hard, but I hope Joss will find another home for FF. First-run syndication would be the perfect fit...at least he would get one full season of 22 episodes (unless show really tanks in the ratings for local stations).

My thoughts from a really sad fan

INVISIBLEGREEN

Monday, December 16, 2002 6:17 PM

Actually, "VIP" ended because the German company that co-produced had some sort of problem, (probably financial, but I'm not sure).

And I don't think syndication is a good path. Syndicated programming does not recieve any critical acclaim, which is important to a series that wants to last and stay quality. Also, local stations abriged the content of syndicated programming and replace a couple minutes of the program with more commercials. I am strongly anti-abridgement and would not like to see this happen.

HOTARUANNE

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 1:15 AM

i think FF is doing all right here in canada...it's on global where i'm at and it's along with other great shows so...i don't know ::shrugs:: i think Mutant X is on first-run from what i know and i think it's doing all right...

http://glaivemaster.cjb.net/
Just another Firefly fan

DARKANGELSLAYER

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 1:19 AM

Quote:
UPN and WB. The WB may be still hard feelings toward Joss due to the problems with "Buffy" and moving it to UPN. "Angel" is under contract with the frog network.

I really don't think the WB would take FF with their demographics. UPN is probably our best shot.

TVDIR

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 2:38 AM

Quote:
And I don't think syndication is a good path. Syndicated programming does not recieve any critical acclaim, which is important to a series that wants to last and stay quality. Also, local stations abriged the content of syndicated programming and replace a couple minutes of the program with more commercials. I am strongly anti-abridgement and would not like to see this happen.

I'm not quite sure about critical acclaim, but the show would last longer in syndication...at least a season. Of course, it depends on the stations who wins the right of FF to air the show in a good time slot. Many syndication shows land up in late night / early morning. "Andromedia" and the weekly reruns of "Stargate" have done well in syndication. "Star Trek: TNG" and "DS9" were syndicated.

Adding extra commercials for the show is not the station doing for the most part (except there are some stations being invesigated by using a time expander device, which is a no-no). It's set.

Old reruns of network shows are getting chopped for more commericals (that's the syndicator's doing. NBC's Friends and syndicated-rerun Friends are different. You get less show (scenes cut) in syndication because WB Distribution inserts more commerical time. Every rerun loses scenes; that's the business).

If FF went to syndication, the commerical times would already be set, since the program is made for first-run syndication. An hour show has apx. 14 minutes of break. Of course, there will be more commerical time in syndication than what you get on FOX.

ATOMICBLONDE

Saturday, December 21, 2002 3:16 PM

understatemnet of the year!!! i dont think i missed an episode of ff.... but i never ever saw one commercial for it anywhere, never saw any characters plugging it on leno or late night, nothing....and i watch the hell out of tv.
gee like the last michael jackson album it surely helps lol
only thing i ever saw for it was just before they actualy were playign it saying that its coming on next...
i just happend to catch it one night and fell in love
what a jip!!!!
im soo upset about this...
i really cant express it enough...
;(
fox is starting to act like the nbc must see tv night cancelling anything that anyone might like to watch....

miss you Mal

TINYTIMM

Monday, December 23, 2002 4:34 PM

Quote:
understatemnet of the year!!! i dont think i missed an episode of ff.... but i never ever saw one commercial for it anywhere, never saw any characters plugging it on leno or late night, nothing....and i watch the hell out of tv.

I've seen ads on Foxnews channel, including the flagship O'Reilly Report.
I've seen ads on the History Channel and TLC during Junkyard Wars, a Geek magnet.

Jeff
Who figures Fox gave it a campaign as good as John Doe