You can not select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
329 lines
14 KiB
329 lines
14 KiB
<html>
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>Letter from TNT programming department about B5</title>
|
|
<map name="toplevel">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="0,0,99,23" href="/lurk/universe/intro.html" alt="Universe">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="100,0,199,23" href="/lurk/episodes.php" alt="Episodes">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="200,0,299,23" href="/lurk/making/creators.html" alt="People">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="300,0,399,23" href="/lurk/resources/online.html" alt="Resources">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="400,0,499,23" href="/lurk/reference/episodes.html" alt="Encyclopedia">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="0,24,499,31" nohref>
|
|
</map>
|
|
|
|
<map name="titlebar">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="0,0,370,31" href="/lurk/lurker.html" alt="Home">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="371,0,412,31" href="/lurk/search.html" alt="Find">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="413,0,454,31" href="/lurk/toc.html" alt="Index">
|
|
<area shape="RECT" coords="455,0,499,31" href="/lurk/help.html" alt="Help">
|
|
</map>
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
<p align=center nowrap><nobr><img
|
|
align=middle border=0 usemap="#titlebar"
|
|
src="/lurk/nav/titlebar.gif" width=500 height=32
|
|
alt="[Home]">
|
|
|
|
<br><img
|
|
align=top border=0 usemap="#toplevel"
|
|
src="/lurk/nav/bar-none.gif" width=500 height=24
|
|
alt="">
|
|
</nobr>
|
|
|
|
<h1>The Word from TNT</h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<b>See Also:</b>
|
|
<a href="http://tnt.turner.com/babylon5/">TNT's B5 Web site</a> -
|
|
<a href="http://www.myna.com/~mkoren/B5/">Canadian letter-writing campaign</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The following are letters from TNT's programming department about what they're
|
|
up to with B5. They address lots of different questions people have asked
|
|
since the season-5 renewal announcement was made.
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<em>The following summary is current as of October 31, 1997.</em>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Hi, guys. Here's an update on the situation with B5 appearing on TNT. A lot of
|
|
this material that follows may or may not be stuff you've read before, but a lot
|
|
is quite different, too. Here we go:
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As you probably know, BABYLON 5 is headed for Turner Network Television (at
|
|
least in the United States) in January 1998; it will be seen in the US
|
|
exclusively on TNT, and will be dropped from your local syndicated outlet's
|
|
roster. Already, the 1:00 and shorter promos are showing often on TNT. The
|
|
promos will be available on the website eventually, once our more extensive B5
|
|
site launches in January. The preliminary B5 on TNT website launched on
|
|
November 5, though, and includes a FAQ list and a chat room. Check it out at
|
|
tnt.turner.com/babylon5. The other promotional materials-- posters, bus sides
|
|
and so forth (not available to fans, except through eventual website contests)--
|
|
are currently in production and should be hitting the streets some time in late
|
|
November/early December. Anyway, here's a timeline of B5 events on TNT:
|
|
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
DECEMBER 26:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5, a 30-min behind-the-scenes special to initiate the
|
|
uninitiated, will premiere at approximately 11 pm ET (following basketball,
|
|
which will inevitably run long).
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
DECEMBER 28:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
**2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (pan-and-scan, hosted by Bruce Boxleitner and Jerry
|
|
Doyle) @ 8 pm ET<br>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 11 pm ET<br>
|
|
**2010 (unhosted) @ 11:30 pm ET<br>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 2 am ET<br>
|
|
**2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (LETTERBOXED, hosted by Bruce Boxleitner and Jerry
|
|
Doyle) @ 2:30 am ET
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 2:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
**2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (pan-and-scan, hosted by Bruce Boxleitner and Jerry
|
|
Doyle) @ 4:15 am ET
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 3:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 11 am ET<br>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 5:30 pm ET
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 4:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
**The premiere of the B5 prequel movie IN THE BEGINNING @ 8 pm ET<br>
|
|
**The RE-EDITED, RE-SCORED B5 pilot movie THE GATHERING @ 10 pm ET<br>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 12 mid ET<br>
|
|
**IN THE BEGINNING @ 12:30 am ET<br>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 2:30 am ET<br>
|
|
**CASABLANCA (grin) @ 3 am ET<br>
|
|
**THE GUIDE TO BABYLON 5 @ 5:30 am ET
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 5:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
BABYLON 5 strip begins; seasons 1-4 (and eventually 5) will be
|
|
played in sequential order, in their original length, in stereo but not
|
|
letterboxed, Monday through Friday, starting today at 7 pm ET.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 10:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
IN THE BEGINNING @ 8 pm ET
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 14:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
IN THE BEGINNING @ 10 pm ET
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
JANUARY 21:
|
|
<dd>
|
|
5th season episodes begin appearing, starting on this WEDNESDAY at
|
|
10 pm ET, with a replay of that week's episode on the following Saturday at
|
|
7 pm ET.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<dt>
|
|
SPRING 1998: Premiere of "Third Space," the second of our B5 movies.
|
|
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
And that's the end of the B5 timeline, for right now. We're working on collating
|
|
all the series info and graphics we need for the TNT website, but we don't want
|
|
people to think it's a fall addition to TNT, so, as I've said, we're waiting
|
|
until November or so to launch, to avoid confusion. You'll hear about the site
|
|
through here at Lurker's or on The Zocalo, though, so don't worry--you'll know
|
|
about it when it happens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Now, to some ancillary issues:
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
THE FINAL FOUR OF SEASON FOUR: Of course, some fans are writing, lamenting the
|
|
fact that their local station has dropped the final four B5 eps of the fourth
|
|
season. We're a little afraid that showing the final four before the bow of the
|
|
fifth season will be confusing to any non-fan viewers, and it's not as if the
|
|
situation is not confusing enough, what with three separate premiere dates for
|
|
varying facets of the series. We know the votes of B5 fans worldwide would favor
|
|
the airings, but we have to think of all 70 million of our subscribers when we
|
|
program something. The fact is, that 90% of the country is getting the final
|
|
four aired somewhere on their TV schedule, so it means we'd be running them for
|
|
only the 10% who weren't getting the series. That's too small a number for us.
|
|
So, sorry, but it doesn't look as the airing of the final four before the
|
|
premiere of the 5th season episodes is going to happen.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
AIR TIMES: B5 fans from the West Coast have been calling and writing in, asking
|
|
for a second showing of the daily episode at a later time (like, say 10 or 11 pm
|
|
ET), so that they can see the series in prime time. Unfortunately, though,
|
|
we really have to concentrate on our movie library and sporting events after the
|
|
8 pm ET hour, so I don't see episodes of B5 being programmed after that time
|
|
period (if we programmed B5 at, say 8, 9 or 10 pm ET, it'd be pre-empted at
|
|
least three times a week, for basketball and wrestling, both to which we have an
|
|
equally strong committment). Sorry--B5 will appear weekdays on the West coast
|
|
at either 3 or 4 pm PT...at least for a little while. BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS:
|
|
TNT is adding a West Coast feed to their operations sometime in mid- to late
|
|
1998. This means that, what airs at 7 pm Eastern will also air at 7 pm Pacific.
|
|
So, eventually, during the B5's time on TNT, the show will be seen in a more
|
|
accessible time slot on the West Coast.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
THEATRICAL SCREENINGS: Bad news--we can't have theatrical screenings of the
|
|
show, for complex legal/contractual reasons. So don't be expecting this come
|
|
January 1998...
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
EPISODE ORDERING: We will be getting an episode ordering from JMS that will
|
|
reflect the PROPER order for the series' episodes, which we will slavishly
|
|
follow.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
CLOSE CAPTIONING: I've been assured that all B5 episodes and movies will be
|
|
close-captioned. Everything will go smoothly in this regard...
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
LETTERBOXING: No chance of B5 being aired on a regular basis in letterbox, but
|
|
we have discussed the possibilities of having a letterboxed week or a letterbox
|
|
marathon of shows, and they were open to that. No dates or anything for that,
|
|
though. It probably won't happen for a while...
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
STEREO: I know B5 is mixed for Surround Sound stereo, and is greatly enhanced by
|
|
such. FYI, TNT does broadcast in Surround Sound stereo, when it's available on
|
|
the materials we're broadcasting. For instance, while some of our older movies
|
|
and TV shows were originally recorded in mono, our sports, TNT Originals,
|
|
specials, and some newer movies and TV series (including B5, of course) are all
|
|
broadcast and will be broadcast in stereo. I cannot, however, say if your cable
|
|
company RECEIVES us in stereo, but the bottom line is: we DO broadcast as such,
|
|
when we can. If you are not currently recieveing stereo on your TNT reception,
|
|
call your cable company and make sure they don't recieve us in stereo; there is
|
|
nothing we can personally do to MAKE them broadcast us in stereo, though, as we
|
|
have no control over cable affiliates' operations. And my only suggestion
|
|
towards your efforts to make them recieve us in stereo: badger, badger, badger
|
|
(or get a satellite dish).
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
BUGS (LOGOS): It now seems as if the SMALL, TRANSPARANT TNT logo is up
|
|
permanently on our network's programming. We know this won't be a popular
|
|
decision with B5 fans, but this is something that we HAVE TO start doing to
|
|
foster recognizability of TNT, not just during B5, but during movies and LOIS
|
|
AND CLARK and everything on TNT. Why? Well, there are 70 channels out there
|
|
for the average cable subscriber to choose from (let's don't even get INTO
|
|
satellite). In the age of remote controls, people don't pay attention to
|
|
channels or numbers or anything like that anymore, unless it's drilled into
|
|
their head (also we con't rely on our promos to do to this, because for all we
|
|
know, people are changling the channels during the commercials). The days of
|
|
"ABC's on 2, NBC's on 11 and CBS is on 5" are over. Networks must do something
|
|
to make themselves and their locations on your "dial" much more noticable (Sci-
|
|
Fi Channel keeps their bug up 24-7...). Therefore, the logos (bugs) will be a
|
|
regular fixture on B5. But, again, it is a transparant logo, and very small.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
VOICE-OVERS/SQUEEZE CREDITS DURING CLOSING CREDIT: In order to let them know
|
|
what's coming up next on our network (or any network) voice-overs and,
|
|
sometimes, squeeze credits are necessary to keep people with shorter attention
|
|
spans/low tolerance for credits tuned into the network. Squeeze credits will
|
|
probably rarely be used. But voice-overs are guaranteed to be a daily staple on
|
|
the B5 credits. However, we will relax our policy for the following episodes:
|
|
"Chrysalis," "And Now For A Word," "The Fall of Night," "Walkabout," "And The
|
|
Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," "Z'Ha'Dum," and "Atonement." These episodes
|
|
have been flagged with a NO V.O. notice, in order to provide fans/viewers with
|
|
one episode a season where they can hear the theme music running over the
|
|
credits, as well as to avoid stepping on special audio material played during
|
|
the closing credits of various episodes.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
VIDEO RELEASE OF B5: I've just heard that Columbia House Home Video will be
|
|
releasing B5 to tape starting in November 1997. Two episodes per tape. I don't
|
|
have pricing info, but I do have their website address: www.columbiahouse.com.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
DISTRIBUTION FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD: TNT's job is not to internationally
|
|
distribute TV series, B5 or otherwise, but is instead to program a DOMESTIC
|
|
cable network available in the United States. When it comes to all of this
|
|
other stuff--international distribution, videotape possibilities, DVD--Warner
|
|
Brothers is the answer-giver! We didn't BUY "Babylon 5" lock, stock and barrel
|
|
from WB--we just "rented" it; they retain ownership--it's just that no one
|
|
else domestically can show the series, at least, for as long as our contracts
|
|
go. So, since TNT bought, from Warner Brothers, the rights ONLY to show
|
|
"Babylon 5" in the United States, there are no plans on our end to make it
|
|
available for Canada, Australia, TNT Europe, TNT Asia, or TNT Latin America (all
|
|
of which, despite having TNT as part of their names, are separte channels with
|
|
completely separate operations and budgets and programming agendas). I know
|
|
this is easy for me to say, but don't worry too much--Warner Brothers knows of
|
|
the desire of fans worldwide to see any new Babylon 5 episodes or movies, and
|
|
I'm sure they'll make accomodations for you to see them, either by selling the
|
|
movies/episodes to TNT Asia, TNT Europe, and/or TNT Latin America, or to foreign
|
|
syndication, or at the very least to a videotape distributor (I know that, in
|
|
BRITAIN, for instance, they'll still continue to put 5th season episodes and the
|
|
new movies on videotape). I don't work for Warner Brothers Distribution or Home
|
|
Video, though, so I can't tell you what their plans are; all I can tell you is
|
|
what's going on in my sphere of knowledge, and that sphere pretty much begins
|
|
and ends with TNT Domestic (or, at the very most, the Turner side of Time/
|
|
Warner). Sorry I can't help more...
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Well, hopefully, all this info answers any questions you may have about our
|
|
plans for B5. Again, as fans ourselves, we're thrilled to be carrying the
|
|
series. It's intelligently written, beautifully performed, inpeccably crafted,
|
|
and always incredibly exciting and ambitious--what more could we want from a
|
|
show? You all have our deepest gratitude for taking the time to send us your
|
|
congratulations and thanks! We're very much looking forward to having you guys
|
|
as regular viewers in 1998! Take care.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Dean Treadway @ TNT Programming
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p nowrap>
|
|
<nobr><a href="/lurk/lurker.html"><img
|
|
align=bottom border=0
|
|
width=64 height=24 src="/lurk/nav/foot-station.gif"
|
|
alt="[Home] "></a><a
|
|
href="#"><img
|
|
align=bottom border=0
|
|
width=72 height=13 src="/lurk/nav/foot-pagetop.gif"
|
|
alt="[Top] "></a><a
|
|
href="mailto:koreth+lgfeedback@midwinter.com"><img
|
|
align=bottom border=0
|
|
width=80 height=13 src="/lurk/nav/foot-comments.gif"
|
|
alt="[Comments] "></a><img
|
|
align=bottom
|
|
width=284 height=13 src="/lurk/nav/foot-bare.gif"
|
|
alt="">
|
|
</nobr>
|
|
|
|
<h5>
|
|
Last update:
|
|
October 21, 1997
|
|
|
|
</h5>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|