The Fox 2009 Programming conference call begins at 11:30am Eastern, Monday May 18. I am live blogging it in this post.
All times below are Pacific Daylight. San Francisco, FTW.
8:28 On hold prior to the call now.
8:32 The call is beginning now.
8:33 The schedule press release is out. Here it is.
8:34 Fox boasting about its 5 year 18-49 annual win streak, as well as 18-34 and teen streaks.
8:37 99% of 3 screen viewing is going to TV. We’re not dead yet!
8:38 Returns the cable vs. broadcast smacktalk back at Turner Network’s ad in the NY Times today. Notes that 75 broadcast shows have bigger audiences than The Closer, which was featured in the ad.
8:39 Kevin Reilly talking. Bones and House staying in place. Will use them to build new shows.
8:40 Will schedule in the fall so that the spring schedule (with Idol) doesn’t require complete rejiggering. Putting So You Think You Can Dance in into the fall slots that Idol will take in the spring.
8:42 Friday’s addition of Brothers to ‘Til Death & Dollhouse. Football player star + Til Death. Somehow spun positively.
8:43 Keeping Dollhouse is “A bet on Joss Whedon”, “Consistently cum’d up in DVR viewing”
8:44 Notes that Idol’s advantage over the #2 demo show (Desperate Housewives) of 69% is the “largest in network history”.
8:45 Human Target premiere will follow the NFC Championship game, then 24 will follow Human Target that night.
8:46 Alan Sepinwall question wonders why Dollhouse was picked up. Reilly says DVR numbers did matter, again more of the “betting on Joss”.
8:47 Terminator vs. Dollhouse, “Terminator’s run is completed” “That’s it for Terminator“, “was not an either or with Dollhouse”
8:48 Reilly completely goes for Robert’s “Devil you know vs. the Devil you don’t” reasoning on renewing marginal shows.
8:49 Economic pressures (specifically on Bones) – “Have to look at licensing fees after the fifth season” “We think [Bones] ended up in a good place” “Economics didn’t drive the process”
8:51 Reilly doesn’t think 2 back to back cycles of So You Think You Can Dance is too much, not so different than other shows like Biggest Loser.
8:53 Not giving up on “Remote Free TV”, will use strategically, potentially on a number of different shows.
8:54 Main upfront issue has not been revenue during the upfront, instead the competitive viewing environment.
Will be doing “Alive Air” putting little show snippets into commercial pods.
9:02 How are costs being cut? There was bloat “This process consumes all available money” “We’re putting on big shows, Glee, Human Target” “Cable shows take 30% less money”
9:06 Glee premiere after Idol. “We hope to have half the Idol audience sample the show”
9:08 What about Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, they are renewed but not scheduled? Hell’s Kitchen is scheduled in the summer. Both will be used “opportunistically”.
9:10 Reilly expects Fringe to go against CSI and Grey’s. Thinks any move of CSI is risky and talked a bit of smack on CSI’s decline.
9:12 Are you going to make money with Dollhouse? “I don’t think we’re going to comment on the economics of any show” We want to keep scripted shows on Friday night. “Scripted shows command a CPM premium over unscripted”.
9:13 No comment on the number of judges on American Idol next season.
9:14 Did show budget influence the cancellation of Terminator? “Cost was *a* factor”, “Ratings trendline wasn’t pointing in the right direction”, “We tried, but it’s time to move on”.
Call is finished.
Thank you!
sweeet
Fox changes their schedule at least half dozen times before the start of the season
well see you then
Cool
waiting for it
That is a big font!
Well, those looking for TSCC to still be oficially cancelled and are holding out hope are stupid lol. It is, everyone knows it is, even though i RREALLLYY wish it wasnt as the 3rd season was set up so it could be amazing
(although i think they did that really as a finale episode, Sarah has done what she can, she has protected and prepared John, now he is in the future with his Dad and Uncle to teach him how to be a soldier, not to mention Allison there too, now Sarah can live the rest of her life as she has always wanted, to be normal, to be a waitress, i feel happy for her, the story has come full-circle, now for the movies to **** it up lol.)
There have been worse finales, look at the Angel finale lol. Im pleased with how TSCC was sent off, and im thankful for that.
Im also interested in what Fox has for their lineup.
Well, those looking for TSCC to still be oficially cancelled and are holding out hope are stupid lol. It is, everyone knows it is, even though i RREALLLYY wish it wasnt as the 3rd season was set up so it could be amazing
(although i think they did that really as a finale episode, Sarah has done what she can, she has protected and prepared John, now he is in the future with his Dad and Uncle to teach him how to be a soldier, not to mention Allison there too, now Sarah can live the rest of her life as she has always wanted, to be normal, to be a waitress, i feel happy for her, the story has come full-circle, now for the movies to **** it up lol.)
There have been worse finales, look at the Angel finale lol. Im pleased with how TSCC was sent off, and im thankful for that.
Im also interested in what Fox has for their lineup.
^^ sorry double post, my internet is all of the place today
Only slightly curious to see this, considering it’s pretty clear what their schedule will look like aside from the question of whether Fringe will air after a 1-hour SYTYCD on Tuesday or on Thursdays after Bones. My bet is on the former.
Please, save TSCC, the best show of my life….
Looks like all the rumors were wrong. I’ve just been handed the new Fox schedule:
Monday: 8pm-11pm COPS
Tuesday: 8pm-11pm COPS
Wednesday: 8pm-11pm COPS
Thursday 8pm-11pm COPS
Friday: 8pm-9pm: Terminator. 9pm-11pm: COPS
TSCC! SEASON 3! -and there is nothing wrong with stupid. Stupid people make even YOU look smart.
Thanks so much! I wonder when NBC will make their full formal announcement about their schedule for Fall 2009…. I know Chuck’s bee renewed, but full schedule! But thanks anyway for live blogging about Fox’s schedule.
Cool about 20 mins until we find out.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b124416_fox_upfront_roundup_dance_dollhouse_glee.html?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories
^^^has the schedule
Charles, while that info is likely true, its still pre-announcement by Fox (note the “The official Fox schedule will be released later today, but here’s some speculative noodling to get you started:”). I will have whatever schedule is announced starting in 7 minutes.
very excited, just to see dollhouse gets officially confirmed! but i’ve got a fear it will happen like tru calling, only to be cancelled..halfway =X
lol charles:
“The official Fox schedule will be released later today, but here’s some speculative noodling to get you started:”
yeah, forgot about the disclaimer did we?
oh lol i thought it was official xD
Futon’s got the release:
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20090518fox03
Fringe on Thursdays at 9pm…that ought to be fun!
DJM, we have that too…keep up
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/18/fox2009-10-schedule-announced/18882
Where is TSCC ?
Thursdays look like the new Monday. That is a super tough spot for Fringe. Fridays make me cringe though – (I honestly didnt think this leaked sched had a chance because of it, but here it is, officially). Maybe Chuck fans should be praying for that Friday 8pm slot. One question – will Dollhouse have only 13 eps and run similar to this season or is there a potential back 9? It’s curious given the year-round placement on the schedule (yes I know, its always subject to change).
Ouch, Fridays after til’ death? Dollhouse is done.
Technically, it was already done, if it can make money with a 1.0 what do you expect it to be with ? it can be with almost anything
When will the remaining ‘King of the Hill’ episodes air?
Will the remaining ‘Sit Down Shut Up’ episodes be burned off?
Is FOX bringing back ‘Secret Millionaire’?
somebody else named djm? rofl?
Rod, there were no questions asked about KOH, SDSU or Secret Millionaire. Any question/answer about a specific show I included in the transcript. The only things I left out were boring chatter from Peter Rice about “what he’s been up to”.
Fringe will drop on Thursdays, but not as much as the haters think – unless, of course, Abrams screws up.
I thought the “we tried” comment on TSCC was telling. This whole thing was a WB exercise in PR that Fox apparently bought into until they saw the product in season 2.
I’d still like to know if WB is interested in rebooting a Terminator show at some point or if they’ve completely given up on the idea of a Terminator series.
Eh, I hope Fringe fails and after next season Abrams is completely off broadcast TV.
So Kitchen/Kitchen will be there to replace spectacular failures. That’s smart.
Re: SDSU, I believe there’s only one unaired episode (I found it surprising that Fox didn’t just go ahead and burn it off, but I guess now they can throw a DVD in stores with “FEATURING ONE UNAIRED EPISODE!” on it).
What have you got against JJ Abrams?
Wow DH after TD? Seriously? It’s pulling a 1.0 now. That says a lot since TD is just about dirt cheap licensing fee/syndication money. Eliza must be offering something else outside of the show.