SoS Discussion/Planning

[Phoenix447]

Very interesting... Alright Disney, be reasonable and get the deals done.

[ladyrhi]

This is some what positive- thanks for posting!

Disney is already as rich as sin.... hmm, maybe we can ask them to either
1. come down in price- giving the new station (or whatever) a little wiggle room so it can build a loyal audience- ie have the show air at a normal and standard time, ie NOT 1:35 am. That way it will gain the audience they so crave and the revenue. They will just have to be patient!! Also they need to realize that TV isn't about "Live" viewing anymore- so many other factors go into it, DVR, buying it on itunes, online views- and maybe mention that it is steadily gaining more fans online from yes-illegal downloads. Honestly, thats how most people I know online watch it- its on at crazy times, and often times switched without warning.
OK option 2: Ask for a shorter season-yes that would suck, but it may help too- keep a tight story arc, keep the audience interested and it would be cheaper for 13 eps as opposed to 22.

[roguefaerie]

ladrhi- the shorter season option might just work. that one sounds possible, I like that idea.

I wish Disney would com down in price, but companies seem to be too proud lately to do that. they stand by their original offers or dont haggle much :/ I sincerely hope they do though. Disney needs to realize it's either come down in price or lose everything. wouldn't it be better just to cut ur loses and sell it cheaper? idk, I dont understand the whole process, but thats my thinking

[forbiddenlove]

I agree with the shorter season. I think it can work out, or do like a year round thing like the USA network does. I don't care, as long as we get another season. Let's not give up though, we still have a fighting chance!! I mean we are Conseekadores, we don't know what NO is!

[ladyrhi]

I just sent this e-mail over to Chandler Hayes from ABC- guys feel free to take anything from it and adapt it to your own emails. And be warned its long, but I think I made a strong agruement.

Hello Mr. Hayes,

I am writing on behalf of fans of the ABC Studios produced show "Legend of the Seeker" regarding the rumors of its cancellation. From what I understand after Tribune Broadcasting chose not to renew "Legend of the Seeker" the question of a new home for this show was the main questions. Many online have specualted that ABC Family or SyFy would be a good fit, especaially since these are nationally broadcast stations that would have a fixed time slot for "Legend of the Seeker" and more importantly would advertise and promote the show.

Tribune cited lack of viewers for its reason for not renewing; however, due to the nature of syndication their stations could air the show anytime during the weekend it was slated to air. Often times this mean off hours, or moving the time without notice. Additionally there was no promotion what so ever on most of the stations that "Legend of the Seeker" airs on. I myself have only ever seen promos for the show, after an episode has finished airing. Also I watch "Legend of the Seeker" in the Boston ABC station, however the times it airs often fluxuates from 11:35 pm to 1:35 am or even 2 am. This does not bode well in trying to cultivate an audience for the show.

"Legend of the Seeker" needs a home where it will air at a reasonable hour and be promoted. It is an extremely well-done show, not just in regards to storylines and acting, but the production value is clearly first rate. ABC is known for producing some of the best shows recent, including LOST, and it has a very high production value; therefore to see this well-produced show basically ignored and cast aside when it comes to promotion is a sin. The stations that air "Legend of the Seeker" should promote the show much more then they do. I am positive that with the proper promotion and marketing the audience for this show would improve dramatically.

It has come to the attention of "Legend of the Seeker" fans that one of the reasons it has not yet been renewed is the monatry aspect, mainly that Disney is asking too much for it to the stations they have approached to pick up the 3rd season. I may only be a fan but I can understand both sides- you have a product that you need a certain amount of money for and those stations want to pick it up but the price may too high- especailly regarding the "low" viewing figures. I implore you to perhaps come to some sort of arrangement regarding this monetary problem. Perhaps offer it at a lower price tag as to get more stations interested. Another thing that could perhaps be an option is going to a 1/2 season of 13 episodes instead of the standard 22 episodes. Perhaps by slashing the episode order it would also cut down on the prince it makes to produce "Legend of the Seeker" therefore enablling ABC to lower its price tag.

Now I am sure that ABC doesn't want to lose money on this, which is understandable- but perhaps give it a period of wiggle room. Let "Legend of the Seeker" find a new home, and become properly established with the right kind of promotion and marketing. Everyone I have introduced to the show loves it, but had no clue it existed or even when it was on. There is a huge market for this type of fantasy show. Not to mention now that HBO has greenlit "The Game of Thrones"- another fantasy show; there is already tremendous buzz around this show- which will help "Legend of the Seeker" by default. On Amazon.com, itunes, netflix etc the "you may like" feature would be utalized and more people would be steered toward "Legend of the Seeker" DVDs and episodes.

ABC really does have a gem on its hands, it just needs to be polished to its full potential. Already it has a huge online fan following, and it is growing. The popular user generated-celebrity gossip site (which has over 90,000 members not to mention non-member traffic), OhNoTheyDidn't, has posted weekly about "Legend of the Seeker" I will include a link to the cancellation post so you may get an idea about the type of fans that are out there.(http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/46250892.html) Many are just discovering this show, some through legal means such as Netflix or Hulu- but others are yes- using illegal downloads to view it-since it is so hard to catch in their areas. The fact that many watch it illegally should not come as a negative thing but rather something that can be turned into a positive. If "Legend of the Seeker" aired at a normal time it would garner more viewers, who would not have to download it illegally. Also many of these viewers state that they will buy the season when it comes out on DVD-so there is a revenue to be gained. And in this internet age, Nielson viewing figures can no longer be the only source of viewer information.

I will now throw out some current numbers- right now on Amazon.com the first season of "Legend of the Seeker" ranks:
#18 in Movies & TV > Boxed Sets > Action & Adventure
#70 in Movies & TV > Boxed Sets > Drama
#71 in Movies & TV > Drama > Television.



For show with so little promotion, and the fact that it was released in October of last years, these are really good numbers. Additionally, the most current episode on iTunes ranks at number 18- and it is surrounded by shows that have millions of viewers such as "Glee" and "House." Again-these are really, really good numbers for a show that is basically word of mouth. it deserves its proper chance to really prove itself, and not air at a dead-air time of 1:35 am. I hope you will give it that chance, and perhaps lower its price tag a bit, but I am sure once it gains a much larger audience your revenue would come in and the fans would know their show was safe- we all win.

So please, please reconsider the cancellation of "Legend of the Seeker" there is nothing like it on television and it deserves its chance to truly prove itself. I am sure you will be getting lots of e-mails pleading for "Legend of the Seeker" from what I have gathered online. So please listen to all of the fans, we are willing to fight hard for our show and we hope you will too.

Thank you for your time,

[archaea]

Throughout the years, i have joined many forums, but i've never actually posted before. However, this news really hit me hard and i just have to express how sad this made me and how it kinda ruined my day.

I've sent some letters to the ABC guys... but wow ladyrhi, your letter was SO good! I tried writing "eloquently", but i'm actually francophone, so i think my letter will sound like some upset kid wrote to him *lol* Your arguments were so well presented, i don't see how they can turn us down.

I think that we should continue rallying because it's not as though no one wanted to pick up the show... Syfy badly wanted it. It would be so horrible to lose LotS and break millions of heart because 2 companies could not agree on a monetary issue. I'll keep writing and supporting the show and i hope that all the lurkers and visitors will do so as well!

(wow... don't know why but i'm actually nervous... first post ever yo!)

[kookykrumbs]

Could someone send me a PM and teach me how to use this 'tweet' thing... How do you tweet someone? I've done the e-mails and the letters... don't know how to tweet though... I'm not giving up hope

[derascal]

OK... I've been reading what everyone has said. I'm trying real hard to breath calmly.

I started contacting and writing when it was first mentoned) back months ago (seems like forever) -- So for this round of talks:

I have voted re Ruthy (site says we can do it every 20 min)
I have emailed Syfy once... do I keep doing it?
I plan on emailing Chandler Hayes tomorrow since he doesn't seem to be in today.

I assume we have these addresses still online under Season 3.
I will email ABC Studios...
I will email Disney Studios
(Is once enough or more than once.)

Each week I email sponsors. The majority of the sponsors I have written have been kind enough to send something more than the form letter since my "comments" have not generally been part of their preprogrammed "choose one" drop down categories. I have always been positive, supportive and appreciate of the companies.

Please PM me if you know of something specific you want me to do. Like all of you I'd rather be doing something constructive than sitting still. I work, but I'll make time.

Here's to keeping positive and motivated!!
Although it is my heart and soul that really hurts right now...
deras

[Ethereal Tempest]

Well welcome archaea...I wish you were joining under different circumstances but welcome just the same.

This just came down from Bridget:

@dear_B or should I say Dear Diary? Got some news that Seeker is no more. So sad to say goodbye to my NZ family but excited for what's next.



Just keep writing guys...keep writing.

[girasole74]

This is bad day. I cried a lot and I'm angry. All our support and at the end we were defeated.

[girasole74]

Maybe I'm crazy but I don't lost hope even. Spread word #SaveOurSeeker #LegendoftheSeeker Please

[roguefaerie]

Don't lose hope yet, everyone keep up the emails, tweets, and letters. It's not over yet. When we stop trying is when we have really failed. Where there is a will, there is a way If LotS does get cancelled, we will not go down easily! We will go down fighting for our show!

and I totally feel like I just gave some speech like we're going off to war LOL. we're off to the battle the Keeper! (who would "keep" LotS from us *gasp* )

[stephanierenee]

I came online excited after watching 'Walter' cuz it was incredibly good and then I see this! I feel SO sick! I've read all the links everyone has provided on here and the Twitter stuff and it just has made me want to retch my guts out that this is could really be our last 4 epis. I don't want to lose hope either and I'm not going down without a fight. I thought it wouldn't even come to this with Terry G's new signing deal with Tor for another new R/K book. That was hope for me that with a new book more exposure would be had for LoTS and to want to keep it on.
I agree with a lot of you that LoTS just didn't get good enough exposure but I still think it's ratings were pretty darn good compared to other junk on TV. It just doesn't make sense and I think we should totally fight it! Ugh, I don't think I'm gonna sleep tonight without a xanax stat!

[roguefaerie]

stephanierenee- I felt the same way when I first found out about this. but it's been almost 13 hours for me, so I've had time to calm down. I was really angry/hurt/etc. I still am, but not to that extreme. once everyone gets over the initial shock of this news, we need to rally and give it all we got. I thought TG's new book deal was a good sign for us too, but apparently not Just gotta keep up the fight *hugs*

PETITION-- www.petitionspot.com/petitions/LOTS3/

[stephanierenee]

Thanks for the words of support roguefaerie! *hugs* definitely appreciated. I might calm down after a xanax, lol! I agree we need to just flood all the inboxes we can and let 'em know we aren't going down without a final fight!