via press release:
SYFY ACQUIRES BASIC CABLE RIGHTS TO CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MERLIN SERIES FROM FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES
26 EPISODE PACKAGE FEATURES U.S. TELEVISION
PREMIERE OF SEASON TWO
Merlin Joins Syfy Primetime Schedule in April 2010
New York, NY -- February 3, 2010 -- Syfy has acquired the basic cable rights from FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) for all 26 episodes (both seasons) of the critically acclaimed series Merlin, including the United States television premiere of Season Two, which has never aired on American television. Merlin joins the Syfy primetime lineup in April 2010.
Thomas Vitale, Executive Vice President, Programming and Original Movies, Syfy, said, “A viewer favorite after only one season, Merlin will be a strong addition to our schedule this spring. We expect its enthralling imaginative vision, engaging young talent, and rich production values to resonate with our audience.”
FME’s Lisa Honig, SVP Program Distribution, North America commented, “Merlin has been a great success internationally with fans in more than 180 countries. Partnering with Syfy to continue that engagement in the US after a successful first series is a win-win for everyone.”
Season One of Merlin aired on NBC (Summer 2009). Both seasons 1 and 2 aired on BBC One in the UK (2008-09). BBC has commissioned a third season which will air in September 2010. FME also handles brand licensing and home entertainment for Merlin.
ABOUT MERLIN
An imaginative new twist on a timeless legend, Merlin is set in the mythical city of Camelot, before history began. It’s a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious peoples, and a dangerous world where magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.
When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur. But guided by Uther's wise physician, Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets.
As he does, Merlin discovers that his destiny and that of the kingdom’s young leader in waiting, Arthur, are inextricably linked.
Merlin stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen.
Merlin is executive produced by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps for Shine Television.
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes talkbackTHAMES, UFA and Grundy amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 14,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Neighbours, The Bill, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife and Hole In The Wall.
ABOUT SYFY
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
Awesome Sauce.
Although, after watching Legend of the Seeker, I think Merlin falls flat by comparison.
Good for Merlin fans, now they can see both seasons. NBC gave it a shot, didn’t work out, but maybe SyFy can give it a home.
Syfy is supposedly teaming it up with SGU on Friday night. I’m not sure that’s a very good partnership but I kind of feel for Merlin, being on Friday. I think Merlin would be a great team up with Warehouse 13 though for the summer.
I caught this show half way through the season last year. I liked it a lot.
Now..its too bad I dont have SyFy
I’ll admit season 1 of Merlin was tepid at times but I’ve seen the entire season 2 and it is terrific, far, far better than season 1 and ends on some really great high notes. Only thing is that like the idiots at NBC, the idiots at Syfy will probably cut some of the best lines out of each episode, ugh.
Btw season 1 of Merlin region 1 is finally available for pre-order at Amazon for any US Merlin fans.
Geedubs, the episodes should also be available on iTunes if you don’t mind paying for them. Otherwise, well, let’s just say they’re also available through non-traditional means. And season 2 will be released on dvd in the US, too, eventually but that might take a while.
Sorry to spam but thought I’d let the US fans know something else not mentioned in this press release – Syfy will be rerunning all of season 1 of Merlin on March 28 as a marathon for anyone who wants to catch up.
THIS is one area where networks are slow to catch on.
Because Merlin airs on the BBC, season 2 has already been out and finished for over a month. I’d caught on to Merlin about half-way through season 1 on NBC. After watching a couple of eps I was curious enough to want to watch the entire season. At that time I’d switched from NBC to watching it online. A fair number of American fans of the show have already seen all of season 2 (myself included).
If running old episodes of Merlin wasn’t enough of a ratings grabber for bargain-bin NBC to keep, I sure hope it’s enough to survive SyFy. If not, no big deal. I’ll have watched all of season 3 long before the first episode is aired by any American network.
I’m sure Syfy has lower expectations for ratings than NBC did. Whether Merlin can meet them is another question. I didn’t think the second season was any better than the first. It actually wasn’t as good, probably, since the show got more repetitive and Merlin’s secret remaining a secret got harder and harder to believe.
Lisa- They absolutely have lower expectations. They also probably paid quite a bit less for the eps than NBC did.
Yeah, I’m sure most fans have already seen season 2 by now but it’s still nice to get it here for those who don’t watch online and have been wondering where it went. The good thing about Merlin is that it doesn’t have to do well here to stay on, just has to do well in the UK (which it is) for the show to keep getting renewed. Season 3 has already been given the green light and they start filming in March so even if the show doesn’t do well on Syfy, there’s still nontraditional viewing to keep up with it.
I’d still rather it have gone to BBC America though but whatever.
This is great news! I love Merlin. I wish we could see more British shows here on American TV. For all the people dismissing Merlin, I say give it a chance. It’s a nice family show with humor and fun.
I would choose Merlin over the depressing Stargate: Universe or the convoluted Caprica any day of the week.
Maybe I am wrong but Merlin averaged over 4 million on NBC and the folks that were faithful to watch on NBC will also get it on Syfy. I know my dvr could not care less if it is on NBC or Syfy. My feelings have been all alone that these heavy genre based shows that will never be a general audience show should always be on cable. The production costs (union scale) is always lower so a smaller genre audience can often support it on cable but not as often on broadcast channel.
Merlin is a pleasent fun program that I enjoyed watching.
well I hope the show does well on syfy. I’ve watched both seasons and the 2nd one is way better. It’s a pretty fun show.
I am looking forward to Merlin and still have it programed on my DVR..I am ready.lol
Yes, I’m spamming this topic again but I don’t care…and just because I loved it, here’s my favorite scene from season 2 (Merlin throws a tantrum, hee!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLW3_pg7bFM
I think I love Colin Morgan more than Robert Seidman which is really saying something.
Yay…Recycling.
SyFy just isn’t really trying anymore.
NBC exec loserness is apparently infectious.
Even though the airdate for Merlin season 2 on SyFy has been announced weeks ago I am still excited to see it back on Tv. Anyway why is this just now posted on this site?
Dee, you mean why is this news just posted here? Because Syfy confirmed it just now. NBC was hedging on whether or not to bring back the show because of its low ratings last summer [because NBC is made up of stupid nincompoops who never promoted the show - BINGO!] so this move is probably for the best.
NBC cut some some lines out of the episodes too apparently which annoys the crap out of me even more because I can’t imagine viewing some of the scenes cut down…I’m hoping Syfy doesn’t butcher this scene when they rerun season 1:
Hopefully ppl who have already seen s2 will watch it so the ratings will be good and they will renew it for S3…I haven’t seen S2 on another website so….PLZ PLZ WATCH AGAIN….