Isn’t that pretty good by the standards of A Channel? Does anything on A Channel do really really well?

Lisa, British programming does way better as our public broadcaster (tax payer funded) waits and airs British programmes in thier entirety. A few commercial channels try and air British programmes but the majority of British programmes end up on the ABC as they cause less headaches for them than commercial (Law and Order UK floped on Ten, Bad Girls floped on Seven, Footballers Wives floped on Ten). Also British programmes tend to skew older viewers and demos, so they are unlikely to pirate TV shows and thus cause viewership decline. An example of a long running British programme that does very well is Midsommer Murders. Another stalwart is The Bill. It has occupied the same timeslot for over 20 years.

Also, Lisa, due to American sensibilities, apparently you cannot bear to hear Australian accents in television productions, so they do not get imported. Instead American networks buy the rights and make their own versions, usually resulting in disasters (Thank God You’re Here & Kath and Kim).

American shows are basically used as cheap filler, as it costs less to import. As soon as one American show passes its used by date it is replaced by another or by an Australian production. The turnover rate is very high and not many Americans shows can achieve longevity here.

But American network already do consider international success as a way of renewing shows.

But I have to say 30 Rock has a large International following is from what I’ve known, it’s the other reason (other than Emmy Awards) why NBC has kept it despite it’s low ratings.

I hope the US networks would also consider international success of a show when it comes to renewal.

For example, 30 Rock is more popular in Canada, Australia, the Philippines, Brazil, UK, etc. than in the USA. Don’t you think the TV Studios are no longer targeting Americans, but foreigners now?

And now I’m trying to think of any Australian shows that even air in the U.S… coming up blank. I’m sure there’s some stuff I’d like to watch, if it ever made it over here, but I have a feeling I’d be one of few viewers.

The second episode of FF was ok, the third dragged a bit and felt like padding (an raging against Nazis)

Anyhow, I still think Flashforward will end up being a turkey and will be lucky to see a season 3 and maybe even a second season.

yes, they are the finals (so taking into account time shifting viewing within 7 days). In the week of FF premiere, FIVE second most watched program (Monsterns Inc) got 2,79 million in the finals.
Overnights for the 3 first episodes have been: 3,19m, 3,26m, 3,19m.
So it’s holding up well.

However, I wonder how much the ratings will fall off as the season progresses. I enjoyed the first two episodes but found the third episode really pointless and started to wonder if I was being led on a wild goose chase, story-wise.

Also, as Cruel_Heartless points out, maybe they should’ve waited a few more weeks before premiering the show so that they could run all 22 episodes in a row internationally. I doubt the producers/cast/crew will be able to churn ‘em out fast enough for that. Of course, here in the U.S., viewers will still whine as soon as ABC schedules a break of a few weeks (as if TV episodes grow on trees!).

Also, Australian networks don’t value audience demo as much as Americans do due to each Australian network focusing on different demos and total people rather than the key American 18-49 model. Seven would be pleased on both counts, but probably more so with total viewers long term. Since the premier it has lost viewers and presumably demo as well. It will also lose momentum when repeats kick in and it is pretty close to end of ratings year here, so new episodes will resume next year.