A little clarification..... Moonlight would air on which ever network picks it up ~ Sci-Fi, FX, USA, TNT, etc. To make it cost effective since cable networks have less $$$, the plan is to ask DirecTV to sponsor Moonlight. In return, they would do product placement &/or advertise their service during the show.
UPDATED INFO! Send all DirecTV emails to this address only ~ the101@direcTV.com This is the dedicated address DirecTV set up for us Moonlight fans.
Friday Night Lights not only shared Moonlight's time slot. It was also a bubble show. Our show won in the ratings, while FNL hovered around 5 million viewers weekly. You may have read about the unique deal that saved their show. NBC approached DirecTV to partner with them & share the cost of Friday Night Lights. That is how the show was saved.
Rumor has it that the Sci-Fi Channel is interested in picking up Moonlight. The problem is ~ you guessed it ~ money. Moonlight episodes cost about $2.5 million each, but Sci-Fi can only afford $1.5 million.
*** By the way.... Please, be sure to continue contacting the SciFi Network! You can see that it is having the effect that we want. YEA! ***
That is what led to the idea of Moonlight fans contacting DirecTV asking them to sponsor our show, similar to their NBC/FNL deal.
Here is more info as Leeser has kindly detailed for everyone :)
We have been noticing the threads suggesting that the fans could subsidise the remaining funds for the production of Moonlight. While that is a wonderful thought in theory, for many reasons it would not be likely to happen. Instead we may have found another option.
As most are aware, NBC recently sealed a deal with DirecTV to bring Friday Night Lights back to life, NBC’s critically acclaimed but ratings starved Friday night high school melodrama. The deal struck allows for DirecTV to air new episodes of Friday Night Lights in October, 2008, most likely on its High-def channel 101. NBC and its affiliates such as Universal HD would air the episodes starting in January, 2009.
We believe that a campaign to solicit DirecTV interest in pursuing a similar arrangement could be beneficial and profitable to the satellite provider, as well as the WB and Silver Pictures. However, our efforts will differ in that it is not the network or studio that is approaching DirecTV, but rather the fans.
Recently, DirectTV has undertaken an aggressive marketing campaign to heighten public awareness. They are trying to distinguish themselves from its rival on content as well as price and seem to be willing to spend the money to do it. Our approach will definitely be different in that NBC approached DirecTV. Since this would be a grassroots fan campaign, it will have a different marketing spin for DirecTV. How many satellite companies can say that they’ve got fans approaching them about saving their show?
It has come to my attention that financing is a big stumbling block in the potential pickup of our show. The show costs about 2.6 million +/- to make and networks are only willing to pony up about 1.5 million of what is needed. That's not good. To get the quality show we have come to expect, 1.5m isn't going to do it. Not by a long shot.
Thus, we are starting a grassroots fan campaign to get corporate sponsors to come on board and make a financial commitment to support Moonlight.
Be polite, thoughtful and encouraging when you contact these people. Stress the numbers: this show has 7.5 to 8 million viewers, that the show reached the desired 18-49 demographic, that it consistently helped CBS to win Friday nights and that loyal fans will go to/remain with any advertiser that supports their favorite show.
Right now, SciFi is definitely showing interest in our show. Let's show them how much we love it!
the101@direcTV.com
CA Office
2230 East Imperial Highway
El Segundo, CA 90245
NY Office
1211 Avenue of the Americas
6th Floor
New York, NY 10036
6 comments:
Your blog is still the best place to get the most concise up-to-date information! Even though sites are trying to consolidate it is still hard to get everything down. Thanks alot for the information and keep up the great job!
I agree with you Elektra333! I have been coming here for "all things Moonlight" since I discovered (and fell in love with) the show last fall.
Kandye... are you able to clarify? If the DirectTV thing is accomplished, would that mean Moonlight would only be available on DirectTV?
I have been trying to email DirecTV using your link and keep getting a "could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not properly installed" Huh? I am a DirecTV customer and I love their service. I am so devestated by the loss of "Moonlight", I will go to any network that will pick it up and bring my money and loyalty along with me. I will be writing to DirecTV but would also like to email them.
Anonymous, I've been having the same problem and thought I was doing something wrong or that it had to do with my computer, but will continue trying and hope it goes through. BTW Kandye..I also have the same question as Lyn..will that be indeed the case?
And as always...thanks for your dedication!
That's a good question...Kandye, do u kno if that means it will only be on DirecTV? What's different between DirecTV and cable? IDK...LoL if someone has an answer...leave a comment for me on www.freewebs.com/cbsmoonlight
I wanted to change the URL...but i can't! :( also...check out my other pages! I have some good contact info and pix! :)
I found this on Moonlight-United -- I think it answers the question about whether only DirectTV subscribers wouls see Moonlight:
"Just so the comments above me are aware, this does not mean that only DirecTV users will be able to see Moonlight. DirecTV would sort of be like a sponsor of the show. They would give the production company money, and then so would whatever network picked us up. It might appear on some DirecTV network, but that would only be in addition to another network. Everyone would still be able to watch Moonlight. Don’t worry."
Post a Comment