TV scheduling: any ideas how it works?

csi vegas

MODS: please move to a more relevent forum if this is wrongly placed.

Anyone know how scheduling works, as in: a tv station buys a programme but does not show it 'til say, months later.
Is there a 'discount' that allows them to buy it cheaper if they contractually agree not to show it for some time? (A bit legal I know but any facts/suggestions/opinions would be appreciated)

Richard Dower

RTE buys shows in package deals, so they get them cheaper....that's why you'll see high end US programs at stupid-o-clock times on RTE2.

mike65

apart from what Richard Dower notes existing schedules need to be run through until there is a clear slot of course! If you commit to 23 episodes of Generic US TV series then as rule you play them out before showing something else in that slot.

JONJO THE MISER

Richard Dower wrote: »

that's why you'll see high end US programs at stupid-o-clock times on RTE2.

There just thinking of us night owls Richard;)

RobertFoster

Richard Dower wrote: »

RTE buys shows in package deals, so they get them cheaper....that's why you'll see high end US programs at stupid-o-clock times on RTE2.

irishcsifan

RobertFoster wrote: »

So who was the fool that suggested the double episodes. Don't get me wrong I'm all for them sometimes but it can get a bit much.

VinLieger

Richard Dower wrote: »

RTE buys shows in package deals, so they get them cheaper....that's why you'll see high end US programs at stupid-o-clock times on RTE2.

Ill never understand this part, you get a package and chances are people will watch the show but they just couldnt be bothered trying to get an audience for it, Sons Of Anarachy being a prime example

don ramo

Americans don't seem to mind shows with erratic airing patterns (so the networks think, a lot of first season shows loose a decent percentage cause of it), most network TV shows are 24 episodes long, but get stretched out over about 40 odd weeks, so you keep getting random breaks in the US, typical network airing patterns would be, air 4 episodes, 2 week break, show another 3 episodes, 2 week break, air another 3/4 eps, break for a month and a half for Christmas, show another 4 episodes, another 3 week break and then run the remaining episodes coming up to may and the end of the prime time season,

whereas over here SKY and RTE hold back most US shows so that they can run them off consistently over maybe 26 weeks, and normally have the season finale within about a week of the US finale,

most shows that air on SKY or RTE within a week of the US from start to finnish would be cable shows like The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, cable channels don't do retarded scheduling like network TV

MOH

RTE aren't exactly consistent with their scheduling.
I remember one season of The West Wing (I think) where 4 or 5 consecutive episodes showed in different timeslots, sometimes different days.

But then I'd never give RTE as an example of anything except how not to run a TV station.

csi vegas

irishcsifan wrote: »

So who was the fool that suggested the double episodes. Don't get me wrong I'm all for them sometimes but it can get a bit much.

It IS disappointing when a show ends for the 'season' and it would still be running if not for the double eps. The Walking Dead in particular.
Too much excitement for a Friday night. Too much.

csi vegas

VinLieger wrote: »

Ill never understand this part, you get a package and chances are people will watch the show but they just couldnt be bothered trying to get an audience for it, Sons Of Anarachy being a prime example

here here.

irishcsifan

csi vegas wrote: »

It IS disappointing when a show ends for the 'season' and it would still be running if not for the double eps. The Walking Dead in particular.
Too much excitement for a Friday night. Too much.

Thats true. Like I'm hooked on Revenge at the moment so theres a bonus to having double episodes.

squonk

irishcsifan wrote: »

Thats true. Like I'm hooked on Revenge at the moment so theres a bonus to having double episodes.

What they might be going for there is to finish the double eps in time for Season 2. The show is very popular so I'd say it'll be shown a few days after it airs in the states, like they did with Lost.

VinLieger

squonk wrote: »

What they might be going for there is to finish the double eps in time for Season 2. The show is very popular so I'd say it'll be shown a few days after it airs in the states, like they did with Lost.

I sincerely doubt it. Lost was a worldwide phenomenon, revenge is still pretty low on the numbers in comparison to other shows that rte has, Greys Anatomy for instance has more viewers than revenge and is still shown over here 2-3 months late