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Report: Nine tried to offload Parade’s End

Did Nine try to sell Parade's End to Foxtel and the ABC?

2013-01-12_2046At this time of year you can expect the strategies to get, shall we say, just a little bit cheeky.

An article in today’s Sunday Telegraph suggests Nine tried to offload its UK drama series Parade’s End.

An insider is quoted as saying, “Nine tried to sell the mini-series to the ABC and Foxtel and were turned down by both of them. It is very arty crafty and very, very slow, nothing like Downton Abbey.”

The article claims Nine “is planning to shuffle Parade’s End out of the ratings period and may play it over Easter.

It’s true that other Nine titles have ended up on Foxtel or the ABC, such as Sinbad and The Vampire Diaries.

But in my experience of media, those kind of quotes often come from the opposition.

I’m yet to view my preview of the show, but Wikipedia quotes various positive reviews whilst noting it dropped from 3.5 million viewers for its first episode, to 2.2 million for the second.

Nine was also due to play the series last year but it didn’t eventuate.

Spoiling tactics or not, I’m happy to give it a go, even with Benedict Cumberbatch’s terribly-distracting hair.

20 Responses

  1. The way that Channel 9 are advertising it, is so ridiculously stupid, because it’s nothing like the actual storyline at all! People who watch the ad on 9 aren’t going to watch it, because it doesn’t look that good; when in reality, it’s a really beautiful story.

    Parades End is based on the three books by Ford Madox Ford, which is loosely based on his love life. And thankfully, it is nothing like Downton Abbey, so if you prefer a terribly written story and overacting to the point of cringing, than watch DA.

    I’ve just finished watching it and it’s so good. It’s a shame that many people won’t give it a go. The ABC should have bought it, as it’s a show that’s better without ads.Parades End was praised by the critics and is now regarded as the best period drama the BBC has ever produced. However, it seems that most people would rather watch Downton Abbey, the cringingly rubbish and bogan of all period drama’s England has ever made.

  2. Parade’s End is just not a commercial FTA show. Doesn’t mean it isn’t good. I will check it out, but I am far from Channel 9’s target audience these days.

    However, just because the critics consider something quality doesn’t mean it is good either. They like anything that isn’t reality TV these days. They raved about The Crimson Petal and The White, Great Expectations and The Shadow Line and they were not stuff I would bother wasting time on.

    Channel 9 booked $60m in losses for programmes that brought in less ad revenue their their cost over the last two years. So it is not unbelievable that they considered offloading Parade’s End. Showing it over Easter sounds like a good idea if they couldn’t.

  3. This is a great costume drama and I was looking forward to it being here. It’s a shame they didn’t send it to the ABC it’s too heavy for nine and I was shocked they bought it. I won’t be watching it on nine – I had enough with what they did to West Wing which it got later and later until they eventually sold it off to Aunty. I’m not investing in something I’ll have to go looking for to watch more than once.

  4. Now, don’t judge me – but I recorded ‘Can’t Stop the Music’ on New Year’s Night and they featured a promo for ‘Parade’s End’ saying it was upcoming on Nine. I realise that was before this article but at least at some point someone had the intention of showing it on Nine!

  5. As Johnson stated, you’d have to wonder whether Nine bought this purely on the basis of Benedict Cumberbatch starring in it. Too much money & not enough brains? Ironically, the way Nine pick their programs is the same way much of their audience channel-surf to their programs in the first place. Frightening!

  6. As deedeedragons said there is GEM. Another alternative to what I said if you really think it will be dire. Is you could play Sherlock over Easter and promote it there as well as other places. Then play it on Sunday at 8.30pm on GEM. Either that or try the Nine experiment and eventually put it on GEM if the numbers aren’t good. But please tell David that’s what you are doing as well as the TV Guides and anybody or anything else. Plus advertise it maybe including 60 Minutes in an ad break before it shows up on Channel 90.

  7. I saw this online last year and it was a brilliant show, but I must admit it’s more suited for the ABC as it’s for the more intelligent audience that nine doesn’t have. It’s a better written, intelligent and historically correct mini series unlike nine’s Downtown Abby, which is aimed at the masses.
    I know that in saying that I sound like an elitist pig, but even a slightly intelligent teenager like myself can appreciate the gripping and advanced storytelling of Parades End.
    Plus let’s not forget how brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch is in this.
    Don’t snub the show just because it ‘won’t rate well’, hardly anyone watched tv these days.

  8. Parade’s End is only 5 eps folks so 9 can burn it very quickly.
    We started watching it last week on the basis of reviews from the UK. It’s engrossing and nothing like the froth and bubble that is Downton Abbey.
    Having said that, the network that revolves around stale fare such as the block, big brother and talent shows would be absolutely terrified of trying to find a spot in their schedule for this. There’s more chance of a second series of Everybody Dance Now happening than 9 showing Parade’s End anytime soon (in the same slot for 5 weeks in a row).

  9. Hmm. Interesting. I’ll admit I thought they were going to play Sherlock at Easter to promote Parade’s End to that audience. Plus advertise it during the News like Seven is with Downton Abbey. Of which I’m enjoying and I hope it does end up on Sunday night even though February is silly. Of course the other obvious show to promote it with is The Mentalist; maybe Person of Interest too. There are probably others. But I’m just a viewer. I don’t have access to detailed audience figures. If it doesn’t work then put it on GEM and promote it appropriately i.e. the episode before you move it repeatedly during the ad breaks. Keep it on the same day and time.

    By the way I am amused that men are commenting on another male actor’s hair. I’ve seen it before on the internet with superhero forums. They also comment on the muscles. But a TV blog … nope not expecting that. 😀

  10. You have to wonder why Nine bought Parade’s End in the first place? Is it because Benedict Cumberbatch is in it (he is also in Sherlock, another BBC series which did quite well for Nine)? The series would have been suitable for the ABC. It is already out on DVD in the UK so anyone interested in seeing the series will want to buy the DVD online.

  11. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true, and not surprised it won’t air until Easter, so much for the current promos. Maybe they would have been better off showing it this month and get it out of the way before the ratings start?

  12. The show dosn’t seem a good fit for nine’s usual drama (Underbelly) audience. Seeing the ads, one thinks they might be trying to have the own Downton Abbey. I so agree about Benidicts hair.

  13. I’ve seen the first episode of this and it is not a “Nine show”. It is way more complex than Nine’s usual fare or Downton Abbey. If it was on ABC it would probably rate decently, but on Nine I think it’ll sink like a stone. Not because it’s bad, but because it really isn’t a populist show. (Sorry, I know that that sounds really snobby.) It probably won’t help that the non-linear plot lines will be interrupted every few minutes by ads.
    Still, what did Nine think they were getting? A 1920s modernist stream-of-consciousness classic adapted by Tom Stoppard is never going to be Downton Abbey.

  14. I saw the start of this whilst in the UK last year. It is a very heavy costume drama made for BBC2 which is less popular and more niche. Cant wait to see it but will use the PVR and take my time.

  15. Not watching. This story is hinting that the show is unlikely to rate very well and due to channel nine’s track record of poorly treating shows that don’t rate very well I won’t give it a chance. What’s the point of starting a series that you know is likely to dissappear in a few weeks.

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