Danny K
Tuesday 31st March 2009 1:15am [Edited]
238 posts
Quote: David Chapman @ March 30 2009, 9:31 PM BST
So the BBC may have dumped it. What's to stop another channel picking it up like they did with Men Behaving Badly?
Yes - I think Lee Mack and co should put their business hats on and NOT take this lying down. This is not a 'why don't you just move on' situation.
Presupposing the BBC hasn't precluded this by incorporating exorbitant release fees within the contract making it both an unreasonable and unfeasible business proposition for all but the most adventurous of broadcasters, then I think he should start knocking on doors.
Some (rough) figures, on arguably the top three British sitcoms on our screens during March 2009:
Not Going Out BBC = 3 million average viewing figures over the series.
Moving Wallpaper ITV = 2 million - ditto.
Free Agents Channel 4 = 1 million or less - ditto.
So the top sitcoms during March, on ITV and Channel 4, were only a fraction of a sitcom the BBC has just dropped from the recommissioning process. Either of those two (ITV or Channel 4), could potentially draw an ADDITIONAL 3 million viewers (and rising) to that night's schedule if they bought Lee Mack's show from the Beeb. Both of the BBC's competitors easily orgasm over viewing figures that the BBC wouldn't even get out of bed for (soaps excluded).
Assuming the production and royalty costs did not exceed the Beeb's competitor's budgets the big question is: How much would the BBC charge its competitors to relinquish those release rights? Maybe it's affordable, maybe it's not. Lee and co should set the ball rolling and at least give it a go - WHAT'S TO LOSE?
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 30 2009, 9:46 PM BST
"Although Moving Wallpaper is aired by another broadcaster, I bet IT gets recommissioned for a third series!"
If those figures are correct, then I doubt it!
For a number of years now the ratings for 'successful' shows by the BBC's competitors have been very, very, low in comparison to those of the BBC - except for soaps and reality shows. They'd be over the moon for a 3 million+ sitcom. How many years has it been since they achieved that for an original sitcom series?
P.S. Don't forget Moving Wallpaper was recommissioned for a SECOND series on low figures AND that was only after a decoupling from its twin 'Echo Beach' - a joint sitcom experiment which received a critical mauling and a viewer annihilation.