If tv shows producers from the US enforced a series of conditions on when or at least how to broadcast their shows to the local networks, we would follow much more shows on TV. In Spain, Eli Stone was sentenced to death from episode 1, sunday nights at a quarter to midnight is not a good time slot, even in the late prime time we have in Spain. Plus, you put a crappy spanish legal comedy as a leading show, you don’t get nobody to watch Eli Stone. Then one sunday after a couple of weeks, you just don’t air the next episode with no reason, while in your website you still announce that Eli is playing at that time… WTF?

Practically the same happened to Life in another network and to Greek in a third one. This is so frustrating. The only way that I have to follow those shows with a bare minimum of consistency is to, shhh, watch them from internet alternative sources, which apparently doesn’t count for ratings.

If US show producers demanded a series of conditions (play at reasonable hours, do not make a 40min+20 min in ads) last 40min+45min in ads, to really start at the scheduled hour (not 15 to 30 minutes later), they could allow a lower price for the first seasons, but make sure that their content is broadcasted in favorable conditions to build a solid fan base, more people that will buy the DVDs, making the inversion worth it, and once the fan base is consistent, you can increase the price of your show when selling it to other countries.

Things done well are always more profitable, but apparently once they have sold the broadcast rights, they do not care anymore of what other networks do with their content.

As an example on how perjudicial this is, I will just say that in Spain, to watch Lost on TV TOTALLY SUCKS. And I am a JJAbrams fan since we bought all 5 seasons of Alias on DVD at home.

Wonder what ever became of her rumored tryst with Rufus? Did feedback scare the writers away?

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fait-accompli.html