[mizhog]

seems a change channel choice

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by mizhog

seems a change channel choice

Nobody else wanted it, Universal presumably gave up all hope of selling it, so dropped the price. BBC Four want cheap stuff, with rewatch value. It's cheap and good value for money, and if the audience like it, it won't cost too much for them to acquire loads more episodes, which can eventually enter daily repeats (helping fill out BBC Four's schedule and making them even better value for money).

[nw0307]

Originally Posted by theonlyweeman

Nobody else wanted it, Universal presumably gave up all hope of selling it, so dropped the price. BBC Four want cheap stuff, with rewatch value. It's cheap and good value for money, and if the audience like it, it won't cost too much for them to acquire loads more episodes, which can eventually enter daily repeats (helping fill out BBC Four's schedule and making them even better value for money).

and if it is successful in the ratings, then Sky will buy up all the episodes of later series like they did with Lost and Mad Men, limiting the amount of viewers

[alternate]

Originally Posted by nw0307

and if it is successful in the ratings, then Sky will buy up all the episodes of later series like they did with Lost and Mad Men, limiting the amount of viewers

It is never going to get more than a niche audience. BBC4 have low expectations.

[Gulfam1]

Originally Posted by alternate

It is never going to get more than a niche audience. BBC4 have low expectations.

But loads of newspapers and sites will no doubt tempt people by running stories asking whether people are watching or why people should watch, shows I believe get more popular due to this word of mouth its happened in the past with Justified and Sons of Anarchy etc.

....and Sky buying the show might limit the viewers in the case of Mad Men however when they bought Spartacus after Bravo closed I believe they made it more popular here in the UK by introducing it to more mainstream viewers.

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by nw0307

and if it is successful in the ratings, then Sky will buy up all the episodes of later series like they did with Lost and Mad Men, limiting the amount of viewers

I doubt it, Sky don't really have a vendetta against BBC Four and it's viewers...

[derek500]

Originally Posted by nw0307

and if it is successful in the ratings, then Sky will buy up all the episodes of later series like they did with Lost and Mad Men, limiting the amount of viewers

At least we'll get it in HD then.

[Jerrica09]

Has this started? I really want to watch it!

Edit - google says it starts on 6th march *phew*

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by Jerrica09

Has this started? I really want to watch it!

Edit - google says it starts on 6th march *phew*

It will go up on the iPlayer...

[ep1987]

Season 2 onwards will hopefully be repeated on bbc2/bbc2hd.

[Inkblot]

Originally Posted by ep1987

Season 2 onwards will hopefully be repeated on bbc2/bbc2hd.

Isn't BBC Four the "imports" channel now?

[tichtich]

Originally Posted by nw0307

and if it is successful in the ratings, then Sky will buy up all the episodes of later series like they did with Lost and Mad Men, limiting the amount of viewers

Is it definite that the BBC isn't going to show any more Mad Men? I've been waiting hopefully, bearing in mind that Mad Men production skipped a year, with no episodes that year. But I was already starting to give up hope.

From time to time I sign up to LoveFilm to rent the DVDs for US series I can't get on Freeview. I've just signed up again after an interval of about 3 years, so I have quite a long list to watch. I guess I'll have to add Mad Men to the list. I currently have the following series on my list. Definitely abandoned by Freeview: Supernatural, Entourage, Big Love. Probably abandoned: Nurse Jackie, Breaking Bad, True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Hung. Can anyone upgrade any of these "probablies" to a "definitely" for me?

P.S. Answering my own question, a bit of googling suggests that all of those are as near as dammit to definite.

[MoreTears]

Originally Posted by tichtich

Is it definite that the BBC isn't going to show any more Mad Men? I've been waiting hopefully, bearing in mind that Mad Men production skipped a year, with no episodes that year. But I was already starting to give up hope.

From time to time I sign up to LoveFilm to rent the DVDs for US series I can't get on Freeview. I've just signed up again after an interval of about 3 years, so I have quite a long list to watch. I guess I'll have to add Mad Men to the list. I currently have the following series on my list. Definitely abandoned by Freeview: Supernatural, Entourage, Big Love. Probably abandoned: Nurse Jackie, Breaking Bad, True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Hung. Can anyone upgrade any of these "probablies" to a "definitely" for me?

I think all of those probables are definites. Rent Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights first, is my advice

[tichtich]

Originally Posted by MoreTears

I think all of those probables are definites. Rent Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights first, is my advice

Thanks. Actually, I've already started on Supernatural, The Pacific and Caprica. (I have a few series I want to see that have never been on Freeview, namely those last two plus Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire.) I think I'll finish one of the 3 I've started before I start on a fourth one, probably BB. Unfortunately seasons 3+ of FNL are not even out on UK DVD yet, though season 3 is due out soon.

I've got a few months concentrated viewing of good series to look forward to.

[theonlyweeman]

Re: Previous Posts about BBC Four perhaps not being the best place for P&R.

Wake up, nobody else wanted it. Just be thankful it was picked up at all. Added bonus, it's commercial free and likely to air in double bills throughout it's run...

[Jaycee Dove]

Have they even bought HD rights? Cannot see any repeat even late at night on BBC HD.

I guess if they have wasted money on such rights this is the first casualty (of many?) for the seemingly much desired (by many on here) switch of BBC HD to BBC 2 HD in a couple of weeks.

In reality it means we will get SD programmes upscaled on BBC 2 HD and HD programmes that could have been shown on BBC HD now in SD only in cases like this. Which is no way to run any HD channel.

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by Jaycee Dove

Have they even bought HD rights? Cannot see any repeat even late at night on BBC HD.

I guess if they have wasted money on such rights this is the first casualty (of many?) for the seemingly much desired (by many on here) switch of BBC HD to BBC 2 HD in a couple of weeks.

In reality it means we will get SD programmes upscaled on BBC 2 HD and HD programmes that could have been shown on BBC HD now in SD only in cases like this. Which is no way to run any HD channel.

The BBC requires delivery of all programmes in HD, presumably that also includes acquisitions...

Anyway the BBC appear to be phasing out BBC HD broadcasts of other channels. Being an acquisition probably doesn't help, since BBC HD tends to favour originals...

[Jerrica09]

It's just started now

[jenzie]

just glad it's on AT ALL!!!

next they should get ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and COMMUNITY!

[alcockell]

Originally Posted by jenzie

just glad it's on AT ALL!!!

next they should get ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and COMMUNITY!

Might be another one that could end up being a BBC co-pro to keep the episodes coming after the first 5 series...
Same as the way Series 3 of Fame was a BBC co-pro..

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by alcockell

Might be another one that could end up being a BBC co-pro to keep the episodes coming after the first 5 series...
Same as the way Series 3 of Fame was a BBC co-pro..

Nope. BBC Four has no original comedy/drama budget any more. With mass budget cuts it was decided to focus on original factual content and acquisitions...

Also 5 seasons is way more than the BBC are accustomed to (especially when most are 22/24 episodes long). I think they'd be happy with whatever they can get, especially since they can get daily repeats out of three seasons if they push it (which I'd assume if there endgame - to have a BBC Three Family Guy type scenario, where the show is synonymous with the channel and daily repeats still rate highly for them)...

Originally Posted by jenzie

next they should get ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and COMMUNITY!

Community has been acquired by Sony Entertainment TV (who couldn't even get repeats rights to season 1 - And they make the freaking show... So I doubt BBC Four will get repeat rights)

Always Sunny was picked up (presumably exclusively) by Netflix was it not?

[alcockell]

Originally Posted by theonlyweeman

Nope. BBC Four has no original comedy/drama budget any more. With mass budget cuts it was decided to focus on original factual content and acquisitions...

Also 5 seasons is way more than the BBC are accustomed to (especially when most are 22/24 episodes long). I think they'd be happy with whatever they can get, especially since they can get daily repeats out of three seasons if they push it (which I'd assume if there endgame - to have a BBC Three Family Guy type scenario, where the show is synonymous with the channel and daily repeats still rate highly for them)...

Community has been acquired by Sony Entertainment TV (who couldn't even get repeats rights to season 1 - And they make the freaking show... So I doubt BBC Four will get repeat rights)

Always Sunny was picked up (presumably exclusively) by Netflix was it not?

What about BBCWW cash if it turns out as Vindicated by reruns? You never know...
Then again, 5 series of 24 eps each = 12-week runs...

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by alcockell

What about BBCWW cash if it turns out as Vindicated by reruns? You never know...
Then again, 5 series of 24 eps each = 12-week runs...

Why would BBCWW put up cash? Other than syndication on BBC America, BBC WW would have no interest in the show. They are a corporate entity acting for profit on behalf of the BBC. They will not invest in something they get no return on.

5 seasons 83 episodes (S1: 6 eps S2: 24 eps S3: 16 eps S4&5: 22 eps each) - BBC Four will be fine with that many, and I can assure you it will not be popular enough for the BBC to try and salvage it on it's own (not that it really need salvaging, since a 6th seasons looks likely. The show will probably end naturally before the BBC even catch up with the States...)

[Ambassador]

No-one wanted it. It gets very mixed reviews. One of those critucs darling that viewers are meh-ish

Plus its nigh on 4 years old. Its not going to do anything and no one will take it.

Anyone who wants to see it will have seen it online

[alternate]

So does this continue to be a fairly safe Office a-like (US office)? First couple of eps left me a bit cold.