General Discussions

Possible glimmer of hope?

POSTED BY: LABrowncoat
UPDATED: Monday, October 31, 2005 19:36
VIEWED: 695
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LABROWNCOAT

Monday, October 31, 2005 7:36 PM

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but I saw a news article in the Independent Online Edition (UK) http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article323592.ece that seems to indicate at least a way for the SciFi channel to make new episodes of Firefly.

Here is the excerpt about Nick Betts with SciFi in the UK:

Quote:
Sci Fi already enjoys relationships with its geekish cousins in other media, such as the magazine SFX and websites including aintitcool.com. But Betts wants to make more original programming such as the recent Firefly weekend, which was filmed in Los Angeles with Joss Whedon, the writer of the hit series, its movie spin-off Serenity, and before that Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Making sci-fi is "incredibly expensive with the costumes and the sets", complains Betts, and he hopes that the UK channel can work on joint productions with the US channel and other partners to share costs. Sci Fi UK has had to look on as hit programmes made by NBC Universal such as Battlestar Galactica and Stargate have been sold in the UK to the highest bidder, in those cases BSkyB.

A lot can be read into this quote but it looks like 1) Sci Fi UK has worked with Joss Whedon 2) They are very interested in acquiring new properties and since they have been outbid by their deeper pocket rivals they will look to produce their own and 3) They are actively looking to share production costs with the likes of SciFi Channel USA (or others).

On the surface it could be a win-win situation for all -- the major issue with a SciFi show is its cost and having two networks share the burden would certainly help balance the books! Correct me if I'm wrong, but Serenity is doing well in the UK and I'm sure the SciFi Channel has a ton of data regarding viewership of the Firefly reruns.