The Big Sky Buy Up

Elmo

Prison Break moves to Sky One from Five as Sky goes for gold.

From what I can see Sky are buying up top series from the US after they have become popular. Gone are the days when Sky would buy a series from the beginning now they test the water with the non-pay channels in the UK and then buy up the top US shows.

For the viewer it means the following: -

1. US TV series a few weeks behind the US orginal air date.
2. Those of you in the UK with Virgin Media are still not getting your US shows such as 24 (BBC - Sky), Lost (Channel 4 to Sky) and now Prison Break (Five to Sky). Hint: I think Sky think's its time you got Sky.
3. In Ireland RTE are scrammbleing to hold on to those rights, when it knows that Sky are available on all cable services across the country. LOST start in Jan on RTE, while they will show Prison Break first before Sky. (According to their New Season Material.)
4. Season 5 of Lost, Tuesdays at 11:30 on RTE ONE.

More ads or just Sky Plus it. Lets hope the BBC can hold on to Heroes.

UPC have launched their version of Sky Plus this month.

dulpit

I'm not a fan of watching something on Sky unless i really have to...
Lost last year was annoying being on Sky Sunday and RTE monday, Sky put their ads in funny places, like they'd show the bit before the start, then the start would come on, then off to ads... So as much as possible i held off till Monday night and RTE...

Same with 24, Sky put their ads all over the place, they might have 2 in first 20 minutes, then not another one until thing is nearly over... And 24 is designed to have the ads when the clock thing pops up, sky didn't seem to follow that at all...

purplegeko

I have sky plus and every ad break lasts 5 minutes minimum. I know Grey's Anatomy is broken into 6 chapters for US tv commercial breaks.
I really hope RTE can hold on to the big American shows but Sky really have all the power when it comes to buying shows.

chalkitdown1

I can't see how RTE will show Prison Break before Sky. Aren't they only in the middle of season 2, right now? I think Sky are showing S3 a week later than Fox, on Monday nights. RTÉ would have to do the same, only put it on at 9pm or something. Or change it to Sundays, which I can't see happening. They didn't seem all that interested in airing season 1 & 2 before anyone else, why would they do it now, for season 3? You could even walk down to the shops and buy the season 2 dvd boxset before RTE started showing it.

Maybe they'll prove me wrong.

User45701

What lost in JAN in RTE??

It does not start till the 6th of Feb in the US? why would it start on rte before US?

Elmo

What lost in JAN in RTE??

It does not start till the 6th of Feb in the US? why would it start on rte before US?

Sh1t LOST isn't starting until Feb, that's why they said it was starting in 2008, they didn't say when, I just assumed it was because Sky outbid them for rights. But Sky get season 4 first.

I can't see how RTE will show Prison Break before Sky. Aren't they only in the middle of season 2, right now? I think Sky are showing S3 a week later than Fox, on Monday nights. RTÉ would have to do the same, only put it on at 9pm or something. Or change it to Sundays, which I can't see happening. They didn't seem all that interested in airing season 1 & 2 before anyone else, why would they do it now, for season 3? You could even walk down to the shops and buy the season 2 dvd boxset before RTE started showing it.

As not many people get FIVE in ROI RTE didn't feel the need to try and have it before them, but since they don't have LOST first they must be trying to have another show first. They are showing double episodes, which should only take them 12 weeks to show, how many episodes in Season 2 of Prison Break?

John R

Elmo wrote:

Sh1t LOST isn't starting until Feb, that's why they said it was starting in 2008, they didn't say when, I just assumed it was because Sky outbid them for rights. But Sky get season 4 first.



As not many people get FIVE in ROI RTE didn't feel the need to try and have it before them, but since they don't have LOST first they must be trying to have another show first. They are showing double episodes, which should only take them 12 weeks to show, how many episodes in Season 2 of Prison Break?

22. RTE will finished the series next Monday.

As for SKY showing any of the programmes right after the US airings, they have tried that before a few years ago and it wasn't popular with British viewers. If they can show them every week without breaks it would be a different matter.

qwertplaywert

I hate watching stuff on sky , The amount of ads for last years 24/lost team up was disgracful.
Hope the beeb hold on to heroes with thier lifes

User45701

lost is doing a "straight run" in america this year, thank god
i might actually watch season 4 when it comes out instead if doing what i did with seasons 1-3 wait till there finished then blitz all the episodes in a day and a 1/2 because those weird gaps for no reason are a wreck the head

Elmo

As for SKY showing any of the programmes right after the US airings, they have tried that before a few years ago and it wasn't popular with British viewers. If they can show them every week without breaks it would be a different matter.

It only really works for 24 since it has a non-stop run of weeks, LOST will be the same next year. We will see how it works for Prison Break.

dulpit

I hate the way the US shows always seem to be split up... Why do the American Networks do it? Anyone know???

Elmo

I think it is to spread out the year, holidays, sporting events.

Early Fall line up
Break for winter
Return in Spring
Break for summer

Makes for better TV rather then just having the same show on every week i.e. ITV :mad:

And also to allow new shows get an audience. AFAIK Prison Break was a mid-season show when it first aired.

seabee

I think series 3 of prison break starts on rte 2 on the 10th of September

chalkitdown1

seabee wrote:

I think series 3 of prison break starts on rte 2 on the 10th of September

A week earlier than the States. RTÉ are doing well for themselves, eh?;)

seabee

chalkitdown1 wrote:

A week earlier than the States. RTÉ are doing well for themselves, eh?;)

Yes, have you not heard,

I messed up my dates

...and then they...

it must be the 24th

....best episode ever;)

dulpit

seabee wrote:

Yes, have you not heard,

I messed up my dates

...and then they...

it must be the 24th

....best episode ever;)

lol...

KerranJast

Pfff. Just get them from the "cousins" like everyone else does. Ain't no way in hell I'm waiting weeks/months to see my favourite shows and risk being spoiled.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

It's about time RTÉ are paying more attention to Prison Break this year. The last 2 years have been a disgrace, I had no choice but to watch online as I don't have Five. Hopefully, it'll be easier now. As far as I know we'll still get LOST six days after the states. Sky get it first, but all that means is they'll show it Sunday night and we'll get it on Monday night.
Something should be done about Heroes on the Irish stations. Surely we can do better than letting Channel 6 have it. I don't want TV3 to get it either, but I think RTÉ or TG4 should pick it up and for christs sake I hope RTÉ2 give 24 a better timeslot next year, they could easily move it to Tuesdays at 10, which I'm sure would be more favourable than the current timeslot. RTÉ seem to want to cram all the shows into Monday and Tuesday. What's that about? There's never any big shows on Wednesday - Sunday.

Elmo

Something should be done about Heroes on the Irish stations. Surely we can do better than letting Channel 6 have it.

According to the Head of Aquistions at RTE they where offered it but turned it down because sci-fi doesn't work well in Ireland. Sorry to dissappoint him but LOST is Sci-Fi.

I think it is good to have something other then repeats on Channel Six they really need to find their feet. They should do away with repeats of older shows as its just as likely that they will get the same amount of viewers with newer shows that no one knows about.

I think some of the newer shows on C6 are much better then anything TV3 have ever picked up.

The Closer, House, Heroes, It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia, My Name Is Earl really provide more of an alternative the dozens of repeats.