RustySlinky
05-12-2003, 08:34 PM
In retrospect: A Sci Fi network timeline:
Originally posted on the DOM last week. Reference copy posted here to make it easier for whoever may need these links in the future. Corrections, additions, etc. appreciated, as usual. :)
Sci Fi’s maneuverings become clearly visible. Definite trends here, first reality shows, followed by Universal brands, then dark-style and comics. More pulp with a background focus on boy action material. The successive waves of new announcements mark a partial and noticeable shift away from the older-school / hard-core science fiction projects introduced a few years back like Amber, Taken, Farscape, Dune, Riverworld, Left Hand of Darkness, and KSR's Mars Trilogy.
==========
SCI FI NETWORK TIME-LINE:
Nov 5 2001: Director, Michael Jackson’s first day at Sci Fi and USA.
Dec 17 2001: Vivendi-Universal buys Sci Fi and USA.
Feb-Mar 2002: Moore approached about re-imagining Universal’s property Galactica.
April 2 2002: Sci Fi Announces new weekly primetime reality block featuring Scare Tactics, Dream Team, etc. Also announces re-imagining Universal’s Galactica.
May 7 2002: Vivendi-Universal completes take-over of Sci Fi
May 15 2002: 13 Tripping the Rift (sort of like Futurama) episodes ordered for Friday nights, spring-summer 2003. Premiere later pushed back to January 2004.
June 7 2002: All-new Stargate episodes premiere.
June 27 2002: 13 Scare Tactics episodes ordered for October 2002.
July 10 2002: Sci Fi announces Universal’s Tremors the Series, Universal’s Quantum Leap. Re-confirms Universal’s Galactica.
July 16 2002: Tremors the series green-lit for January 2003.
July 19 2002 Producer says seventh season for Stargate probable “if ratings go through the roof”. Otherwise, work commences on Stargate Atlantis spin-off series.
July 29 2002 Sci Fi overhauls and expands marketing teams.
Aug 8 2002 Sci Fi and MGM both considering 7th Stargate season
Aug 16 2002: Rumors of 13 episode Farscape 5th Season: Changes to the SCI FI/Henson agreement on 44 eps of Farscape changing to 35 eps instead...(added by Jul)
Aug 22 2002: Rumors within Sci Fi. Universal impacting programming and revenue decisions. Sci Fi must decide what to keep, to dump, to put off for later.
Aug 23 2002: Stargate earns record 2.0 Nielsen ratings for Sci Fi
Sep 6 2002: Farscape cancelled / canceled, leaked by David Kemper.
Sep 9 2002: Bonnie Hammer announces broadening audience beyond sci-fi geeks.
Oct 9 2002: Rumor, Richard Dean Anderson the only holdout to new season of Stargate
Nov 7 2002: Stargate 7th season finalized.
Dec 2 2002: Miniseries Taken draws highest ratings ever for Sci Fi
Dec 4 2002: Galactica mini-series green-lit for December 2003
Dec 11 2002: Mark Stern (behind “Outer Limits”, “Poltergeist the Legacy”) appointed Vice President of original programming.
Jan 6 2003: Marvel and Universal’s Reveille team-up to produce two comic inspired TV projects for Sci Fi. (Brother Voodoo, and 1000 days).
Jan 20 2003: Michael Jackson mentions Galactica three separate times in references to long term branding.
March 31 2003: Sci Fi announces “Stargate Atlantis”, “Dead Lawyers”, “Suture Girl”, “Painkiller Jane”
Sep 17 2003: 25 year anniversary of Galactica. Galactica computer game to be released
Dec 2003: Airdate Galactica mini series
==========
THOUGHTS (IMO:) ) in retrospect:
It looks like Skiffy will be going with Stargate, Scare Tactics, and Tremors in place for what would have been Farscape's 5th season.
With three main slots in the Sci-Fi Friday original programming block (8pm, 9pm, and 10pm), Skiffy seems to have a habit of keeping a minimum of 2 original shows back to back:
A possible gameplan:
One show to anchor the evening. This show should be at its zenith, and preferably be a ratings draw.
One riskier "up-and-coming" show, which could have a number of years left to mature.
One new entry, inexpensive or wildcard show.
Under influence from the parent company Universal, Scare Tactics and Tremors would conceivably be locked into two of the three slots, satisfying the minimum. Tremors: a “proven” Universal Studios property with three average performing movies already out, and Scare Tactics (from the producers of "Spy TV"), a reality show, a potential break-out money maker. (Dream Team would air later in the evening.)
Unless Skiffy blows open another weeknight, this would leave one slot left for either season #5 Farscape or season #7 Stargate, one “signature” or flagship series to anchor the evening. In hindsight, despite Skiffy’s denials of a Farscape vs Stargate decision point, it's plausible that Skiffy might of known (before cutting Farscape loose) that there was a decent chance of working out some deal eventually with Stargate’s parent MGM Studios.
First-run episode ratings aside, Bonnie Hammer in a January 2003 interview (see below for link) also implied that potential rerun ratings played into the Farscape decision(s) as well. So at some level in the business models, there was a comparison with Stargate, as its reruns better perform.
This is not taking into account other original-series Skiffy could have had in the pipeline had Stargate #7 not flown. (i.e. Tripping the Rift). This also doesn’t take into account other new prime-time reality shows like Scare Tactics originally destined for another night. (i.e. Belzer Connection) However, Skiffy’s use of Tracker, Cleopatra 2525, Stargate reruns, and saving Tremors for later, and current promos, etc. might suggest that its current spring-summer 2003 back-up options (not including boy action movies) are currently short of new homemade shows.
-----
Anyone think Skiffy's behaving sort of oddly with Galactica?
After all, fans from so many other dead series can't get Skiffy to pay attention. But no matter how hard the Galactica fans try to kill this upcoming remake, Skiffy just won't let go. The moderated board and storyline nit-picking could be other signs of Skiffy wanting Galactica too badly to let it fail.
In the aftermath of the Vivendi-Universal merger, Battlestar Galactica might have been Farscape's intended successor, or Skiffy's new signature “Star Trek” series.
The fan protests could have spooked Skiffy into delaying the Galactica remake by one season or more, because it seems odd for the computer game to be released three months before the miniseries. (But there is precedence though, for last year’s mini-series “Taken” also hit around December of 2002.)
If this was indeed the case, a 13 episode offer for a 5th season of Farscape would make sense from Skiffy's perspective. 13 more episodes of Farscape would last through the summer of 2003, and cover a potential Tremors or Scare Tactics flop. The 25th anniversary Galactica mini-series would hit then hit earlier in the Fall, with the real series coming out January. Therefore Skiffy wouldn't technically need the last nine episodes of a full 5th season, unless ratings "hit the roof" like they did for Stargate.
Skiffy may have thought a Farscape rebound unlikely, since season #4 efforts to "make Farscape more like Stargate and Southpark" failed to broaden the show's audience. Perhaps it's cheaper to tweak the show itself instead of funding more ad promotions, or pitching a fresh new show could have more upside potential than risking more money on what could be a maxed-out show.
======
LINKS: Main References Used for the Above Timeline:
August 14 2001: Sci Fi Picks up Stargate’s Sixth season for June 2002.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117851228&cs=1
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/010814_1.shtml
Nov 5 2001: Michael Jackson flies to Hollywood to Join Diller
http://www.c21media.net/features/feat_dtl.asp?id=1951&t=12
http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=8857
Nov 13 2001: Fox abandons Fall 2002 Galactica series. Director Singer bails for X-men 2
http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?21883
Dec 18 2001: Vivendi Universal buys Sci Fi
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA187692
Feb-Mar 2002: Moore approached about re-imagining Galactica
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/discussions/rm2002qa/bg_moore_sept2002qa.html
April 2 2002: Sci Fi Announces Scare Tactics, Dream Team, Tripping the Rift, and re-imagining Universal’s Battlestar Gallactica
http://www.tvweek.com/news/web040202.html
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/about/bg2/
http://www.code7r.org/b5lrlinks/sfcpr2.htm
http://www.testpattern.net/scoops/archives/020408s.html
May 7 2002: Vivendi completes take-over of Sci Fi
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:NvQZJpMJH4UC:finance.vivendiunivers al.com/finance/download/pdf/VU1HEarnings140802.pdf+Vivendi+Universal+completed +USA+networks+2002&hl=en&start=7&ie=UTF-8
May 15 2002: Producers Film Roman Studios and Cinegroupe confirm Sci Fi’s order for 13 episodes of “Tripping the Rift” for summer 2003
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/020515/romn.ob.html
June 7 2002: All-new Stargate episodes premiere
http://www.gateworld.net/sg1/s6/index.shtml
June 27 2002: 13 Scare Tactics episodes ordered for October 2002. http://www.thesistersthree.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=466
July 10 2002: Sci Fi “excited to be part of Universal” announces Tremors the Series. Quantum Leap, Galactica.
http://www.zentertainment.com/print.php?sid=4194
http://www.stampede-entertainment.com/news.html
July 11 2002: Bonnie Hammer explains why Tremors the Series is an “absolute winner”.
http://www.tremors4.com/tremorsseries.html (original link, now gone)
http://www.starburstcards.com/KarlswebNewscape/InterviewsSpecials-NewSciFiProgramming.htm
July 16 2002: Tremors the series green-lit for January 2003
http://www.stampede-entertainment.com/news.html
July 19 2002 Rumors of Seventh Season for Stargate probable “if ratings go through the roof”.
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0207_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1027115079,65420
July 29 2002: Sci Fi overhauls and expands its marketing teams.
http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA236649
Aug 8 2002 Sci Fi and MGM both considering 7th season
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0208_rumormill.shtml#newsitem1028825990,18413
Aug 16 2002: quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farscape Finished?
This from an AICN stalwart: “You didn't hear it from me, but in case you're interested... I've been told from a (very) highly placed source that FARSCAPE has been picked up for one more 13 episode season, and then will be over.” But “Farscape” has a 22-episode season, doesn’t it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
rumors started as to the changes to the SCI FI/Henson agreement on 44 eps of Farscape changing to 35 eps instead...added by Julhttp://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=13017
Aug 22 2002 Rumors of turmoil within Sci Fi, Universal applying pressure on programming and revenue decisions. http://www.scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/BSG/BGre-imaginingnews.html
Aug 23 2002: Stargate earns record 2.0 Nielsen ratings for Sci Fi
http://www.scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/BSG/BGre-imaginingnews.html
Sep 6 2002: Farscape Cancelled, not supposed to be revealed until 2003
http://www.farscapeworld.com/news/1031347352.shtml
Sep 9 2002: Bonnie Hammer announces broadening audience beyond sci-fi geeks
http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA242619
Sep 30 2002: Sci Fi begins Monday night Stargate marathons
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0208_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1030086000,19940
Oct 9 2002: Rumor, Richard Dean Anderson the only holdout to new season of Stargate
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0210_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1034176914,57283
Oct 27 2002: Seventh season of Stargate rumored “in the bag”
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0210_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1035692980,39628
Nov 7 2002: Stargate 7th season finalized
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-sfc.html?2002-11/07/13.00.sfc
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0211_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1036699423,55110
Nov 8 2002: Production begins Nov 6th 2002 on 65 episodes of Dream Team, to be aired starting Jan 20 2002.
http://www.stonestanley.com/pr.php?id=72
Dec 2002: New half hour cgi series “Tripping the Rift” announced to air Summer 2003
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:RvEdbAUR3kMC:www.ncta.com/guidebook_pdfs/SciFi2.pdf+Earthsea+trilogy+sci+fi+channel&hl=en&start=1&ie=UTF-8
Dec 2 2002: Taken draws 4.9 rating, 6 million viewers
http://www.spielbergfilms.com/takennews.html
Dec 4 2002: Battlestar Galactica greenlit
http://www.battlestarpegasus.com/whatsnew/news.html
Dec 11 2002: Mark Stern (behind “Outer Limits”, “Poltergeist the Legacy”) appointed Sci Fi Vice President of original programming.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117877345&cs=1
Jan 7 2003: Marvel and Universal’s Reveille team-up to produce two comic inspired TV projects for Sci Fi. (Brother Voodoo, and 1000 days).
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=newswire&id=5254
Jan 7 2003: Hammer on Stargate and Farscape.
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0301_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1041976053,73387
http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/030107a.asp
Jan 20 2003: Michael Jackson mentions BSG three times in reference to branding.
http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/012003jackson.html
March 31 2003: Sci Fi announces “Stargate Atlantis”, “Dead Lawyers”, “Suture Girl”, “Painkiller Jane”, etc.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030331/nym196_1.html
April 1 2003: Sci Fi announces 11 straight months of prime-time ratings growth.
http://www.sftv.org/sftv/scifi2003.html
April 2003: Upcoming Reality Shows and Mini’s
http://www.prevuemagazine.com/Articles/Newz
Sep 2003: 25th Anniversary of Galactica TV series
http://www.beststuff.com/article.php3?story_id=5049
Sep 17 2003: Battlestar Galactica computer game release
http://scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/BSG/BG_Game_confirmed.html
http://ps2.ign.com/objects/499/499467.html
Dec 2003: Premiere of new Battlestar Galactica
http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/trailers/index.html
Other: Tripping the rift
http://www.trippingtherift.com
Other: Various Sci Fi Press Releases
http://www.sftv.org/sftv/scifi.html
Originally posted on the DOM last week. Reference copy posted here to make it easier for whoever may need these links in the future. Corrections, additions, etc. appreciated, as usual. :)
Sci Fi’s maneuverings become clearly visible. Definite trends here, first reality shows, followed by Universal brands, then dark-style and comics. More pulp with a background focus on boy action material. The successive waves of new announcements mark a partial and noticeable shift away from the older-school / hard-core science fiction projects introduced a few years back like Amber, Taken, Farscape, Dune, Riverworld, Left Hand of Darkness, and KSR's Mars Trilogy.
==========
SCI FI NETWORK TIME-LINE:
Nov 5 2001: Director, Michael Jackson’s first day at Sci Fi and USA.
Dec 17 2001: Vivendi-Universal buys Sci Fi and USA.
Feb-Mar 2002: Moore approached about re-imagining Universal’s property Galactica.
April 2 2002: Sci Fi Announces new weekly primetime reality block featuring Scare Tactics, Dream Team, etc. Also announces re-imagining Universal’s Galactica.
May 7 2002: Vivendi-Universal completes take-over of Sci Fi
May 15 2002: 13 Tripping the Rift (sort of like Futurama) episodes ordered for Friday nights, spring-summer 2003. Premiere later pushed back to January 2004.
June 7 2002: All-new Stargate episodes premiere.
June 27 2002: 13 Scare Tactics episodes ordered for October 2002.
July 10 2002: Sci Fi announces Universal’s Tremors the Series, Universal’s Quantum Leap. Re-confirms Universal’s Galactica.
July 16 2002: Tremors the series green-lit for January 2003.
July 19 2002 Producer says seventh season for Stargate probable “if ratings go through the roof”. Otherwise, work commences on Stargate Atlantis spin-off series.
July 29 2002 Sci Fi overhauls and expands marketing teams.
Aug 8 2002 Sci Fi and MGM both considering 7th Stargate season
Aug 16 2002: Rumors of 13 episode Farscape 5th Season: Changes to the SCI FI/Henson agreement on 44 eps of Farscape changing to 35 eps instead...(added by Jul)
Aug 22 2002: Rumors within Sci Fi. Universal impacting programming and revenue decisions. Sci Fi must decide what to keep, to dump, to put off for later.
Aug 23 2002: Stargate earns record 2.0 Nielsen ratings for Sci Fi
Sep 6 2002: Farscape cancelled / canceled, leaked by David Kemper.
Sep 9 2002: Bonnie Hammer announces broadening audience beyond sci-fi geeks.
Oct 9 2002: Rumor, Richard Dean Anderson the only holdout to new season of Stargate
Nov 7 2002: Stargate 7th season finalized.
Dec 2 2002: Miniseries Taken draws highest ratings ever for Sci Fi
Dec 4 2002: Galactica mini-series green-lit for December 2003
Dec 11 2002: Mark Stern (behind “Outer Limits”, “Poltergeist the Legacy”) appointed Vice President of original programming.
Jan 6 2003: Marvel and Universal’s Reveille team-up to produce two comic inspired TV projects for Sci Fi. (Brother Voodoo, and 1000 days).
Jan 20 2003: Michael Jackson mentions Galactica three separate times in references to long term branding.
March 31 2003: Sci Fi announces “Stargate Atlantis”, “Dead Lawyers”, “Suture Girl”, “Painkiller Jane”
Sep 17 2003: 25 year anniversary of Galactica. Galactica computer game to be released
Dec 2003: Airdate Galactica mini series
==========
THOUGHTS (IMO:) ) in retrospect:
It looks like Skiffy will be going with Stargate, Scare Tactics, and Tremors in place for what would have been Farscape's 5th season.
With three main slots in the Sci-Fi Friday original programming block (8pm, 9pm, and 10pm), Skiffy seems to have a habit of keeping a minimum of 2 original shows back to back:
A possible gameplan:
One show to anchor the evening. This show should be at its zenith, and preferably be a ratings draw.
One riskier "up-and-coming" show, which could have a number of years left to mature.
One new entry, inexpensive or wildcard show.
Under influence from the parent company Universal, Scare Tactics and Tremors would conceivably be locked into two of the three slots, satisfying the minimum. Tremors: a “proven” Universal Studios property with three average performing movies already out, and Scare Tactics (from the producers of "Spy TV"), a reality show, a potential break-out money maker. (Dream Team would air later in the evening.)
Unless Skiffy blows open another weeknight, this would leave one slot left for either season #5 Farscape or season #7 Stargate, one “signature” or flagship series to anchor the evening. In hindsight, despite Skiffy’s denials of a Farscape vs Stargate decision point, it's plausible that Skiffy might of known (before cutting Farscape loose) that there was a decent chance of working out some deal eventually with Stargate’s parent MGM Studios.
First-run episode ratings aside, Bonnie Hammer in a January 2003 interview (see below for link) also implied that potential rerun ratings played into the Farscape decision(s) as well. So at some level in the business models, there was a comparison with Stargate, as its reruns better perform.
This is not taking into account other original-series Skiffy could have had in the pipeline had Stargate #7 not flown. (i.e. Tripping the Rift). This also doesn’t take into account other new prime-time reality shows like Scare Tactics originally destined for another night. (i.e. Belzer Connection) However, Skiffy’s use of Tracker, Cleopatra 2525, Stargate reruns, and saving Tremors for later, and current promos, etc. might suggest that its current spring-summer 2003 back-up options (not including boy action movies) are currently short of new homemade shows.
-----
Anyone think Skiffy's behaving sort of oddly with Galactica?
After all, fans from so many other dead series can't get Skiffy to pay attention. But no matter how hard the Galactica fans try to kill this upcoming remake, Skiffy just won't let go. The moderated board and storyline nit-picking could be other signs of Skiffy wanting Galactica too badly to let it fail.
In the aftermath of the Vivendi-Universal merger, Battlestar Galactica might have been Farscape's intended successor, or Skiffy's new signature “Star Trek” series.
The fan protests could have spooked Skiffy into delaying the Galactica remake by one season or more, because it seems odd for the computer game to be released three months before the miniseries. (But there is precedence though, for last year’s mini-series “Taken” also hit around December of 2002.)
If this was indeed the case, a 13 episode offer for a 5th season of Farscape would make sense from Skiffy's perspective. 13 more episodes of Farscape would last through the summer of 2003, and cover a potential Tremors or Scare Tactics flop. The 25th anniversary Galactica mini-series would hit then hit earlier in the Fall, with the real series coming out January. Therefore Skiffy wouldn't technically need the last nine episodes of a full 5th season, unless ratings "hit the roof" like they did for Stargate.
Skiffy may have thought a Farscape rebound unlikely, since season #4 efforts to "make Farscape more like Stargate and Southpark" failed to broaden the show's audience. Perhaps it's cheaper to tweak the show itself instead of funding more ad promotions, or pitching a fresh new show could have more upside potential than risking more money on what could be a maxed-out show.
======
LINKS: Main References Used for the Above Timeline:
August 14 2001: Sci Fi Picks up Stargate’s Sixth season for June 2002.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117851228&cs=1
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/010814_1.shtml
Nov 5 2001: Michael Jackson flies to Hollywood to Join Diller
http://www.c21media.net/features/feat_dtl.asp?id=1951&t=12
http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=8857
Nov 13 2001: Fox abandons Fall 2002 Galactica series. Director Singer bails for X-men 2
http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?21883
Dec 18 2001: Vivendi Universal buys Sci Fi
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA187692
Feb-Mar 2002: Moore approached about re-imagining Galactica
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/discussions/rm2002qa/bg_moore_sept2002qa.html
April 2 2002: Sci Fi Announces Scare Tactics, Dream Team, Tripping the Rift, and re-imagining Universal’s Battlestar Gallactica
http://www.tvweek.com/news/web040202.html
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/about/bg2/
http://www.code7r.org/b5lrlinks/sfcpr2.htm
http://www.testpattern.net/scoops/archives/020408s.html
May 7 2002: Vivendi completes take-over of Sci Fi
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:NvQZJpMJH4UC:finance.vivendiunivers al.com/finance/download/pdf/VU1HEarnings140802.pdf+Vivendi+Universal+completed +USA+networks+2002&hl=en&start=7&ie=UTF-8
May 15 2002: Producers Film Roman Studios and Cinegroupe confirm Sci Fi’s order for 13 episodes of “Tripping the Rift” for summer 2003
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/020515/romn.ob.html
June 7 2002: All-new Stargate episodes premiere
http://www.gateworld.net/sg1/s6/index.shtml
June 27 2002: 13 Scare Tactics episodes ordered for October 2002. http://www.thesistersthree.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=466
July 10 2002: Sci Fi “excited to be part of Universal” announces Tremors the Series. Quantum Leap, Galactica.
http://www.zentertainment.com/print.php?sid=4194
http://www.stampede-entertainment.com/news.html
July 11 2002: Bonnie Hammer explains why Tremors the Series is an “absolute winner”.
http://www.tremors4.com/tremorsseries.html (original link, now gone)
http://www.starburstcards.com/KarlswebNewscape/InterviewsSpecials-NewSciFiProgramming.htm
July 16 2002: Tremors the series green-lit for January 2003
http://www.stampede-entertainment.com/news.html
July 19 2002 Rumors of Seventh Season for Stargate probable “if ratings go through the roof”.
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0207_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1027115079,65420
July 29 2002: Sci Fi overhauls and expands its marketing teams.
http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA236649
Aug 8 2002 Sci Fi and MGM both considering 7th season
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0208_rumormill.shtml#newsitem1028825990,18413
Aug 16 2002: quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farscape Finished?
This from an AICN stalwart: “You didn't hear it from me, but in case you're interested... I've been told from a (very) highly placed source that FARSCAPE has been picked up for one more 13 episode season, and then will be over.” But “Farscape” has a 22-episode season, doesn’t it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
rumors started as to the changes to the SCI FI/Henson agreement on 44 eps of Farscape changing to 35 eps instead...added by Julhttp://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=13017
Aug 22 2002 Rumors of turmoil within Sci Fi, Universal applying pressure on programming and revenue decisions. http://www.scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/BSG/BGre-imaginingnews.html
Aug 23 2002: Stargate earns record 2.0 Nielsen ratings for Sci Fi
http://www.scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/BSG/BGre-imaginingnews.html
Sep 6 2002: Farscape Cancelled, not supposed to be revealed until 2003
http://www.farscapeworld.com/news/1031347352.shtml
Sep 9 2002: Bonnie Hammer announces broadening audience beyond sci-fi geeks
http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA242619
Sep 30 2002: Sci Fi begins Monday night Stargate marathons
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0208_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1030086000,19940
Oct 9 2002: Rumor, Richard Dean Anderson the only holdout to new season of Stargate
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0210_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1034176914,57283
Oct 27 2002: Seventh season of Stargate rumored “in the bag”
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0210_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1035692980,39628
Nov 7 2002: Stargate 7th season finalized
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-sfc.html?2002-11/07/13.00.sfc
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0211_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1036699423,55110
Nov 8 2002: Production begins Nov 6th 2002 on 65 episodes of Dream Team, to be aired starting Jan 20 2002.
http://www.stonestanley.com/pr.php?id=72
Dec 2002: New half hour cgi series “Tripping the Rift” announced to air Summer 2003
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:RvEdbAUR3kMC:www.ncta.com/guidebook_pdfs/SciFi2.pdf+Earthsea+trilogy+sci+fi+channel&hl=en&start=1&ie=UTF-8
Dec 2 2002: Taken draws 4.9 rating, 6 million viewers
http://www.spielbergfilms.com/takennews.html
Dec 4 2002: Battlestar Galactica greenlit
http://www.battlestarpegasus.com/whatsnew/news.html
Dec 11 2002: Mark Stern (behind “Outer Limits”, “Poltergeist the Legacy”) appointed Sci Fi Vice President of original programming.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117877345&cs=1
Jan 7 2003: Marvel and Universal’s Reveille team-up to produce two comic inspired TV projects for Sci Fi. (Brother Voodoo, and 1000 days).
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=newswire&id=5254
Jan 7 2003: Hammer on Stargate and Farscape.
http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0301_generalnews.shtml#newsitem1041976053,73387
http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/030107a.asp
Jan 20 2003: Michael Jackson mentions BSG three times in reference to branding.
http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/012003jackson.html
March 31 2003: Sci Fi announces “Stargate Atlantis”, “Dead Lawyers”, “Suture Girl”, “Painkiller Jane”, etc.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030331/nym196_1.html
April 1 2003: Sci Fi announces 11 straight months of prime-time ratings growth.
http://www.sftv.org/sftv/scifi2003.html
April 2003: Upcoming Reality Shows and Mini’s
http://www.prevuemagazine.com/Articles/Newz
Sep 2003: 25th Anniversary of Galactica TV series
http://www.beststuff.com/article.php3?story_id=5049
Sep 17 2003: Battlestar Galactica computer game release
http://scifipulse.net/battlestarnews/BSG/BG_Game_confirmed.html
http://ps2.ign.com/objects/499/499467.html
Dec 2003: Premiere of new Battlestar Galactica
http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/trailers/index.html
Other: Tripping the rift
http://www.trippingtherift.com
Other: Various Sci Fi Press Releases
http://www.sftv.org/sftv/scifi.html