UK airdate of Firefly? by Guantes

I sent emails to the relevant departments of Channel 4, the BBC and Sky One. So far the response has been:

A phone call from a lady at the BBC, which was left on my answering machine in the UK (I am in Canada right now)` consisting of "We have no current plans to screen Firefly. But your request has been passed on, and if we get
lots more, we may change our minds. "

An email from Sky One,

Quote:

Dear Tabitha

Thank you for your email about Firefly.

Sky has no plans at present to broadcast this series. However, your
interest has been noted and passed to Sky One for their information.

Thank you for your continued interest in Sky.

Kind regards

Margaret Tannock
Viewer Relations

No response as yet from Channel 4...

If you want to pester one of these Channels (and maybe increase your chances of seeing the show sooner rather than later), go to:

www.sky.com/skyone - then use the feedback popup (linked to at the bottom of the main page)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/contact/feedback.shtml for the BBC

http://www.channel4.com/about_c4/comments/tv_enquiries.cfm for Channel Four

I am open to any other suggestions too :)

That was as of about one month ago, I actually dropped in here hoping someone else had some news!

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Monday, August 12, 2002 2:48 AM

GUANTES

Cool thanks for that Tabitha! You really put some effort into hunting down some chances for us UK peeps..... I've sent in mails to all three to ask if they have plans to show Firefly. I know what the answer will be now but at least I'll count for more interest!

If anyone else in the UK is bored and thinks it might make a difference (Which I doubt) then do the same!

Phil
"Its just like fun B.... only boring." -Faith

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Monday, August 12, 2002 8:05 AM

No problem.

I am actually quite surprised Sky One hasn't picked this up yet - they did grab Dark Angel pretty quick after all, and I reckon this series sounds like a sure-fire ratings winner for the station.
I just hope SKy gets it rather than one of the other channels, because they will air it quickly and at a reasonable time (with no breaks for Cricket or snooker!).

Tab

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Friday, August 23, 2002 9:12 PM

FYI - Sky One has announced some of its Autumn pick ups in the following press release:

http://www.skypublicity.co.uk/press_o.asp?rel=241

Firefly is conspicuous by its absence :(

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Saturday, August 24, 2002 3:11 AM

GUANTES

See my no surprises face.... Sky one will most probably pick Firefly up, but if they do it'll be later than Autumn.... Maybe next :(

After all they have to allow the US to get the shows a full 3 months before we do...... Why is that?

You'll also note that Buffy Angel and Enterprise are notable exceptions.... So we may still be in luck if they put Firefly on when they are released.

sigh......

Phil
"I'm not ashamed. It's the computer age. Nerds are in. They're still in, right?" -Willow

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Saturday, August 24, 2002 4:03 AM

SHUGGIE

It has to do with the way the US TV year works.

Basically the 22 episodes are spread out over something like 35 weeks, the gaps being filled with repeats of old episodes.

So for example season 6 started in the US on Oct 2nd 2001, here in the UK on Jan 10th 2002. Because Sky showed them uninterupted by the time we get to "Two to Go" Sky is only 2 days behind the US.

If you want Firefly at the same time as the US - you'll end up with a similar schedule. Gaps and all.

Shug

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Saturday, August 24, 2002 9:04 AM

Yeh, that's what I was thinking - SKy might still pick it up, but start airing it in early January along with Buffy and Angel. You'll notice in that press release that there is no mention of when these other shows return - so I think we can keep our fingers crossed for January, or even March.

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Saturday, September 21, 2002 3:42 AM

Sky will probably pick it up, i think there just waiting to see how it will do ratings wise in the US. If it does we'll, it'll either air January along with Buffy and Angel or June once B and A have ended their run.

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Sunday, September 29, 2002 3:09 PM

I spoke last week to a friend at Sky 1 and he stated that they are indeed watching the show's ratings before making an offer on the show although considering that Firefly fell to a 3.6/7 which is lower than last weeks premiere in the US and rumours are already abound that Fox are planning on axing the show (Dark Angel which it replaced didn’t slip as low), I doubt that Sky 1 will end up picking it up unless they get it "cheap".
Personally I’ve seen the episode "The Train" and it’s ok (but not great)

but I really think it should be given a chance. It could get better.

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Sunday, September 29, 2002 3:32 PM

JERRY

I don't know much about British TV, but I would think they wouldn't make a decision about Firefly until it either is or is not picked up for a full season by Fox.

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Sunday, September 29, 2002 4:48 PM

UKTV has a habit of picking up shows before they are fully commited to by their US counterparts.
Crusade (Babylon 5 spinoff) being one show that springs immediately to mind (It was cancelled in the US before the first episode was even broadcast) and Dark Angel was commited to purely on James Cameron's reputation.
I would have thought that based purely on the successes of Joss Whedon's other TV ventures it would have TV execs over here salivating at the thought of it. I guess we'll have to wait and see...

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Sunday, September 29, 2002 5:10 PM

JERRY

I think Dark Angel was widely expected to be a huge hit, which it turned out not to be. Despite Joss's reputation, I think most people regarded Firefly as a bit of a risky proposition. Joss is trying to move up in weight class by going from the netlets to Fox, and the shelving of the pilot didn't help. I can see why a UK station would take a wait and see approach.

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Monday, September 30, 2002 8:58 AM

I doubt Sky is going to make an offer on it until they know for sure that the show is going to last. I mean, what's the point in ordering a show only to have it axed in the US by ep 5. Kinda pointless.

P.S. Just an example. I wish Firefly no harm.

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Monday, September 30, 2002 11:30 AM

I dont know. I mean they (Sky) bought Crusade and it was only half a (US) season. It really left things hanging too

.

I suppose they are only really waiting to see if it's a success as that will impact on how much they are willing to pay for it. If it disappears after only a few episodes they'll probably be able to pick it up quite cheaply (and run it at 1am or thereabouts).

Basically I think the UK will see Firefly. It's just a matter of when.

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Friday, October 4, 2002 5:18 AM

I want to see FireFly succeed, cause Farscape has been cancelled. There aren't many great scifi shows on nowadays. I mean Enterprise isn't really great...yet...hopefully.

I just hope when we do get to see it, it's not cancelled by then.

SkyOne's new year line will probably look like this:

Mon: Enterprise / insert scifi show "FireFly"
Tue: Reality programmes
Wed: Stargate/Odyssey 5
Thur: Buffy/Angel/Scrubs

Alias will probably move to a Tues or Fri

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Friday, October 4, 2002 7:02 AM

Well as of 14th October Monday is going to be Andromeda/Mutant X. Whether they will both "take a break" at the new year to allow Enterprise/Firefly is another story.

Looking at the US fall lineup I think we are more likely to see Birds of Prey (WB) than Firefly simply because Sky have already mentioned an interest in it but when quizzed about firefly their initial response was:

"Unfortunately, Sky has no information with regard to this series."

Personally I'd like to see both

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Friday, October 11, 2002 1:56 PM

Well Sproglet, like you I want to see them both too.

The chances of SkyOne getting Birds of Prey are likely, but Channel 4 seems more of a definite, since they do have Smallville... and Smallville has given them brilliant ratings, no1 a few times.
I think Channel 4 are more keen.

Firefly will no doubt be on SkyOne, cause Skyone knows that Joss Whedon's shows are always a winner, even if the show doesn't last, it'll be great publicity for them. They'll need a scifi show to pair up with Enterprsie since DA has been cancelled.

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Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:13 AM

http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,811197,00.html

Sky One is not far behind Channel 4 in terms of attracting the best US TV has to offer, helped by its close relationship with fellow News Corporation subsidiary Fox studios. New Fox offerings this autumn that are likely to end up on Sky One include a new show from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, the sci-fi western drama Firefly. Sky One will also probably get first dibs on Fox's Girls Club, a relationship-driven series set in a San Francisco legal firm that is Ally McBeal producer David E Kelley's latest offering.

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Wednesday, October 16, 2002 12:17 PM

A few points that may counter some of the above arguments.

Sky One picked up Odyssey 5 with only a 14 episode commitment , and is obviously promoting it quite heavily.
I also think that Odyssey 5's ratings might not have been stellar - considering the original broadcast network.
Bearing in mind that Odyssey 5 will probably break for a while before the next set of new epsiodes airs, Firefly would be a great partner for SG1 on the Wednesday night. SG1 might well end fairly early too - Sky do like their double eps.

I wonder how much cost and ratings really have to do with this decision? Sky do buy quite a lot of shows from Fox, so perhaps they might get it as part of a package.

Another possibility is Channel 5, since I have returned from Canada I have noticed that this channel's programming seems more and more Americanised, and similar in format to Sky One. They just started airing Dark Angel re-runs I believe.
I might look into contacting C5.

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Wednesday, October 16, 2002 2:44 PM

Hi Tabitha, great post

Just one thing though, SkyOne had announced that they are gonna show "Jeremiah" soon. So I doubt they'll show Firefly after Odyssey5 run, but there is certainly a chance. Hopefully Firefly will be shown in the New Year, I don't care what channel it's on, as long I get to see it, even if the show does end up being cancelled after 13 episodes.

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Thursday, October 17, 2002 10:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by William:
I don't care what channel it's on, as long I get to see it, even if the show does end up being cancelled after 13 episodes.

Here Here!

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Friday, October 25, 2002 7:24 AM

Oh No !

SkyOne have decided to broadcast "Jeremiah" December 16th ! I hope it doesn't mean, no FireFly. Cause they might show

Enterprise @ 8pm, then Jeremiah @ 9pm !

And it'll be unlikely they'll show a new show at 10pm...

Hopefully another channel like Channel 4, even BBC 2 will pick-up the show :)

Like I said before, I don't care what channel, at what time. As long they show the show soon in the U.K

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Friday, October 25, 2002 9:30 AM

Might I venture a small "Oh Yes!"?

I have been waiting to see Jeremiah for quite some time now, so I am quite glad that we will finally start seeing it.

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Friday, October 25, 2002 3:14 PM

Tabitha, I've been waiting not so long, Jeremiah. It sounds alright, but it's not Firefly...

I'll still check it out though :)

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Sunday, October 27, 2002 4:19 AM

JONDUPONT

Well, seeing as I don't have Sky One (although probably getting it

) I must admit to having a slightly biased hope that 1-5 will get it.

I think I'd even prefer E4, because then we might get it in widescreen. Then again, Sky One is apparently going WS soon.

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Sunday, October 27, 2002 9:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by JonDupont:

I think I'd even prefer E4, because then we might get it in widescreen. Then again, Sky One is apparently going WS soon.

From what I've read, only the premiere episode (and perhaps the re-tooled pilot) are in widescreen. I agree that it is about time Sky went widescreen though - it's very frustrating knowing that they aren't showing us things in all their glory.

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Sunday, October 27, 2002 1:39 PM

JONDUPONT

Well, yeah, but Buffy isn't shown in 16:9 in the States either but we still get it that way over here. Same with Alias & Smallville, I believe.

I'm sure ME have a WS version ready.

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Tuesday, November 5, 2002 1:44 PM

As much I want to see Firefly in the U.K, I just don't see it happening say early next year, probably around mid-June, when Buffy finishes it's seventh season on SkyOne. That is if Skyone picks-up the series.

Skyone might not even pick-it-up. Sci-Fi might show it, since they did show "FreakLinks", which is also a show that was shown on FOX.

So everyone focus emails to Sci-Fi UK also...

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Saturday, November 9, 2002 11:13 AM

Actually Scifi in the Uk have been doing pretty well recently - getting shows like Witchblade and The Dead Zone on their first UK runs. Add to that the deal SciFi in the US have done with Fox over rebroadcasts, and maybe we will get it there.
I am not sure exactly what relationship Scifi in the US have with the UK version, but I am sure there is some link.

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Saturday, November 9, 2002 3:16 PM

Yeah, I know Sci-Fi does a great job at their programming... I'm really enjoying Witchblade and The Dead Zone :)

You know, it is possible, maybe Sci-Fi UK will show Firefly early next year. Since WitchBlade and The Dead Zone both finish by the end of this year. Maybe they'll show FF in one of their timeslots !

So please anyone in the UK who wants to see FF, please send letters/emails to Sci-Fi, or SkyOne

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Sunday, November 17, 2002 3:08 PM

Well, i was checking out Odyssey 5, episode guide. And I found out that the season is being pre-empted just after ep 14, so that means there's only 5 more episodes to be shown on skyone for now... which means: Wednesday night 9pm slot will be availible for a sci-fi show. Hopefully SkyOne will show Firefly at that time slot.

And no, Jeremiah will not be shown at that time slot, cause it clearly says on skytext that Jeremiah will be shown on Monday 16th.

So start emailing sky now :)

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Tuesday, November 19, 2002 1:06 AM

/edit

My original reply (about Xmas breaks and stuff) was after a misreading of your post. By pre-empted, do you mean that there are only 14 eps of O5, or that after 14 eps have been shown on Sky, they will be taking a break?

If they are taking a break, it may be for Xmas - SG1 is taking a two week break at that point too.

Still, emails to sky is no skin off my nose

Also, more episodes of Firefly - yay! The longer it lasts, the better chance we have!

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Tuesday, November 19, 2002 7:07 AM

I recently e-mailed both Sky One and the Sci-fi channel and both of their response where not at this time, thanks for blah blah blah.

We're half way through November. I don't think sky or sci fi is picking this up for January, which gives the impression either another channel will, we're waiting till June or not getting it at all.

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Saturday, November 23, 2002 9:30 AM