You know there are times when you want to jump up and down and say "See!! see!! I told you so".
During the whole TNT/Crusade debacle, my wife and I realized that, consistent with past history, network TV will rarely, if ever, be a stable venue for quality Science Fiction. It's just that hopeless (for example, a year before "Firefly" aired I told a friend that the FOX network will not "get it" and that it would be lucky if it got a full season). It was also around that time that DVDs really started to take-off. Shortly thereafter I realized that DUH!!!, if we are ever going to see great science fiction for the small screen then the middle man i.e. the networks must be removed from the equation. With the wide accpetance of the DVD format and digital downloading on the horizon, the removal of the middle man is now starting to happen.
Catch this press release from MGM
Both Warner and MGM are bypassing the networks and taking their product directly to the consumer (as it should be). And it is important to note that each company is starting their product line with their popular Science Fiction properties, "Babylon 5" for Warner and "Stargate" for MGM. It would seem that they understand the great desire amongst SF fans to see good science fiction.
The technology has made it possible for a new business model to emerge. A model that will prove VERY beneficial for the Science Fiction fan. No longer will the SF fan have to hope that his favorite series will not be diluted by a network (ala Crusade, Star Trek etc...). No longer will that fan have to suffer through mindless cancelation and scheduling mistakes that doomed so many other SF shows (Firefly, Space: Above and Beyond). No longer will he/she have to rely on ratings delivered by a general public that does not understand or care to understand science fiction. Rather, the science fiction fan himself will get to vote with his wallet. It will not be perfect, there will be different problems, but I believe this business model offers the SF fan a much better chance to see good science fiction than the network model did.
Unlike in the past, if Babylon 5: TLT fails then it will be partly due to the fans not seeing it as something worthy of support. I know there are still issues of marketing and promotion, this is why I say "partly". However I believe that the production companies understand that this is a new model and that they will try to market their content as best as they can.
It's a whole new ballgame and I can't wait for kick-off.
During the whole TNT/Crusade debacle, my wife and I realized that, consistent with past history, network TV will rarely, if ever, be a stable venue for quality Science Fiction. It's just that hopeless (for example, a year before "Firefly" aired I told a friend that the FOX network will not "get it" and that it would be lucky if it got a full season). It was also around that time that DVDs really started to take-off. Shortly thereafter I realized that DUH!!!, if we are ever going to see great science fiction for the small screen then the middle man i.e. the networks must be removed from the equation. With the wide accpetance of the DVD format and digital downloading on the horizon, the removal of the middle man is now starting to happen.
Catch this press release from MGM
Both Warner and MGM are bypassing the networks and taking their product directly to the consumer (as it should be). And it is important to note that each company is starting their product line with their popular Science Fiction properties, "Babylon 5" for Warner and "Stargate" for MGM. It would seem that they understand the great desire amongst SF fans to see good science fiction.
The technology has made it possible for a new business model to emerge. A model that will prove VERY beneficial for the Science Fiction fan. No longer will the SF fan have to hope that his favorite series will not be diluted by a network (ala Crusade, Star Trek etc...). No longer will that fan have to suffer through mindless cancelation and scheduling mistakes that doomed so many other SF shows (Firefly, Space: Above and Beyond). No longer will he/she have to rely on ratings delivered by a general public that does not understand or care to understand science fiction. Rather, the science fiction fan himself will get to vote with his wallet. It will not be perfect, there will be different problems, but I believe this business model offers the SF fan a much better chance to see good science fiction than the network model did.
Unlike in the past, if Babylon 5: TLT fails then it will be partly due to the fans not seeing it as something worthy of support. I know there are still issues of marketing and promotion, this is why I say "partly". However I believe that the production companies understand that this is a new model and that they will try to market their content as best as they can.
It's a whole new ballgame and I can't wait for kick-off.
Comment