ION Television June 2008 --

Blog Story:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2008/05/cbs-upfront-2008-09-fall-2008-schedule.html


Regular schedule changes:

Effective Monday, June 16
(ER Marathon Week of June 9, Mon-Thurs 8-11p)

What's new: ER and The Dead Zone
What's gone: Mama's Family and Drew Carey

Mon-Wed
8:00pm Quantum Leap (replaces Mama's Family 2x)
9:00pm The Dead Zone (replaces Quantum Leap)
10:00pm ER (replaces Drew Carey Show 2x)




Here is full the regular schedule for June:
Mon-Thurs
5:00PM The Wayans Bros.
5:30PM The Wayans Bros.
6:00PM The Steve Harvey Show
6:30PM The Steve Harvey Show
7:00PM Family Feud
7:30PM Family Feud
8:00PM Quantum Leap (Mon-Wed); Total Theatre Thursday (Thurs)
9:00PM The Dead Zone (Mon-Wed); Total Theatre Thursday cont. (Thurs)
10:00PM ER (Mon-Wed); 48 Hours (Thurs)


Fri-Sun
2:00PM-5:00PM qubo on ION (Fri)
4:30PM Inside Drag Racing (Sat)
5:00PM The Wayans Bros. (Fri)
5:30PM The Wayans Bros. (Fri)
6:00PM The Steve Harvey Show (Fri); Baywatch (Sat); 48 Hours (Sun)
6:30PM The Steve Harvey Show (Fri); Baywatch cont. (Sat); 48 Hours cont. (Sun)
7:00PM RHI Entertainment
9:00PM RHI Entertainment




Movies, Stunts, Marathons



-ER Launch Marathon
Monday, June 9 through Thursday, June 12, 2008
8:00pm-11:00pm ET/PT each night
ER joins the ION Television line-up with an eleven episode marathon. The last marathon airing on Thursday, June 12 at 9pm will lead into a sneak peek of the ION premiere of The Dead Zone, which joins the ION June line-up Mon-Wed at 9pm the following week (June 16). ER joins the line-up the following week also Mon-Wed at 10pm.
(Episodes TBD)





- Total Theatre Thursday
Thursdays at 8:00PM

June 5 - 8-10p Point of No Return (1993), Bridget Fonda
June 12 - preempted (ER marathon)
June 19 - 8-10p Dirty Harry (1971), Clint Eastwood
June 26 - 8-10p Chisum (1970), John Wayne





- RHI on ION

June Programming:

Sunday, June 1
7:00PM-11:00PM The Ten Commandments (2006)

Friday, June 6
7:00PM-9:00PM Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde (2007)
9:00PM-11:00PM Triplecross (1995)

Saturday, June 7
7:00PM-9:00PM Bridge of Time (1997)
9:00PM-11:00PM Aces N' Eights (2007)

Sunday, June 8
7:00PM-11:00PM Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986)

Friday, June 13
7:00PM-9:00PM LaVyrle Spencer’s Home Song (1996)
9:00PM-11:00PM Alice in Wonderland (1999)

Saturday, June 14
7:00PM-11:00PM Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000)

Sunday, June 15
7:00PM-11:00PM Summit, The (2008) WORLD PREMIERE!

Friday, June 20
7:00PM-11:00PM Summit, The (2008)

Saturday, June 21
7:00PM-11:00PM Summit, The (2008)

Sunday, June 22
7:00PM-11:00PM Arabian Nights (2000)

Friday, June 27
7:00PM-9:00PM The Long Way Home (1998)
9:00PM-11:00PM Neil Simon's Jake's Women (1996)

Saturday, June 28
7:00PM-9:00PM 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1997)
9:00PM-11:00PM Crash Dive (1997)

Sunday, June 29
7:00PM-11:00PM Jim Henson's Jack & the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001)







Read the blog before you post:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2008/05/cbs-upfront-2008-09-fall-2008-schedule.html

Glad to see "Quantum Leap" and "Baywatch" stay put.

FInally, Mama's family is gone-lol I wonder what happened since it was always their top rated show

What the hell's going on with ION? They used to air hits from the 70's and 80's. Now all they're airing are either early 90's and 2000's series. Crap. Straight crap. I guess I am no longer an ION viewer since they are apparently getting rid of my demographic of people (people interested in "The Wonder Years," "Silverspoons," "Diff'rent Strokes," "Different World," "Out of this World" and "Small Wonder" - to name a few).

I think I feel the same way as most people do about ION's choices of shows. Where are the shows from the 70's and 80's that I thought were supposed to air on this network? I don't care to watch ER, Dead Zone, Quantum Leap, Drew Carey, Boston Legal, Ghost Whisper, etc. I was really hoping they would air all those good sitcoms that I grew up watching in the 80's especially since most of them don't air on cable and they don't have them on DVD either ( Well, some shows have been released, but you get stuck watching the same season one dvd over and over because the studios don't release the rest of the seasons which I can't stand, like Silver Spoons, Benson, Gimme A Break! to name a few.) I guess ION has lost me as a viewer. I'll be back if they decide to air THE GOOD CLASSIC STUFF and NOT CRAP!!!

ION has now officially completely lost my interest. Not one show on the lineup interests me. They now seem to be going for more current dramas, which means by the end of the year, sitcoms will probably be gone entirely-LOL. The only sitcoms on the network in June are black sitcoms, which aren't even good black sitcoms. Where are the classics? Where's the afternoon sitcom block?

Now this channel finally sucks, Mama's Family was the only thing that I had to look forward to at 7pm. ION is turning back into PAX the old folks station.

Now this channel finally sucks, Mama's Family was the only thing that I had to look forward to at 7pm. ION is turning back into PAX the old folks station.


You are now in the "ION IS NOT ON MY WATCH LIST" Club-lol

Could have kept Mama's Family and Drew Carew and had them on before the Waynes Bros.
Good to see ER is coming next month.

only show i'm looking forward to is haning with mr cooper. i hadn't seen it in ages. i wish they would get the odd couple wlecome back ,kottoer , get smart, the incadabile hulk or family ties. does any one know if wonder years is coming back on? I would love to see it back on tv. I wish they would have a afte rnoon sitcomes. that way they could show more shows.

Could have kept Mama's Family and Drew Carew and had them on before the Waynes Bros.
Good to see ER is coming next month.

They should have gotten rid of Wayans and Harvey altogether, and brought in more of the classic sitcoms, or Drew Carey.

Now this channel finally sucks, Mama's Family was the only thing that I had to look forward to at 7pm. ION is turning back into PAX the old folks station.

Oh, now if it were turning back into PAX, we would have reruns of "Diagnosis Murder","Doc", That F.B. Eye show and "Miracle Pets" all back on the schedule
:lol:

?????????????

The staff at ION needs a thorough psychiatric evaluation. This schedule is horrid. While I understand they want to distance themselves from it and it HAS been overplayed, they junk Mama's Family, and replace it with Quantum Leap? Excuse me? Now is Quantum Leap really doing as well as Mama's Family? I doubt. And they're adding some USA original too.

Evenings are a joke. Why are they so dead set on airing Steve Harvey and Wayans Bros? They could have moved Mama and Drew Carey to those timeslots.

What a disappointing network. Oh, for the quality programming we were getting last year at this time...I'd take anything that was pre-1990s. I guess they don't want the older shows anymore.

Their treatment of Drew Carey is a real slap in the face. When they rearranged the schedule a few months ago, for whatever reason, they reset DC back to the first episode. Now I don't think they will even make it back to where they were in the schedule before it goes off June 9th. And I'm guessing when it starts back up in the Fall they will reset it back to the beginning yet again. Pathetic scheduling!

Just to update, we have the interview all done and will hopefully coming to the blog next week. Should be interesting.

If you don't want to or can't say, I understand, but do you think we'll be seeing any more older shows [pre-1990] on ION or are they done with them?

Thanks for taking the time to do the interview.

The following press release is for the ION Life Network, but ION Television will also air all ten The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden specials Sundays at 6PM starting June 15:

ION Life to Add Compelling New Programming and Award-Winning Content to Lineup

“Stories of the NFL” to Showcase the Inspiration and Motivation Behind “America’s Most Popular Sport”

“The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden” to Celebrate Some of Our Country’s Greatest Moments at the “World’s Most Famous Arena”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 19, 2008 -- ION Media Networks, Inc. announced today that ION Life, its network dedicated to active living and personal growth, has reached agreements to add two compelling series to its program lineup. In the network’s first commissioned production from NFL Films, ION Life will present the new series, “Stories of the NFL,” that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the inspirational stories and lives of NFL players on and off the field. The series will air daily on ION Life at 8 p.m., starting Monday, June 2nd. ION Media Networks has also secured the rights to “The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden (MSG),” an Emmy Award-winning documentary series presenting some of our most celebrated moments in the world’s most famous arena. Episodes will air on ION Life, and simultaneously as part of ION Life’s channel showcase presentation on the ION Television Network, on Sundays at 6 p.m., beginning June 15th.

“Both of these series fit perfectly within ION Life’s brand promise to celebrate life’s most positive moments,” said Marc Zand, SVP Digital Networks, ION Media Networks. “These programs showcase how to live with a purpose and a passion, and they will captivate viewers of any age with inspirational stories.

“These series demonstrate ION Life’s strong commitment to our valued distribution partners,” said Steve Friedman, President of Distribution, ION Media Networks. “The content agreements with NFL Films and MSG Media continue to strengthen ION’s pledge to affiliates that ION Life serves as a unique destination committed to engendering personal growth and positive living.”

Produced by NFL Films, each half-hour episode of “Stories of the NFL” incorporates candid interviews, action-packed footage, original music and award-winning cinematography. These captivating segments provide a unique perspective on the NFL, depicting motivational themes of overcoming adversity, making a difference and leading with one’s heart. Viewers will hear coaches and players weigh in on topics ranging from individual players’ fortitude in overcoming odds, to the special relationship between fans and their teams, to a more earnest look at African-American football history and the psychological toughness of NFL players.

Hosted by NFL Films President Steve Sabol, a 36-time Emmy® Award-winner, “Stories of the NFL” provides a behind-the-scenes look at of the lives of NFL stars both on and off the field, for example, the triumphs of recent Green Bay Packers retiree Brett Favre — seen through the eyes of his back-ups. Another renowned quarterback, Peyton Manning, is revealed as a member of one of the all-time great football families in an episode that spotlights the continued career success passed on from father to son.

As its title suggests, “The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden,” acquired from MSG Media, provides an exclusive look into the most notable events that have taken place at the world’s most famous arena. Some highlights from the Garden’s rich tradition and history include such iconic occasions as the 1974 Elton John/John Lennon concert that proved to be Mr. Lennon’s last, the uplifting 9/11 benefit concert that touched the nation, the Ali-Frazier “Fight of the Century” and the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert that raised an unprecedented $8 million. This series possesses a matchless power to stir and inspire viewers with some of the most notable occasions of the last century.

In a series of 10 one-hour programs, these rare moments are captured through artful storytelling and sharp interviewing. Additional illustrious events that made the top 50 are Pope John Paul’s 1979 youth-focused visit, Elvis Presley’s four sold-out MSG shows, Marilyn Monroe's breathy rendition of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy and the inspiring stories of the NY Knicks first championship in 1970 and the NY Rangers amazing 1994 triumphant run. “The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden” has won eight New York Emmy® Awards.

Launched in February 2007, ION Life is the country’s first digital network available via multiple distribution platforms with programming dedicated to the celebration of positive living, which will entertain, inform and inspire viewers to live up to their personal best. ION Life features acclaimed content by leading providers, covering topics such as fitness, diet & nutrition, travel & adventure, design & décor, sports and all categories promoting personal growth and achievement.

Well, chalk up another channel that's gone straight to heck. Nothing, I mean nothing is on this channel anymore that I'm interested in. Where are the '60's shows they ran for a couple days once? Thank goodness for DVDs, otherwise I'd never turn my TV on.

ION Television Injects “ER” into Primetime Lineup with All-Star Marathon Kickoff

Groundbreaking Award-Winning Drama Raises Pulse of Network


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 27, 2008 -- ION Television announced today that it will launch the highly-acclaimed, hit series, “ER,” on its primetime schedule June 9th with a four-day marathon of back-to-back episodes featuring guest stars who have either won or been nominated for Emmy Awards. The network will showcase television’s longest-running medical drama, which has earned more Primetime Emmy Award nominations than any other program in history, with three episodes from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. on June 9th, 10th and 11th, and two episodes from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 12th. “ER” will then air in its regular timeslot Monday through Wednesday, 10 p.m. – 11 p.m. (ET), beginning June 16th. Also joining ION Television‘s primetime schedule with a special sneak preview on June 12th at 10 p.m. will be “The Dead Zone.”

"The four-day ‘ER’ marathon of these memorable, hand-picked episodes ushers in an all-time fan favorite for ION Television viewers," said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. “This intense series, with its star-studded cast and high-profile guest stars, takes us to the next level of becoming a positively entertaining television network.”

Combining the extraordinary talents of multi award-winning producer John Wells, best-selling author Michael Crichton and renowned director Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television, the venerated series explores the inner workings of an urban teaching hospital and the critical issues faced by the dedicated physicians and staff of its overburdened emergency room. The episodes airing during the ION Television marathon feature Emmy-winners Chad Lowe, Cynthia Nixon, Armand Assante, Danny Glover and Sally Field, plus Emmy-nominees Louise Fletcher, Stacy Keach and John Mahoney. Also spotlighted are Ray Liotta, who won an Emmy for his “ER” appearance, and Red Buttons and James Woods, who both were nominated for their respective performances.

On May 1st, ION announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to air seasons 11-14 of the groundbreaking series. Having recently completed its 14th season, "ER" continues to earn some of the highest ratings among TV dramas. In addition to winning 22 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 1996, and 120 Emmy Award nominations—the most in television history—the show has also earned the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series.

Joining “ER” on ION Television’s primetime schedule this summer is “The Dead Zone,” originally produced by Lions Gate Television and CBS Paramount Television for the USA Network. Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, “The Dead Zone” stars Anthony Michael Hall as a teacher who awakens from a coma to find he has extrasensory abilities and can use them to help others. The psychological thriller premieres Thursday, June 12th at 10 p.m. – 11 p.m. (ET). It will air directly before “ER,” Monday through Wednesday, 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. (ET) beginning June 16th.

“The debuts of these two popular and highly-acclaimed series highlight ION Television’s commitment to contemporary, quality programming that will appeal to a wide audience,” added Mr. Burgess.

The network is pushing forward with its long-term strategy to meet the entertainment needs of the adult 25-54 demographic with a mix of compelling television series, theatrical and made-for-television movies, specials and sports. “ER” and “The Dead Zone” join recent acquisitions, including “Boston Legal,” coming to ION off-network later this year, as well as “The Steve Harvey Show,” “Family Feud” and “Quantum Leap,” currently airing in ION Television’s expanded entertainment schedule.

I'm not so sure ER is going to be a great performer for them. ER has been in syndication for a long time, and at least locally it has already left this market. And even when it was airing, it was during late night weekends, the least watched time periods.

ER on locals were only for weekend play. The weekend play ended a season or two ago nationally. Here in NY, it was airing on WABC Saturday nights after the news or so.

ER aired on WGNO-ABC26 on Sunday Night's at 11:35 pm CT

I think ER will do decent. Dead Zone, however, I look to be another Baywatch.

I belive ER will get Super Ratings

I think ER will do decent. Dead Zone, however, I look to be another Baywatch.

I agree with you on this one. I don't even understand why ION picked up Dead Zone to begin with. It's so far away from the rest of their shows. ER, on the other hand, will probably do okay, probably better than Drew Carey in that slot.

Is the interview still coming? I have been looking forward to reading it.

Yes, it is still coming. Just don't know when.

I'm not so sure ER is going to be a great performer for them. ER has been in syndication for a long time, and at least locally it has already left this market. And even when it was airing, it was during late night weekends, the least watched time periods.
If I'm not mistaken, most hour-long dramas that go into syndication air in late night weekend slots. That's when all of the CSIs that are in syndication air here, same with "Without a Trace" and some other random dramas. Even the original "Star Trek" pops up along with the original "Perry Mason." A couple of years ago, "Fantasy Island" used to air at like 3am on Saturday nights.

If I'm not mistaken, most hour-long dramas that go into syndication air in late night weekend slots. That's when all of the CSIs that are in syndication air here, same with "Without a Trace" and some other random dramas. Even the original "Star Trek" pops up along with the original "Perry Mason." A couple of years ago, "Fantasy Island" used to air at like 3am on Saturday nights.


That just makes my point. Dramas and procedurals generally don't fair well in syndication. The CSI's are the most watched first-run shows currently yet can't do better in syndication than latenight weekends. ER has already floundered in syndication. I see it doing about as well as Baywatch on Ion. I'm surprised that L&O CI airs weekdays during the afternoon here, wonder how long that will last?

That just makes my point. Dramas and procedurals generally don't fair well in syndication. The CSI's are the most watched first-run shows currently yet can't do better in syndication than latenight weekends. ER has already floundered in syndication. I see it doing about as well as Baywatch on Ion. I'm surprised that L&O CI airs weekdays during the afternoon here, wonder how long that will last?
Well, you see, there really isn't anywhere else for them to go. Hourlong shows, especially current ones, when they're put in syndication, are usually only contracted to air on weekends, and the affiliates usually already have a way of scheduling weekends (the networks' children's shows on Saturday mornings, sports in the afternoon, movies in the later part of the afternoon maybe, more sports, the networks' primetime stuff, then syndicated dramas). In fact, where I live right now, the only dramas that are syndicated daily that I know of are "Little House on the Prairie" and "Matlock." And of course, both of them are loooong gone when it comes to first-run episodes.

I don't know. Pav would be much more qualified to explain it than me.

L&O: CI has actually been a success in weekday syndication (on broadcast) which has prompted Universal to start stripping L&O: SVU as well (not sure if this fall or next).

ER has been running in daytime on TNT for years now. If it was doing that badly, I don't think TNT would keep running it. ER was only on the Daytime WB in terms of daily broadcast syndication--it was not offered to other broadcast outlets as a daily strip.

L&O: CI has actually been a success in weekday syndication (on broadcast) which has prompted Universal to start stripping L&O: SVU as well (not sure if this fall or next).

ER has been running in daytime on TNT for years now. If it was doing that badly, I don't think TNT would keep running it. ER was only on the Daytime WB in terms of daily broadcast syndication--it was not offered to other broadcast outlets as a daily strip.
Ah yes, I forgot about L&O:CI. It does indeed run weekdays on the UPN station here.

Pavan, any idea how ION is doing so far with Mama gone and Dead Zone/Quantum Leap/ER? I see ER doing well but Quantum Leap and Dead Zone flopping..

The ratings for primetime for the week of June 9-15 just came in. ION did terrible in primetime. 320,000 total viewers and a 0.2/0 HH rating. That was down from the 470,000 total viewers and 0.3/1 HH rating the previous week. The week before that primetime was 450,000 total viewers and a 0.3/1 HH rating. But the week before (May 19-25) ION only did 310,000 total viewers and 0.2/0 HH rating. Week before that it was a silimar 320,000 viewers and a 0.2/0 HH rating.

So ION has gone back below 400K again after going up the past two weeks.

Remember these are the primetime ratings only (Mon-Sat 8-11pm and Sun 7-11pm). So this past week ER aired its marathon Mon-Thurs 8-11pm, except 10pm on Thurs...so the majority of the blame would go to ER unless the RHI movies did bad.

The ratings for primetime for the week of June 9-15 just came in. ION did terrible in primetime. 320,000 total viewers and a 0.2/0 HH rating. That was down from the 470,000 total viewers and 0.3/1 HH rating the previous week. The week before that primetime was 450,000 total viewers and a 0.3/1 HH rating. But the week before (May 19-25) ION only did 310,000 total viewers and 0.2/0 HH rating. Week before that it was a silimar 320,000 viewers and a 0.2/0 HH rating.

So ION has gone back below 400K again after going up the past two weeks.

Remember these are the primetime ratings only (Mon-Sat 8-11pm and Sun 7-11pm). So this past week ER aired its marathon Mon-Thurs 8-11pm, except 10pm on Thurs...so the majority of the blame would go to ER unless the RHI movies did bad.

Wow, those numbers are terrible. Looks like ER may not do as well as we all thought it would. It seems like since ION's been putting these dramas in primetime, ratings hae been down - they seemd to do better in the past with sitcoms.

And with these ratings, I don't understand where they're getting the money to buy the rights to all these shows. You'd think ER, Ghost Whisperer, Dead Zone, and even MASH would cost quite a lot of money since they're not from the library deals.

They have to stick with ER and see how it does. The line-up with Quantum Leap started bad too, but it was growing. So, I think ER will grow by the fall.

Woah, shocked about ER. Thought it would be a break-out hit. I bet a Mama-thon would have doubled the ratings....watch them go crawling back to her if ER doesn't build and Quantum Leap as well. And if TDZ flops, which I'm sorta expecting. Really, I see the fall line-up being much more different than the one they posted.

Seems to me the network was much better last year at this time...and the ratings were as well.

The ratings are horrible because Ion decided to dispose of their existing viewer base and start from scratch with a new one. Their lineup today is not geared towards the people who have watched their network the past few years. It's much like when they dumped the Diagnosis murder/Susan Thomas F B EYE/etc. lineup in favor of the 80's sitcoms. They are trying to get better demographics, but I don't think the demographics they want even know or care that Ion exists.

I still think ER is going to flop because it has already proven not to do well in syndication (I realize many disagree with this). But evidently these types of shows are the only ones they can afford or are willing to put on the air.

I would not be shocked if we see a multitude of "Ion Original" Reality series sometime in the next few years if the programming turnover continues. Oh wait, didn't they already try that a few years ago with the competition between the people trying to quit smoking?

Yeah, they're definitely switching to more contemporary programming. ER, The Dead Zone, Ghost Whisperer are all shows that they probably think will bring in good numbers because they're current. But, it seems to me they did better with the sitcoms in primetime than the current dramas. I guess we'll have to wait and see how ER does in the next few weeks.

Well, they've tried 'contemporary' shows like Baywatch and 48 Hours....both have flopped. They should have built on the summer 2007 schedule with Mama, WTB?, Diagnosis Murder, Amen, Designing Women, Wonder Years, etc.

Well, they've tried 'contemporary' shows like Baywatch and 48 Hours....both have flopped. They should have built on the summer 2007 schedule with Mama, WTB?, Diagnosis Murder, Amen, Designing Women, Wonder Years, etc.

Exactly - they should have learned how badly newer programming does than the classics. IMO, they should stick to the tried and true like the shows you listed.

The new owners have sunk $100 million into Ion since acquiring it a year ago. Rest assured they will not be going back to a primetime schedule that resembles anything from the past few years. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there is some buyer's remorse going on at the corporate offices right now.

Pavan, when will you know the ratings for this week? Will be interesting to see how the new primetime schedule starts off, especially without Mama.

I should have them when the week is over, by next Tuesday.

It is very interesting to see how many viewers 2-17 and 50+ have stopped watching ION since the fall with their successive line-up changes to target the A18-49 demographic...they've lost about 100,000 non A18-49 since the fall.

At the same time, they really haven't made any gains in A18-49 just yet. In fact, they're down about 45,000 A18-49 viewers from the fall as well.


Viewers: A18-49 >17/50+ total
Fall wks 1-13 162 401 563
Winter wks 14-26 162 372 533
Spring wks 27-35 131 303 434
Summer wks 36- 117 297 413


I'll be watching that A18-49 viewer count over the summer (and in the fall) to see whether it shows any uptick towards watching the new drama-heavy ION line-up.

Thank you for that, Dumont Demo. Please keep us updated. They sure are putting a lot of $$$ in to these new shows...if this flops, wonder what they'll do.

Thank you for that, Dumont Demo. Please keep us updated. They sure are putting a lot of $$$ in to these new shows...if this flops, wonder what they'll do.

I'm surprised they still have money to keep going, with all these big shows they're bringing in.

Of course they have the money--look at all those infomercials still on! :lol:

Seriously, ION may have to readjust their thinking and go back to what was working--maybe back to a more family friendly/older viewer schedule. The fact that ION puts up disclaimers before ER and The Dead Zone--what does that say??

Of course they have the money--look at all those infomercials still on! :lol:

Seriously, ION may have to readjust their thinking and go back to what was working--maybe back to a more family friendly/older viewer schedule. The fact that ION puts up disclaimers before ER and The Dead Zone--what does that say??

They actually put up disclaimers before those shows? You've got to be kidding me - honestly, it seems to me like they're trying to be a Sci-Fi/drama network that they just aren't. They seem to fit better as a classic/family network, which really did work better for them in the past.

At the rate they're buying these new shows, those infomercials are never going to go away. I wouldn't be surprised to see ION go back to a 6pm-11pm network soon.

Viewer discretion advised before ER and The Dead Zone? ROTFL!!!!!! This network is just pathetic. I guess they are a little livelier in comparison to good 'ole Mama, but that is a little over done. They're trying to be something they aren't capable of. They've aired older-skewing programming since 1998 and all of the sudden they're adding all of these younger-skewing shows (ER, Drew Carey, Dead Zone, Baywatch, Ghost Whisperer, Steve Harvey). They're running their old fanbase off and aren't really gaining a new one....and if they DID go back to their old strategy, they may have trouble getting their old audience that watched Diagnosis Murder, Doc, Who's the Boss, Mama's Family, Green Acres, Family Feud, Wonder Years, Alice, etc. back. They should have kept the older, more family-oriented general entertainment format. We've got enough Sci-Fi, Discovery, A&E, etc.

They're just going to go in to more debt if they keep this up. They should have built on what (little) they had over the past 10 years (like they were last summer) instead of starting over from scratch. I currently do not have access very often to ION Television, but there is nothing on their schedule that interests me, so I won't be watching for the forseeable future.

Maybe we should start making bets on which network is going to fold first, the CW or ION.

There is no way Ion will go back to being the network we know and loved. When Citadel bought ION that was a signal that they thought Ion, despite its boatloads of debt, was greatly undervalued, and in the TV biz that means their (primetime) programming was crappy. If they can increase the primetime ratings significantly, Citadel will make a boatload of money.

Ion was on the verge of bankrupcy before Citadel stepped in and invested all that money. Either this new scheduling works, or Ion goes bankrupt. Going "back" is not an option, since the old scheduling strategy was destined to send them into bankrupcy. It's not necessarily that a company can't make money with that type of programming, but it's just not enough to pay down Ion's humongus amount of debt, which was the legacy of Bud Paxson.

Well, I just don't see them making it as this type of network. This network has always been troubled and probably always will be....I DO NOT see the ratings doubling over last year, or whatever they're expecting. I think they're going to be disappointed come fall when their 18-49s aren't much improved. They'll probably cut back, air from 7-11pm or something like that....and air infomercials the rest of the time.

Exactly what did Mr. Paxson do that put this network so in to the hole? I thought the Sony/Warner/Universal deals were supposed to bring it back...apparently that wasn't enough.

Maybe we should start making bets on which network is going to fold first, the CW or ION.

:brent

Paxson started out buying TV and radio stations, and ammassed quite a collection over the years. He bought a public company in 1991 and investors kept investing more and more money. This generated a large amount of corporate debt. He sold the radio stations in the 1990's and instead of paying down the debt, he bought even more TV stations. Despite the investment community telling him it wasn't such a great idea, he decided to start his own network (PAX) in 1998 that would air 24 hours a day on his TV stations, showing only family friendly shows. I don't think his company has ever posted a profit since Pax started. It floundered until NBC bought a large stake in 1999. I remember our local NBC affiliate would show a rerun of the late local news on the Pax station for a few years. However Pax continued to lose money and NBC decided to pull out, and Paxson decided he wanted out too. Luckily for both of them, Citadel wanted to buy the network and did so in 2007. They think that by changing to more contemporary programming, they can finally make the company profitable. We will see.

Paxson had to leave as a condition of the sale.

Thanks, VisualSensation. I remember back in 2004 or so they sold off a lot of their O&O stations to pay some of their debts off, I believe. This was around the time of the transition of PAX to i, I think. Who bought it in late 2005? I think Paxson had to leave (like Jude86 said)...whoever bought it then was the one that sealed the content deals in 2006 and apparently wanted to base the network around older shows/movies to make it profitable.

Maybe The CW will buy ION if Citadel can't get anywhere - LOL

Paxson had to leave as a condition of the sale.


We are both wrong. LOL

I just looked it up, and Paxson resigned as part of the deal that settled the lawsuit with NBC in 2005.

Regardless, this company is a mess, plain and simple. The only reason it still exists is because it owns 60 TV stations and the potential that holds of great wealth to anyone able to figure out how to adequately utilize those stations before the debt cripples the corporation.

Well whatever.........the point is, he had to leave......he didn't choose to leave :lol:

I just found these ratings for ION for the week of June 9-15 while searching google - 320,000 viewers, and a (0.2, 0) in the demo. If that isn't terrible, I don't know what is.

Julie, that was posted last week already:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=3941440&postcount=35

0.2/0 is the HH rating, not 18-49 demo.

Julie, that was posted last week already:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=3941440&postcount=35

0.2/0 is the HH rating, not 18-49 demo.

Oops, sorry! I was thinking this was the latest week's ratings - my mistake :D

Primetime Ratings for this past week will be out tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see their ratings tomorrow...I wonder if they'll build on the ER marathon any. And it will be interesting to see how The Dead Zone does.

ION's Primetime Lineup is "THE DEAD ZONE".....:brent

ION's Primetime Lineup is "THE DEAD ZONE".....:brent

LOL
That was such an odd pick-up. I'm sure it will triple their audience :rolleyes:

ION's Primetime Lineup is "THE DEAD ZONE".....:brent

Seriously-LOL. Just look at their shows. "The Dead Zone," "ER," "Quantum Leap," - I think they're trying to tell us something :lol:

Can't wait to see how the ratings are.

I cant wait to see the numbers as well

I third that. Notice we didn't see a press release bragging about the ER marathon like we did with Mama's Family and Who's the Boss....

With our luck they'd replace one of those dramas with Diagnosis Murder..

I was wondering do you think Diagnosis Murder will ever Return to the Ion schedule

Week 39, 2007-8 Season:
0.2HH/0%, 330,000 viewers 2+, 0.1 A18-49 (100,000 A18-49)

The numbers were pretty stable to the week before (+10,000 P2+ viewers, -10,000 A18-49 viewers).

But on a year-over-year basis, the numbers have really plunged. Last year in Week 39, ION was attracting about double the audiences that it is this summer:

Week 39, 2006-7 Season:
0.4HH/1%, 620,000 viewers 2+, 0.1 A18-49 (150,000 A18-49)

Year-over-Year:
-0.2HH (down 50%), -290,000 P2+ viewers (down 47%), -50,000 A18-49 viewers (down 33%)

June 2007 Lineup:
Weekdays - Mama's Family*2, Diagnosis Murder, The Wonder Years*2
Weekends - Movies & Battlestar Galactica (Sun)

ION's gotten the same ratings from last week, which can only mean their new linup of Dead Zone/ER is what's bringing it down.

Remember in July 2007 the ratings really went up when they added Who's the Boss, so they were probably even better in Jul 07 than Jun 07, which was pretty good. I think the Diagnosis/Designing/Mama/Boss/Wonder Years line-up (in that order) was the best they ever had and got the best ratings, too.

Does anyone know what they were getting in June of 2005 or 2006 when it was PAX/i with the Doc/Sue Thomas/Diagnosis/quit smoking etc stuff? I wonder if the ratings were lower then than they are now. If things don't pick up, I doubt ION will last very long.

Does anyone know if the hour-by hour breakdowns are available for ION like the other networks have? I'd like to see what the weak (or weakest) link exactly is that's bringing it down.

I used to get the program breakdowns for ION back in late December for a week or so, but now I don't.

I used to get the program breakdowns for ION back in late December for a week or so, but now I don't.

That's too bad. What do you think about last week's ratings? Is there a particular show that's bringing it down, or is it just a bad line-up?

I'm not sure, it is hard to tell. Remember only three of these nights are QL/Dead Zone/ER and the other nights they are movies.

And they sure don't seem to be in any hurry in doing your interview, Pav!

Remember in July 2007 the ratings really went up when they added Who's the Boss, so they were probably even better in Jul 07 than Jun 07, which was pretty good. I think the Diagnosis/Designing/Mama/Boss/Wonder Years line-up (in that order) was the best they ever had and got the best ratings, too.

That lineup wast he best ION has ever had. I remember watching WTB/Wonder Years every night from 9pm-11pm - both were just great shows, and they really went well airing with each other. I also got my fix of DW whenever I could at 7pm, and the occasional Mama at 8. It's too bad I can't say that for a single show on their lineup nowadays.

It makes me wonder what exactly is bringing down the ratings. It could also be the RHI Movies on the weekends that's getting the low ratings, and not Quantum/Dead/ER Monday-Wednesday. Or it could be the Thursday movies. Too bad they don't release the daily ratings anymore.

Well Julie if it were the Thursday movies, seems like they could yank those pretty fast since those are selected by ION. Does anyone here watch the RHI movies? Have they declined in quality or something? I know they used to do pretty well....since they take up 3 nights of the week, it could be those. They have to air RHI, of course, until next summer I think.

Pavan, will you have the ratings for last week tomorrow? Can't wait to see how they did....I'm expecting it to remain around the 300-350,000 range. Not much change.

Well Julie if it were the Thursday movies, seems like they could yank those pretty fast since those are selected by ION. Does anyone here watch the RHI movies? Have they declined in quality or something? I know they used to do pretty well....since they take up 3 nights of the week, it could be those. They have to air RHI, of course, until next summer I think.

Yeah, if they're still scheduling those movies, they must not be the problem. From the looks of it, it seems like the majority of the RHI movies they schedule are all repeats, or they've all aired on ION before, which could be a reason for a ratings decline. Just imagine all the shows they could be airing if they didn't have to air the RHI.

ION went up a bit for the week of June 23-29 in primetime:

420,000 total viewers and 0.3/1 HH rating.

I guess viewers are finally finding ER and the Dead Zone on ION, but that's still a far cry off from what ION used to bring in.