24

[madcap]

Okay, there's a definite crossover thing going on now. Various characters have popped up in minor roles from time to time, but now this week we have Peter Kingsley masquerading as a General in the Situation Room. As NSA I'm deeply troubled.

Does anyone have Jack Bauer's phone number as I think President Bartlet's going to need it soon.

[DarkHoarse]

Yes, I couldn't help noticing that. Also the duplicitous vice-president had adopted the identity "Secretary Bryce" in 20 Hours in America. Watch this guy, he's a master of disguise. Former aliases include "Jim Robinson" and he's never quite lost that Australian accent he picked up while working undercover in Erinsborough, Melbourne some 10-15 years ago. He even faked his own death while out jogging...

[Laura Lyman]

I knew that i knew him from somewhere. Just as well you said that it was driving me mad.

[Admin]

I sort of watched the S3 premiere. Sort of in that there was a huge gap between watching and concentrating. Plus that was the first time I'd ever seen it, and S3 isn't really the place to start.

My question is, which channel has picked this up because I believe that the BBC lost the rights to show the new season?

[DarkHoarse]

That, if true, is dire, dire news. 24 with ad breaks really wouldn't be the same programme, even if it does mean it's "really" an hour not 45 minutes. The tension will go.

[Admin]

Feel free to slap me around the head for reporting rumour. I must have got it from The Sun or something

Still, it's not confirmed for broadcast on the Beeb, so anything could happen.

[Lemon Lyman]

The fall out with Beeb is over a change of frequency which means France and Belgium get a freeview.

I predict sky will get it (as Murdoch owns both sky and fox) with 5 getting the terresterials

[mervale]

Its official as of today I'm afraid. Damn fox and equally the bbc!!!

Seems there were three issues. The whole satelite thing, Fox wanted to control when the series would go out which would mean a longer wait and messing up the bbc schedule. And lastly the bbc wanted to pay less as they think its "past its best" Grr not impressed at any of them. Hope Sky dont get it, some of us poor people with terrestrial tv will need to wait another year or something to see it!!!

bbc press statement

Media Guardian 1

Media Guardian 2

[Lemon Lyman]

The other problem with none BBC is the bloody breaks - 24 will not be the same again

[Admin]

Official from today, SKY ONE has won the rights for series 3, to be shown sometime in spring 2004.

This leaves the terrestrial rights open, but, as suggested by The Guardian, five is likely to get those rights (Bskyb has a share in five, not sure how much but as I recall they do have something).

Full story:

Sky One grabs third series of 24

Jason Deans
Wednesday December 17, 2003


24: Sky One outbid Channel 4 for pay-TV and terrestrial rights

Sky One has snatched the rights to 24 after the BBC's talks with Hollywood studio Fox over the third series broke down earlier this month.
The BSkyB entertainment channel is likely to show the latest series of the US thriller, in which Kiefer Sutherland's government agent Jack Bauer infiltrates a drugs gang and Los Angeles is threatened by biological terrorism, in the spring.

Sky One outbid Channel 4 for the pay-TV and terrestrial rights to the series, which attracted a cult following but never proved a huge ratings hit on BBC2.

The deal with Fox is also thought to give Sky One the rights to repeat the first two series.

Broadcasting industry sources claimed Sky One had paid £10m for the 24-part series but BSkyB insiders insisted this figure was "wildly off the mark".

The standard rate for a 60-minute US drama import is £100,000-£300,000 an episode. If Sky paid £10m, that would put the cost per episode at more than £400,000.

A Sky One spokesman declined to comment when contacted by MediaGuardian.co.uk.

Sky One is expected to sell on the terrestrial rights to the show and Channel Five is thought to be the most likely bidder.

However, Sky One is understood to be insisting on a six-month delay on screening the show on terrestrial TV, which is likely to reduce the amount potential buyers will want to pay.

The Sky Networks managing director, Dawn Airey, has made no secret of the fact she thought her predecessors made a mistake by not buying 24 when it first came on the market two years ago.

Ms Airey and the Sky One controller, James Baker, will hope a signification proportion of the show's loyal audience on BBC2, where 24 averaged more than 2 million viewers, will follow it to its new home.

Sky One's ratings have dipped in the past year and Ms Airey and Mr Baker will be looking for new signature shows to help turn around its performance.

The channel will screen the UK premiere of US plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck, which has attracted critical acclaim in America, early next year.

Fox began approaching other UK broadcasters about 24 nearly two weeks ago after talks with the BBC collapsed. The corporation claimed it was not willing to meet Fox's price.

However, Fox was unhappy that 24 could be seen in other European countries - the BBC broadcasts its channel "in the clear" on digital satellite - and this was another significant factor in the breakdown of negotiations.

Taken from The Guardian online:
media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1108349,00.html

[mervale]

Hmm, I hoped it wouldnt happen, but knew it probably would.

As for five, I read a statement in another article from them where they said they werent interested in 24. Something about having enought US drama as it is.

Hopefully 4 will step up.......or we might never see it at all!

[Flamingo]

I am praying either 3 or 4 get it, I dont have 5 and its bad enough i have to rely on other people to tape alias for me aaaaargh. Does anybody remember the good old days when on a sun we could watch TWW and then 24

[Admin]

I think ITV would be the least likely to get 24, not because they can't afford it because I'm sure they can but because they have a very full schedule and, just by looking at it, they feature next to no US imports, certainly not during prime time. Channel 4 is turning into a US programme channel after acquiring The Simpsons to add to their list. Probably give it a decent slot, too, especially with the end of Graham Norton five nights a week.

[Flamingo]

Ive always thought of C4 as the US programme channel, thats why I used to like them . When did they get hold of the Simpsons and why on earth doesnt the BBC want to keep them?

[Admin]

The BBC was outbid by Channel 4 when The Simpsons rights came up for grabs. Channel 4 eventually settled on 700,000 pounds per episode, so that's an expensive 22 minutes. The BBC does somewhere have some morals and would not pay such a high price considering the method by which they are funded.

I myself think it was a bad move. I don't think The Simpsons is worth that much to any terrestrial broadcaster given the rapid boom in multi-channel television, plus with the rumours of SKY devising it's own entertainment channel for Freeview is The Simpsons all that exclusive?

I'm sure the C4 contract starts in 2005, or it may be 2004, but I'm sure it's the former.