tv shows in the U.K

[milkybarkid]

following on from stu in the USA's question before i can understand why movies are shown here later but why does the same thing happen with TV shows when there are no premiers or promotions? for example the new series of lost is already playing in the US but we dont get it until autumn. why is this?

[gary baldy]

I suppose its two fold really. Firstly the US networks are notoriously ruthless when it comes to axing shows - so i suppose uk broadcasters see how a show pans out before committing to buying it.
Secondly i suppose it is contractual obligations on the part of the shows producers and the networks. They have gone to the effort of making the show so obviously want to be the first to show it.

[LeMarchand]

In the case of "Lost" C4 had the rights and were originally going to show it in January. They decided to go for "Point Pleasant" instead (see gary baldy's 1st point), once PP went down the tubes, starting "Lost" would have meant it would be showing during "Big Brother", so it was delayed.

I suspect that release dates will get closer (some shows are quite close already) as UK channels sign co-production deals (like with "Rome" and "Threshold - which also didn't work out too well!) and as more and more people are downloading both to avoid spoilers, and because UK channels aren't particularly forthcoming about their future schedules.

[tonymclark]

Some broadcast dates do get close, but it is usually with long running shows that have a proven track record.

As the above two answers said, it is mostly to do with how successful a show is, as this affects it's price.

If you are old enough you may remember the press coverage of the arrival in Britain of the "Who Shot JR" episode of Dallas, the day after it was broadcast in the States.

[Sammywr]

In the US, series are shown in parts, called sweeps - where they show a few new episodes, then in between they show, either repeats or sporting events. As we dont show programmes over here in parts and show the whole series in one go, if we were to start showing a series at the same time it is started in the US, we would catch up/overtake the network that produces it, or have to show it in parts like they do. So, over here they delay the start, and very often we see the last episode of a programme within a week of it being shown in the US.

Hope that makes sense!!!