A little over a week ago, Robert dreamt of a network created to produce and air new episodes of cancelled broadcast shows. The name that began being bandied about was The Castoff Network. Now, DirecTV hasn't gone quite that far (producing new episodes), but they've decided to bring 3 shows back and air some of their previously unaired episodes. Can stealing the entire idea behind The Castoff Network be far behind? 
DirecTV has dug up three more short-lived series to run on its 101 Network, bringing back episodes of mid-2000s dramas "Smith," "The Nine" and "Eyes."
Deal was made with Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution to bring back all three shows, which were canceled with additional episodes in the can. That means the DirecTV/101 run will include segs that have never been seen on TV.
Decision to bring back "Smith," "The Nine" and "Eyes" is similar to its run this year of the short-lived Imagine TV drama "Wonderland."
And as we've been hearing, DirecTV is still considering bringing back Friday Night Lights for one, or perhaps two, more seasons. That's good news for the fans, because without DirecTV money, the show would be a goner.
In a more extensive deal, DirecTV and the 101 also picked up original episodes of "Friday Night Lights" this season. Talks are ongoing with Universal Media Studios and Imagine TV to bring the show back for another round; among the possibilities are a two-season order of 13 episodes apiece.
‘Eyes’ was one of the best shows on TV of the past 10 years.
Emails to DirecTV seem to actually be read and passed along to decision makers. They do have a better chance of airing some decent shows that are ignored or not given enough time to establish a following on ratings based channels. With a 17 million viewer base the chance of success is certainly available. I have starting watching the program guide for gems of castoff but GOOD programs to fill the time I once used watching SciFi Channel. Also the 101 has an HD version that makes it even better.
im not from US so what is Direct TV?
perhaps directv is making money off FNL… I just can’t imagine that it can be worth it to nbc.
Why couldn’t they save Dirty Sexy Money or Pushing Daisies! No!!!
Jack, DirecTV is the biggest of the two main satellite TV providers in the US.
I don’t know that DirecTV “stole” the Castoff Network idea from the fine discussions on this site. DirecTV has been airing “Wonderland,” a castoff, since Jaunary or so. That’s long before the idea was explored on TV By The Numbers. When they start producing and airing more new episodes of castoffs, then I’ll say TVBTN may have been an influence on the practice.
For Jack: Direct TV is a satellite subscription company. It’s like cable television, the same channels more or less, but by satellite. Direct TV is the first company, so far, to provide its own channel of “exclusive” content. The only way you’d get to see these shows is to buy their service. Direct TV helped pay for the most recent season of “Friday Night Lights.” As a result, they got to air the show on their exclsuive channel, The 101, before NBC network could air it. Then, Direct TV bought the short-lived show “Wonderland,” and aired it in its entirety for the first time. They seem to be buying more shows so the concept must be working for them.
Clutz, even the news about Smith, Eyes and Nine was out there before I wrote the Castoff Network piece. I’m sure it’s true that DTV inspired me more than the other way around
Sorry, my note about “stealing” was meant to be tongue in cheek. Will smiley it up!
so does FNL do well on diret tv? i was just wondering could they do the same for TSCC? sorry if that seems like a stupid question lol
I saw reports that ‘Friday Night Lights’ averaged 600,000 P2+ viewers on DirecTV.
One reason Friday Night Lights has survived as long as it has is because it attracts wealthy audiences. I recall NBC trumpeting the high average income of the typical FNL viewer…..exactly the kind of viewer willing to purchase satellite TV. I think that is why DirectTV has been so happy with Friday Night Lights. According to TV GUIDE and Entertainment Weekly, NBC will probably want Direct TV to pay a slightly higher percentage of the costs than they did last year.
I guess I’ll have to watch some TV at my parent’s house since they have DirectTV and I don’t (Comcast, here). I really enjoyed EYES and was sad when it was cancelled (although, for some strange reason, was able to continue with my life. Imagine that!).
I do recall a cable channel for a time having a “Brilliant, But (or Yet?) Cancelled” block that aired some of the best shows that didn’t last, but I don’t know if they showed any un-aired eps of those shows. It’s been a few years, so my memory is foggy on the details.
I also loved “Eyes”. Tim Daly is in one great cancelled series after another.
“Smith” was on for a couple of weeks and gone. I remember taping “The Nine” and then never watching the episodes. Good call by Direct TV!
I think they should gave FNL more than 13 episodes per season.
Shorter seasons = Better tv. Why ask for 22 episodes seasons where the 5 eps in the middle is pure filler when you can get 13 eps of high quality tv.
And yes Smith had a lot of potential, really sad to see that one cut short.
Do you think that Direct Tv might co-produce KINGS too?
DirecTV is about as interested in co-funding Kings as CBS is.
I got directv because of the friday night lights deal. We love the show and didn’t want to miss it. Of course, we had no idea nbc would reair the show after directv… but hey, I must say now that we have directv we love it ten million times better than time-warner. TM is so bad. bad channels, bad billing, bad customer service bad bad bad… Directv and friday night lights…
gotta love it.