Seasons on the Sci-Fi Channel

I believe some of the cable shows, especially those with shorter seasons than a network show, like to take their time and make the episodes really good. With a regular network show you get about ten or twelve good episodes in a season and the rest is filler. Now granted, a show like Battlestar Galactica has its share of filler, but for the most part, each episode advances the through-line of the entire series. If the series continues to maintain its excellent standards, I don't mind the long wait between seasons. I put Battlestar Galactica at the top of the list as far as serial television goes.

I was shocked to see that they weren't going to be back for almost another year. Usually, they're back in October or so. This is kind of a new thing now, I believe. But, I don't know why. Perhaps they want to promote their "second" season.

I know I can't figure it out either. Sci-Fi isn't the only one either that does this. F/X did it with Nip/Tuck as well with a long break between seasons. Not sure if it's due to scheduling issues or if they are just trying to build up suspense but it can be frustrating. When it takes that long of a break it's really easy to lose fans and they need to realize that. They need to have better set times and schedules so that way the fans know and will be ready for when they air. Right now it's too random and many miss out on episodes which isn't good. Hopefully they will realize this soon and get on the ball.

Cable series have historically had very short seasons. Often, there would only be eight new episodes a year. We've been given quite a lot of new material in the past three years. While the next season is quite a long time away, there's supposed to be a two-hour movie in the fall. I don't know why this is, but I can only hope that it will be good. And if Sci-Fi channel gets total creative control, cry for BSG. Sci-Fi has no idea what makes a show good. They'll try to make BSG similar to Star Trek, and that will make it bad.

I guess it si because they like to show the new episodes in two or three groupings with few reruns in between. They have been producing quite a number of episodes, for a cable network, so it doesn't seem like lack of material is an issue. The first season was only 13 episodes, but the second and third seasons had 20 each. The fourth season is supposed to have 22 episodes (or 21, with one being a two-hour special, I guess) which is the same amount as a standard network show. It could be that Scifi waits until near the end of a season to decide to renew a show. In that case, since BSG is so FX heavy, it would take several months to film and post-produce the first several episodes to be ready to start the season. It probably takes at least two or three weeks just to film an episode, adding in all the special effect shots and then editing it all together probably takes another 3-4 weeks, so I could see how it would be a long hiatus. Especially if some of the actors had a specific amount of time off written into their contracts between filming seasons or something.

The SciFi Channel has always been reticent to produce series that they are worried about. What do they worry about? Their ratings. SciFi is one of the most ratings-driven channels that I have ever seen. They continually wait to test the waters with all their shows, losing interest as soon as a series rates as low as a 9 on the Nielsen scale. I know, I was involved with monitoring rating for LEXX, a show that ran about three years ago. It made it through, however, SciFi also insisted upon having total control over that series, and thusly they drove it right into the ground. I'm still bitter at them because of it. Battlestar Galactica is suffering at the hands of SciFi, and I'm really getting cranky over it. I'm sure lots of other fans are too.

I don't watch the Sci Fi channel, but I noticed this very same thing with a new show called Jericho. I find if rather annoying.

I am not really familiar with those shows and channel but I think one good reason could be the technical aspect of the show and the props that they have to use. I think it is a very difficult show to film.

battlestar galactica? i used to watch that tv program when i am still a kid about 9 to 12 years old, now that i am 36 years although i have cable connection and should be able to watch it...it seems that i could not find the time to watch it....so i don't know anymore what it is really all about...right now, i prefer to watch Numb3rs..bevcause it is more realistic...and i do is download the entire season on the internet...walla...i got complete collection of season 1 & 2 already...and soon if i have the time i'll download season 3.

Sci-Fi shows are insanely expensive to produce which is what killed the first BSG in the 80s and the original Star Trek in the 60s. Without excellent ratings the shows eventually either get cheapened and you see the same FX over and over (ie; Gallatica 1980) or outright cancelled until the fan base generates enough cult buzz to justify movies like Star Trek. I think the Sci-Fi channel is doing is building the buzz with limited seasons and letting the fan fiction juggernaut propel the shows DVD sales. I get so confused by the religious stuff and back jumping I have to buy the DVDs to catch up and comprehend it all.

i don't have the Sci-Fi channel in my country....i watch battlestar galactica on AXN and i like it very much...i like those cool special effects.....another serials like battlestar galactica are andromeda , like it very much...and star-trek enterprise...i like star-trek because it's like a possible future...we could had that warp engines in a couple of years....of course , hundreds but we could have it...in the last years humanity discovered many things....and we can expect at anything....if you want so play some games related to battlestar galactica i suggest you home world 2 - with battlestar galactica add-on , it's a cool mmorpg with great graphic...and freespace 2 , with battlestar galactica add-on too....and what i like best - freelancer..very nice gamplay and graphic , i suggest you the discovery mod - has all the battlestars from the movie....