13 Episodes? by Jonwes

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

13 Episodes?

POSTED BY: JONWES
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 14:32
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VIEWED: 3751
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Saturday, May 25, 2002 7:11 PM

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

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Sunday, May 26, 2002 6:53 PM

WOLFRAM

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.

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Monday, May 27, 2002 2:34 AM

TIEKA

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.

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Monday, May 27, 2002 2:53 AM

HAKEN

Likes to mess with stuffs.

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

I definately hope so.

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Monday, May 27, 2002 4:05 AM

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? 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?

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Monday, May 27, 2002 4:05 AM

JONWES

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Monday, May 27, 2002 7:22 AM

MOJOECA

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!

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Monday, May 27, 2002 9:41 AM

TIEKA

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.

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Monday, May 27, 2002 1:42 PM

WOLFRAM

(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.

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Monday, May 27, 2002 3:07 PM

MOJOECA

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.

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Monday, May 27, 2002 3:18 PM

WOLFRAM

Not necesarily that it *failed*---it probably did bring in viewers---viewers that kept watching 24 on FX, instead of watching it on FOX (for the ratings, when it matters). Once the FX airing was pulled, if a viewer wanted to stick to the program, they had no choice but to turn the dial to FOX, thus upping the ratings.

As far as the money matters, they may be sister companies, but they are still separate entities. Most likely, the sole decision on whether to re-air a show on FX vs. another network is money. Will they make more on ad revenue plus whatever FX is going to shell out(probably a highly reduced rate)? Or, will the alternate network be willing to pay enough that it makes good business sense to re-air it on another network? In this case, it seems option #2 came out ahead.

In other syndication tidbits, I did hear that sci-fi also got the X-Files syndication rights. Soooo FX may not be in the most profitable place right now...

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Monday, May 27, 2002 3:22 PM

MOJOECA

Ah, thanks for that. I think that's where my reasoning was heading before the light bulb burnt out.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2002 6:39 PM

WOLFRAM

Hehe. *steals a bulb from Serenity and hands it to Mojeca* Shh...don't tell Joss!

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Wednesday, December 20, 2006 2:32 PM

KURYA

um.... yeah... specualtion that firefly will last for seasons and even if cancelled other networks would pick it up *SOBS*... but I guess nobody would have guessed tha t movie would be made!
Prakash

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