TV.com article about our DirecTV campaign to Save Moonlight

Enterprising Moonlight fans are getting the word out to various media outlets about our efforts to save our show! Tim Surette ( from TV.com ) has written an article regarding the DirecTV campaign.

Rumor: DirecTV looking at adopting Moonlight
By Tim Surette

Could the vampire drama be saved by the same people who saved Friday Night Lights?

There are hardcore fans, and there are hardcore fans. The guy with the Dwight Schrute bobblehead doll on his desk? He's kind of hardcore. Moonlight fans? They're really hardcore.

Moonlight fans are attempting to pull a Jericho with the recently canceled vampire drama, making it undead. They've put the line out there in attempts to hook a new network or television provider for Moonlight, and it looks like they may have at least a nibble.

According to Moonlight fan site Moonlight Line, which is attempting to resurrect the show, DirecTV has inquired about possibly picking up the program. Though DirecTV may seem like an odd choice--basic-cablers such as Sci Fi Channel seemed possible destinations--the satellite service has already acted as life preserver for another well-loved drama treading water.

In April, it was officially announced that DirecTV had reached a deal with NBC to keep Friday Night Lights on the air. The unique arrangement would see DirecTV have first-airing rights, with NBC rebroadcasting the show four months later.

It's unclear what DirecTV has plotted for Moonlight, but the company is apparently interested in at least considering something. According to one of the board's higher-ups, DirecTV asked the site to post a poll asking what members thought of DirecTV sponsoring the show. The poll is up with the following three answers: "No problem, I already have DirecTV," "I'll switch to DirecTV in a hot second," and "Not switching."

The results of the simple market research would then be looked over by DirecTV who would determine if any of this makes financial sense. As of press time, 21 percent said they already have DirecTV, 71 percent said they would switch, and seven percent said they wouldn't switch.

This is great news for Moonlight fans, but probably best to hold off on hosting a bloodsucking party until something official comes out.

http://www.tv.com/story/11415.html?tag=gumballs;ing;1

DirecTv poll ~ Would you become a subscriber?

Several thoughtful fans passed on this information to me. Thank you! You have been wonderful about making it easier for me to keep up to date during these horrible days when I have limited time online.

You are doing a fantastic job of contacting not only the networks, but also flooding DirecTv with mail asking them to step up to financially sponsor a second season of Moonlight :) Now, Leeser ( from Moonlightline ) has posted a poll at their request. She has said that they will be monitoring the numbers. Apparently, they want to get an idea of fan willingness to subscribe to their service ~ if they arrange a deal with Moonlight similar to what they did for Friday Night Lights.

Note : If you would like to vote, you must become a member of the forum first.

If DirecTV does indeed decide to help sponsor the show, would you switch toDirecTV as your service provider, do you already HAVE DirecTV, or will youNOT switch at all?

No problem. I already have DirecTV!
I'll switch to DirecTV in a hot second!
Not switching.

Follow this link if you would like to participate in the voting.....
http://forums.moonlightline.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9676

Grass roots campaign asking DirecTV to sponsor Moonlight

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

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