Saturday, January 31, 2009

Operation Phoenix Update - 1/31/09

From Redsox at UHD:

Remember Ranger Rally on SciFi Board Monday Feb 2, 2009 at 9pm EST

Good morning Rangers, with tomorrow being the Superbowl we need to forget about the ratings on the CW as we all know 90% of the tv sets in the US will be tuned into the big game.

We need to keep doing our Feedback Forms and writing our letters. With the news about NBC’s Day One Pilot we need to look at our strategy and adapt accordingly. NBC is a corporation like CBS and Television like many industries is a copy cat one, if one network finds success with a formula it is soon copied. Remember when Jericho came out many of the critics called it a Lost rip off show. They have good and valid business reasons for making the show, first and foremost the numbers that Jericho pulled and is pulling tells them there is an audience for this type of programming.

General Patton was right they have a lot of legitimate business reasons to do what they are doing. With that said we can still send our letters to demonstrate to them that we do not agree and maybe they will keep that in mind.

As to the current fate of Jericho, although Jon Turtletaub stated there is a movie forthcoming, he was not specific on how close to production it is and as GP reminded me last night it is the same kind of information the producers gave us last summer.

In order for us to get the movie made and to have any chance of Jericho being made we need to continue to write our letters, do our feedback forms, get new people to watch on the CW and Youtube and to be counted.

CBS Paramount is a business as well, and I am sure they have their reasons for holding on to the rights to Jericho and for putting it on the CW. We do know they are looking at the numbers and that they are launching a new cable channel in October, epix.

I think it is time we focused all of our attention on Mark Greenberg at epix, Nancy Tellem at CBS Paramount and Dawn Ostroff at the CW. They own and are showing the show and they hold the key to any continuation of the story. Those who want to continue to write to NBC, Comcast, ect please feel free but I think we need to focus in on these three people.

Early next week we will be putting together another idea to collectively have our voices heard at epix and CBS Paramount.

Finally as has been posted and mentioned the Jericho Rangers 4 Our Troops are sponsoring the Welcome Home to Jericho event in LA on April 26-28, 2009. The event is going to be raising money for the families and children of deployed soldiers, sailors, marines and airman. I am hoping that as a group that we can throw our support behind this endeavor. At the core it is what the Jericho Rangers have been about in the 2 plus years that I have been around.

epix
Mark Greenberg, President and CEO
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

Ms. Nancy Tellem
CBS Paramount Network Television
4024 Radford Avenue
Studio City, CA 91604

Ms. Dawn Ostroff
The CW Television Network
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

CW Feedback Form http://cwtv.com/feedback/comments
CBS Feedback Form http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
Find Local CW Affiliate Form http://cid-ab5f4eb663bc6e9f.skydrive.live..../CW%20affliates

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

More epix News

From Ratkeeper at JKI:

Movie JV To Begin Epix Journey On Broadband In May
Paramount/MGM/Lionsgate Linear Channel To Launch In October


Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 1/27/2009 12:14:12 PM MT


Las Vegas — The Paramount Pictures/MGM/ Lionsgate cable and broadband venture now has a name, epix, and launch dates: May for the broadband portal and October for the linear cable channel.

But will it be a pay service, as originally touted?

Read full story.

They will be starting their broadband (I presume they mean on-line) in May and the channel will launch in October.

They also mention an old CBS spy drama, which is the first direct link I've seen between CBS shows and epix. Now, we know they will have some of the CBS library.

Ranger Rallies at SciFi Board

From Redsox at UHD:

We are going to put together a series of Ranger Rallies on the Sci Fi Board starting next Monday, February 2, 2009 and continuing each week through March 9.

NBC Universal is running Jericho Marathon’s on February 23rd and again on March 9th and we still have NBC Universal as another potential network interested in picking up the show.

I am asking everyone to get to the Sci Fi Board as much as you can over the next couple of weeks to get our posts up and again deliver numbers that can be measured by the executives.

Phoenix Update - Ratings and Keeping Focus

From Redsox at UHD:

Hello Rangers, I wanted to address the most current ratings and try to put things into perspective. First and foremost we have been getting an average of 1,100,000 ratings from the Nielsens. We all know that Nielsen is flawed and does not accurately record numbers.

We need to take a step back and look at what is going on and what the executives at CBS Paramount, NBC Universal and other networks are looking at. First, they get hard numbers including live +7 day viewing that we do not have access to.

Second only the executives know what numbers they are looking for, ie average number of viewers, numbers of viewers compared to shows that ran in the time slot the past 2 years.

Third we now know there is a Jericho movie in the works and will hopefully swill get made sometime this year. Jon Turtletaub’s statements in If magazine were a breath of fresh air, and the news everyone has been waiting for.
http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=7427

He mentions Jericho is getting better ratings than Mad Men which won the Emmy for best Drama. Because television is changing we need to keep things in perspective. Just an FYI Jericho is hanging in with the likes of Battlestar Galactica (1.58 million), Mad Men (879,000) and Breaking Bad (821,000) FX will close out 2008 as a Top 5 basic cable network in Primetime
delivery of Adults 18-49 (averaging 709,000 as of 12/11),

We all need to remember that we can not look at the ratings as we do with a current recurring show. We are now 10 months post cancellation for the second time, yet the repeats beat the ratings for Mad Men and Breaking Bad both on AMC. We need to look at averages and keep it in context. The CW is not a strong traditional Network like CBS and we need to keep that in mind when we get these numbers.

What we need to do is continue to write our letters, faxes and emails, fill out our Feedback forms, post at UHD and Sci Fi Boards and continue to spread the news that Jericho is on the CW on Sunday nights and get people to watch and be counted. I know it is not sexy or in your face like the billboard or tv commercial but it is more important than ever.

We are trying to convince them to get the movie made and to make new episodes for a Season 3. The biggest way we can do that is to continue to write and be counted. We are being measured, counted and as the economy continues to sour and Jericho continues to plug along on the CW we collectively continue to state our case as a united consumer group that we are here and Jericho is a viable commodity.

Another way we can really show the executives what we are about is by supporting the upcoming Welcome Home Jericho event in LA at the end of April This is the best advertisement we can have about what this group of Fans are about.
http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index...?showtopic=2342 -Welcome Home to Jericho event April 24-26,2009 in LA-help support the troops-UHD

Epix is going to be launched this year and I believe that putting Jericho on epix for first run and then broadcasting on the CW makes the best business sense for CBS Paramount. We need to stay focused, write and spread the word.The biggest reason the movie is being made at all is because of the collective will of the Jericho Fandom, over the past 10 months.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Operation Phoenix- Jericho Rises from the Ashes

From Redsox at UHD Board:

January 24, 2009

Hello Rangers, tomorrow is a big day, no holidays and no NFL Football Games to worry about. Tomorrow is a seminal day in the resurrection of Jericho on the CW. With the press that has been generated with Jon Tutletaub’s announcement about the movie coming out and no football games we should see an uptake in viewers this week.

We need to keep writing our letters and cards, emailing and faxing, reaching out on social networks like Face Book and Myspace and spread the word person to person.

Ratings were going up and then we got hit with 2 weeks of Football Playoffs.

CW Ratings Goal is 2,000,000 by May 31, 2009

(12/21/2008)-1,200,000, (12/28/2008)-1,260,000, (1/4/2009)-1,560,000,
(1/11/2009)-1,100,000, (1/18/2009)-1,030,000

UHD Board Goal: 20,000 Posts by January 31, 2009
UHD as of 1/24/09:

By March 31, 2009
Youtube Season 1 Goals: views: 1,500,000 pilot: 100,000
Youtube-as of01/24/08: views: 1,172,761 pilot 87,044

Addicted to Jericho on Face Book was 7,200 on December 8 as of today 8,518 nd climbing, goal is 10,000 by May 1.

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=2342 -Welcome Home to Jericho event April 24-26,2009 in LA-help support the troops-UHD

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=1851-Oper Phoenix link UHD

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=2153 Jericho by the numbers link-UHD

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=2432&pid=41712&st=0&#entry41712 link to Jericho Movie on Face Book-UHD

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=2424 link to ARG (alternate reality game) put together by Jericho Rangers-UHD

Sunday, January 18, 2009

New ARG continue to spread word Jericho on the CW

From Redsox:

Hello Fellow Rangers, hope you all are having a pleasant weekend. We have started something new to get people excited and get more people thinking, watching Jericho on the CW.

We are creating our own ARG for Youtube and are looking for a person who is willing to volunteer to do the web design for free. We are going to use the CW tv commercials which has changed the Morse Code from the ones in the original episodes.

We have to remember ratings may dip tonight because of 2 NFL Championship Games but with all the press form Jon Turtletaub’s announcement we may also get a bump in the next couple of weeks.

We have a good chance for a movie which is step one, Jon’s statement has left window open for a Season 3. We still need to work and get ratings up, by writing and spreading the word out, sorry but I we need to keep pushing.

It would be great if CBS would get the Board back up as it would be helpful to have all the old information and contacts and it is really home for most in the Fandum.

If you can help with web design please let me know. Thanks

Barney

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=2377 link to post

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5aRAEXqgNOA link to first Youtube clue

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

JEBS - Breaking News - 1/14/09

http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=7427

"We're developing a feature[film] for JERICHO," says Turteltaub. "It would not require you to have seen the TV show, but it get into life after an event like this on a national scale. It would be the bigger, full on American version of what's going on beyond the town in Jericho."

Monday, January 12, 2009

Phoenix Update And Letter to epix - 1/11/09

From Redsox at UHD Board:

Hello Rangers hope you enjoyed Episode 7, Long Live the Mayor. Next week we get Rogue River where we meet Getz and Heather makes ice.

As we enter week 8 of the run on the CW, we need to stay focused. Writing out letters and cards and completing the Feedback forms are more important than ever.

Last week ratings were up to 1,560,000 which was a 300,000 increase from the week before. Our target is to have 2 million watching by the end of May. When football ends in 2 weeks we should see the 7:00pm to 7:30pm numbers climb up to the 7:30-8:00pm level.

I want to thank all the Rangers who are currently working on the marketing/posting project to every newspaper, tv station and community/college Board we can reach in the US.

Rangers are encouraged to spread the word via My Space and Face Book as much as possible and also sign up for Craig’s List.

Remember we need to get letters out to Bonnie Hammer at NBC, Nancy Tellem as CBS Paramount and complete the Feedback forms for CBS and the CW. Also remember to contact your local Affiliate.

We have a new target. Thanks to Ratkeeper, NorsU and K6 for their work and suggestions we are targeting Mark Greenberg at epix the new pay cable channel being launched which will look to show original programming from CBS Paramount and will compete against HBO and Showtime.

With Jericho being picked up on epix for new episodes, CBS then could show the episodes on the CW much like NBC is doing with Friday night Lights (thanks NorsU for suggestion). It makes good business sense. I have attached link of sample letter I posted to UHD Board.

http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showtopic=2319

Stay the Course and Keep the Faith we have 22 more episodes to go.

Ms. Nancy Tellem
CBS Paramount Network Television
4024 Radford Avenue
Studio City, CA 91604

epix, a Viacom Company
Mark Greenberg, President and CEO
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

CW Feedback Form http://cwtv.com/feedback/comments
CBS Feedback Form http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Epix Pay Channel

Thanks to one of the hardest working Ranger out there, Gwen aka Rat Keeper, we now have information on epix which is new pay channel that is going to compete with HBO and Showtime and and which is partially owned by CBS Paramount and Viacom. A new target to add to our letter writing campaign

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...ed5547d4bb0d5d9

Par, Lionsgate, MGM Venture Called EPIX

Premium TV service will launch in fourth-quarter 2009

By Kimberly Nordyke

Dec 12, 2008, 02:58 PM ET Hollywood Reporter

Epix has been selected as the name for the new premium TV channel and VOD service from Viacom and its Paramount Pictures unit, Lionsgate and MGM.

A spokesperson for Studio 3 Partners, the company that runs the service, confirmed the news, which was first reported Friday by Media

"Studio 3 Partners has filed applications for multiple trademarks," the spokesperson said. "This is another step forward in the launch of our next-generation premium television brand with a strong programming lineup including films produced by Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate as well as original series. We are excited about our progress and are on track with our plans to launch in the fourth quarter of 2009."

There has been little news regarding the new venture since May, when former Showtime exec Mark Greenberg was named president and CEO of the service, which is intended to be compete with HBO and Showtime in the pay TV space.

Greenberg said at the time that the partners had begun discussions with cable and satellite operators, but carriage deals have yet to be announced for the service.

Address:
epix, a Viacom Company
Mark Greenberg, President and CEO
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

Link to original post.

Save Jericho Ad UHD Schedule

Save Jericho AD Flight Schedule January 6, 2009 – January 11, 2009

Date Time
1/6/2009 09:13:53am
1/6/2009 09:51:25am
1/6/2009 12:08:05pm
1/7/2009 08:24:01am
1/7/2009 01:40:23pm
1/7/2009 06:04:42pm
1/7/2009 06:52:38pm
1/8/2009 09:14:12am
1/8/2009 12:46:30pm
1/8/2009 01:57:35pm
1/8/2009 06:15:22pm
1/9/2009 10:44:07am
1/9/2009 02:20:18pm
1/9/2009 04:53:11pm
1/9/2009 06:43:45pm
1/10/2009 07:52:52pm
1/10/2009 08:47:30pm
1/10/2009 10:52:52pm
1/11/2009 07:38:47pm
1/11/2009 08:38:47pm
1/11/2009 09:38:47pm
1/11/2009 10:26:01pm

Link to original post.