20th Century FOX Never Expected M*A*S*H to be A Hit As A Series....EVER! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-17-2010, 04:33 PM

Executives: Executives of 20th Century Fox’s TV division (pre-Murdoch)

Background: No one at Fox expected much from M*A*S*H when it debuted on TV in 1972. Execs simply wanted to make a cheap series by using the M*A*S*H movie set again – so it was a surprise when it became Fox’s only hit show. Three years later, the company was hard up for cash. When the M*A*S*H ratings started to slip after two of its stars left, Fox execs panicked.

Decision: They decided to raise cash by selling the syndication rights to the first seven seasons of M*A*S*H on a futures basis: local TV stations could pay in 1975 for shows they couldn’t broadcast until October 1979 – four years away. Fox made no guarantees that the should would still be popular; $13,000 per episodes was non-refundable. But enough local stations took the deal so that Fox made $25 million. They celebrated …

Impact: … but prematurely. When M*A*S*H finally aired in syndication in 1979, it was still popular (in fact, it ranked #3 that year). It became one of the most successful syndicated shows ever, second only to "I Love Lucy." Each of the original 168 episodes grossed over $1 million for local TV stations; Fox got nothing.

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/15/...ns-in-history/

OH Nuts! · 10-18-2010, 04:10 PM

Just goes to show you ...you never know what's gonna strike it hot. I'm sure there have been some great efforts out there, that through no fault of their own, just never soared.

But I'm glad M*A*S*H did! The show was fine entertainment all the way around.

James28 · 06-17-2014, 07:36 PM

M*A*S*H, during its first season (1972-73), aired on Sunday nights, it struggled in the Nielsen Ratings and was at risk of being cancelled after one season. Bridget Loves Bernie, which aired in the timeslot following All in the Family on Saturday nights and ranked #5 for the 72-73 season, was cancelled instead, so the following season, M*A*S*H was moved to Saturday nights in the post-AitF timeslot and ranked at #4 during the 1973-74 season (its second).

For the 1974-75 season (its third), M*A*S*H was moved to the Tuesdays at 8:30 timeslot following Good Times, and ranked at #8. At the beginning of its fourth season (1975-76), M*A*S*H was moved again, this time to Fridays, and its ratings slipped. At midseason, the series was moved back to Tuesdays, but at 9:00. It wound up ranking at #15 for the season.

It wasn't until the 1977-78 midseason (the show's sixth year) that the show was shifted to its Mondays-at 9:00 timeslot.

10-17-2010, 04:33 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	*20th Century FOX Never Expected MASH to be A Hit As A Series....EVER!** Executives: Executives of 20th Century Fox’s TV division (pre-Murdoch) Background: No one at Fox expected much from MASH when it debuted on TV in 1972. Execs simply wanted to make a cheap series by using the MASH movie set again – so it was a surprise when it became Fox’s only hit show. Three years later, the company was hard up for cash. When the MASH ratings started to slip after two of its stars left, Fox execs panicked. Decision: They decided to raise cash by selling the syndication rights to the first seven seasons of MASH on a futures basis: local TV stations could pay in 1975 for shows they couldn’t broadcast until October 1979 – four years away. Fox made no guarantees that the should would still be popular; $13,000 per episodes was non-refundable. But enough local stations took the deal so that Fox made $25 million. They celebrated … Impact: … but prematurely. When MAS*H finally aired in syndication in 1979, it was still popular (in fact, it ranked #3 that year). It became one of the most successful syndicated shows ever, second only to "I Love Lucy." Each of the original 168 episodes grossed over $1 million for local TV stations; Fox got nothing. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/15/...ns-in-history/
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-18-2010, 04:10 PM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Just goes to show you ...you never know what's gonna strike it hot. I'm sure there have been some great efforts out there, that through no fault of their own, just never soared. But I'm glad MAS*H did! The show was fine entertainment all the way around.

06-17-2014, 07:36 PM	#3
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,985	MASH, during its first season (1972-73), aired on Sunday nights, it struggled in the Nielsen Ratings and was at risk of being cancelled after one season. Bridget Loves Bernie, which aired in the timeslot following All in the Family* on Saturday nights and ranked #5 for the 72-73 season, was cancelled instead, so the following season, MASH* was moved to Saturday nights in the post-AitF timeslot and ranked at #4 during the 1973-74 season (its second). For the 1974-75 season (its third), MASH was moved to the Tuesdays at 8:30 timeslot following Good Times, and ranked at #8. At the beginning of its fourth season (1975-76), MASH was moved again, this time to Fridays, and its ratings slipped. At midseason, the series was moved back to Tuesdays, but at 9:00. It wound up ranking at #15 for the season. It wasn't until the 1977-78 midseason (the show's sixth year) that the show was shifted to its Mondays-at 9:00 timeslot.