Whedonesque : Comments on 2434 : Q Score, E-Poll could have saved Firefly

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December 01 2003

Q Score, E-Poll could have saved Firefly Variety article describes Nielsen alternatives Q Score and E-Poll -- apparently all networks but Fox are using Q Score in addition to Nielsens to determine viewers feelings about shows, etc. (Registration required - 30-day free trial available.)

"Gerry Philpott, president and CEO of E-Poll, which publishes the upstart E-Score, says that their data could have impacted the Fox Network's December 2002 vaporizing of its rookie series 'Firefly,' the futuristic action thriller created by Joss Whedon ('Buffy the Vampire Slayer').

"Even though the Nielsen ratings were sub-par, 'all of my tracking data showed that the people who were watching "Firefly" ranked it very high on their list,' Philpott says. If Fox had shown patience with the show, he continues, favorable word of mouth could've added enough fresh viewers to turn it at least into a moneymaker for the network, if not into a top-10-rated powerhouse."

melsta | Firefly&Serenity | 18:22 CET | 5 comments total | tags:

Would've, could've, should've. It's too little, too late. Just buy the upcoming Firefly DVD en masse. Fox is apparently resurrecting The Family Guy due to its DVD sales. Maybe if Firefly DVDs sell like hotcakes, Fox will consider pulling its head out of its ass and do another series after the supposed movie. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

splay | December 01, 22:59 CET

Does Fox even own the rights to Firefly anymore? I thought it was sold to another studio who is doing the movie. I agree though that it is probably too late to resurrect it for television, especially after a movie. I don't see how they could just pick off where the series ended after most likely completing the current story arc that was going on when the series was abruptly ended. But I'm hopeful the movie will be a huge hit and will become a trilogy or maybe even better. I hardly ever go to a movie theater to see a movie and the Firefly movie is one I will wait in line for hours to see if I have to.

As for this article, I do think there should be better ways to measure what people are watching and what they want to see then just relying on the stupid Nielson Ratings. I didn't read the article because I didn't want to subscribe but it sounds like all the other networks are doing it. Does anyone have direct links to how you could participate in the Q-Score or E-Poll surveys?

Firefly Flanatic | December 01, 23:32 CET

Paramount bought the movie rights for Firefly from Fox. I believe Fox still has the television rights.

ringworm | December 01, 23:34 CET

I thought Universal bought the rights? According to the latest issue of SFX the movie is not a certainty, Joss says it depends on him turning in a script worth making (er, yeah 'cos he usually writes such rubbish!) so, it probably is a certainty.
For the unlikely resurrection of the tv show, the dvds have to do well, and it cant be long term sales cos u want them to renew the show while the sets are still in existence from the movie, (Farscape must be having a hell of a job rebuilding the sets for 4 episodes).
I want this show back, the world isnt right with only one Joss show, and he still seems to be doing nothing on the spin-off front.

Ghost Spike | December 01, 23:58 CET

Didn't a similar analysis, done years ago, show that it was a mistake to cancel the original Star Trek ?

Maybe networks really don't learn.

technovamp | December 02, 04:04 CET

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