Subscription-based Firefly? by Browncoatish

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Subscription-based Firefly?

POSTED BY: BROWNCOATISH
UPDATED: Sunday, December 11, 2005 13:19
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VIEWED: 1890
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Saturday, December 10, 2005 7:50 PM

Bear with me...

The Apple-based iTunes music store has recently offered downloads of current and vintage television programs for (about) $2/episode. For that fee you can download the program to your computer and watch it any time you want. You can share it with others (a few times) even burn DVD's from it.

This is new. No one has tried this before, but it's working. I believe apple has sold >1,000,000 shows so far, and most of the big TV networks are "on-board"...offering their programming.

As I understand it, an episode of Firefly cost $1-2 million to make...usually closer to 2.

Based on ticket sales for Serenity (which weren't what I was hoping for, but weren't horrible either), there are around a million hardcore Firefly fans.

Which brings me to my idea....

Why don't we campaign for an opportunity to "pre-order" a season of Firefly?

I would certainly shell out $20 for 10 new episodes of Firefly! Heck, I'd commit my credit card to that in advance of the episodes being produced...and I'll bet we could convince a healthy number of Firefly fans out there to do the same!

;)

Think about it.

No commercials, no timeslots, no executive-decisions to air the episodes out of sequence, no re-scheduling.

We, the fans, could make a pre-emptive commitment to "buy" a season of Firefly. The decision would no longer be in the hands of studio executives, nor would advertising, demographics, scheduling, etc.

The fans make a financial commitment. The studio has a no-lose scenario. If we can muster enough support to cover the production costs of a show, broadcast revenue would be pure gravy.

And we'd get more Firefly's and we'd own them on our computers.

;)

You never know, the idea might pick up speed. Maybe some programs could be produced without ever needing to be broadcast on television in the first place.

Forget subscribing to 70 channels of cable for $30+ per month. Instead, subscribe specifically for the programming you want, delivered to your home entertainment system on-demand.

And what better program to take the Vangard then Firefly/Serenity?

Imagine what Joss could do....

:)

Please let me know what you think.

- browncoatish

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Saturday, December 10, 2005 8:05 PM

JERRYT

Sounds like something to look at.

I'm just trying to figure what the logistics would be like trying to get a firm commitment for that much money from so many people.

I mean, you would have to figure that nothing would even be started without that firm knowledge of a guaranteed cash flow.

Would love to find a way to make Firefly happen again though.

JerryT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll be in my bunk"

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Sunday, December 11, 2005 1:13 PM

BARD

Quote:
Originally posted by Browncoatish:
Bear with me...

This is new. No one has tried this before, but it's working. . . . Why don't we campaign for an opportunity to "pre-order" a season of Firefly? . . . . Think about it.

It's an awesome idea. No telling how difficult, at the cutting edge of a new paradigm for development, production, and marketing . . . but I agree this is the new thing, and will happen at some time, some way, for many new shows.

The idea has been kicked around before . . . some lengthy and animated discussions have happened. Here is my attempt to keep track of key threads (including, now, yours

):

Subscription-based Firefly? 1 12.10.2005 20:05

ITS TIME! Post How much you would personally give to Joss Whedon & Co. to get our Ship in the air AGAIN! 268 12.8.2005 14:46

New York Magazine article that talks about a new revolution in TV... discusses the posibility of resurrecting Firefly 11.14.2005 11:15

$2.00 could have saved Firefly? 11.1.2005 15:14

Firefly = TV series: then, now, and forever... 19 10.23.2005 20:29

Lets take it into our own hands 42 10.23.2005 04:51

Hi Firefly. Hello pain. 40 10.21.2005 20:26

Discussion for the subject: What happened to my show, 'cause Serenity wasn't it?! 106 10.11.2005 17:51

What about the advantage of having some non-threadbased forum (a dedicated web site?) where key facts, articles, ideas, and debates are preserved?

THE ANTIREAVER has stated he know lawyers and such . . . things such as prospectuses (prospecti?), position papers, legal briefs could be posted.

As could nuts-and-bolts details about how this is working with Apple, and how it has worked elsewhere (the UK, Australia . . .)

I think this could work . . . if we stumble determinedly onward . . .

I have never heard a whisper about how Whedon, Mutant Enemy, et al would receive the idea . . . though those posters who sound most industry-savvy sound skeptical. I'd give my coffee-stained eye teeth to hear what Joss & Co. say about this stuff off-record . . .

------------------

"I'm thinking we'll rise again."

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Sunday, December 11, 2005 1:19 PM

BARD

Quote:
Originally posted by Browncoatish:
Bear with me...

This is new. No one has tried this before, but it's working. . . . Why don't we campaign for an opportunity to "pre-order" a season of Firefly? . . . . Think about it.

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