SG-1 MOVES TO THE SCI-FI CHANNEL
The verdict is in, and the word is out: Stargate SG-1 is not in its twilight! The show will get at least another year, and will move to The Sci-Fi Channel next year for its sixth season.
This is a great move for the series ... and I'll tell you why!
More viewers, more viewers, more viewers. They say that the three most important factors in real estate are "location, location, location." The location of a television show is no different. Most cable subscribers in the U.S. get The Sci-Fi Channel as part of their basic package, whereas Showtime always costs around $11 extra. The Sci-Fi Channel plain 'ol reaches more homes per week.
A science fiction-friendly network. Most networks dabble in sci-fi every once in a while. Only The Sci-Fi Channel has demonstrated itself to be entirely committed to the genre, saving shows like Sliders, The Outer Limits and now SG-1 from cancellation, providing original series like Farscape and The Invisible Man, and giving a long-term home to genre classics like Star Trek, The Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.
Sci-Fi is nice to sci-fi shows. The network is establishing itself as more hands-off than other cable networks, allowing the writers and producers of a series to bring their creative visions to life without Suits interfering with the story, the casting or even the scripts. This has made shows like Farscape one of the most imaginative on television.
Jack, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c ... stripped. Just a few months after Season Six premieres, the network will "strip" the show -- air it four or five evenings each week. This will let an army of new fans get into the show from the very beginning, and grow the fandom community. Evidence: Stargate SG-1 has spent the last year vying for the number-one syndication spot with Andromeda, often grabbing top ratings for a first-run hour. It'll be an easy hit on Sci-Fi.
If Gaters can adjust to commercial breaks and a little Saturn-shaped logo in the corner of the screen, the pay-offs will be worth it. Bringing SG-1 to The Sci-Fi Channel also means that the show will get more advertising and more attention. Marathons. Online chats with stars and producers. More Stargate-related news items at SciFi.com.
More attention for the show pushes owner MGM closer to recognizing that Stargate SG-1 has the great franchise potential since Star Trek. Movies. Toys. Merchandise. Spin-offs.
I'm willing to watch another Bow-flex commercial for that!
Darren
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