Are you missing Flashpoint on CBS? Can’t wait for it to return to primetime? Well, we have some good news and bad news.
On the downside, season four of Flashpoint averaged a 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 6.25 million viewers on CBS. That made it the weakest original programming on the network. It won’t be back.
On the positive side of things, the ION cable channel has licensed the first four seasons of Flashpoint and is ready to start airing them. That’s 62 episodes, including 11 installments that CBS didn’t purchase the rights to run. They begin airing on Tuesday, October 18th.
What’s more, ION acquired the rights to air all of the existing episodes of Flashpoint from CBS Television Distribution — as well as any future episodes. Flashpoint is produced in Canada for the CTV network and they’ve already ordered a fifth season of 18 installments. If ION finds rating success with the 62 they’ve already licensed, they have the exclusive option to purchase the new episodes as well.
Here’s the press release from ION:
ION TELEVISION PREMIERES HIT POLICE DRAMA “FLASHPOINT” WITH ORIGINAL EPISODES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT 10PM ET/PT
NEW YORK, September 12, 2011- ION Television premieres its newly acquired hit police drama “Flashpoint” on Tuesday, October 18 at 10pm ET/PT with new original episodes. ION Television, the new home for the award-winning series, will schedule “Flashpoint” in a two-hour block on Tuesdays from 10pm-12am ET/PT and again on Saturdays from 9-11pm ET/PT.
To support the series launch, ION Television will unveil an integrated marketing campaign, including television, print, out-of-home & digital advertising. As part of the campaign for the first-time ever, ION will feature a Quick Response code on all printed marketing elements, which will provide fans access to exclusive cast interviews, a never-before-seen sneak peek from the premiere episode and entry into the ‘Flashpoint Alert’ contest, starting September 26th. The online contest provides fans a chance to win weekly cash prizes by scheduling the premiere episode onto their digital calendars and their social media platforms.
ION Television, a top-10 network, acquired the rights to all existing episodes and future production of “Flashpoint” from CBS Television Distribution earlier this year. The production of the season’s upcoming episodes marked ION Television’s first venture into originals planned by the network in the coming year.
“Flashpoint” joins ION Television’s primetime line-up of hit off-network series such as “Psych,” Monk,” “Criminal Minds,” and “Without a Trace,” and its blockbuster theatricals, which have driven record ratings for the network. The new series joins the schedule on the heels of ION’s recent acquisition of the hit series “Leverage” and “House,” both set to launch on ION in 2012.
Starring Hugh Dillon (Durham County), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), Amy Jo Johnson (Felicity) and David Paetkau (Whistler), “Flashpoint” is the nail-biting cop drama and an emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of police in the Strategic Response Unit (inspired by Toronto’s Emergency Task Force). Members of a highly-skilled tactical team, they are trained in negotiating, profiling and getting inside the subject’s head to understand the emotional breaking point (the “flashpoint”) that triggered the crisis.
“Flashpoint” is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and CBS. Executive producers are Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos. Creators are Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern. David Frazee is Series Consultant.
Source: Top 10 Rank; Nielsen Media Research, Live+SD, 9/27/2010-8/28/2011, M-Sun 7P-12A, A25-54 (000). Excludes kids, news, and sports nets.
About ION Television
ION Television is a leading U.S. general entertainment network, combining high-quality programming and dependable broadcast distribution with an attitude of innovation and growth normally associated with a cable channel. Its “Positively Entertaining” network brand positioning features a formula of proven series, an expansive catalog of blockbuster movies and a commitment to introduce new original programming. Since its recent launch in 2008, ION’s reach has grown to 99 million households and has become one of the top-15 TV rated U.S. networks in record time. For more information, visit www.iontelevision.com.
What do you think? Will you be watching Flashpoint on ION? Are you excited about the new episodes?
Image courtesy CTV.
I too will be watching Flashpoint on ION, it think it is a great show
CBS and ION struck the deal back in January. I’m sure CBS kind of regretted the decision because they ended up short on episodes when Choas totally flopped and FP was brought into play earlier than normal. Additionally, the lower ratings were the result of the 8/7 time slot on Friday; instead of the 9/8 or 10/9 where the show had been much more successful. I’m sure ION will have success with FP.
Flashpoint is one of the highest quality programs on TV, to which my family always looks forward. It has been extremely missed these past few weeks since it ended on CBS(another poor decision by that network). We are so glad it will be available on ION!
Not to mention the abuse CBS dealt to Flashpoint fans with splitting the seasons and mixing the production order of episodes. I’ll be seeking out ION on my cable service
and keeping up with this great show. But I wonder what this will do to future US DVD releases. If I’m not mistaked they were released by CBS.
I LOVE FLASHPOINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, this is the press release I saw on another site. Glad to see we’ll still get Flashpoint, even if it isn’t on CBS.
I love this show. I will be faithly watching this show whenever it is aired. Its the best and so is Enrico.
I’ve been watching Flashpoint since it first aired and will definitely watch it in ION. darned shame CBS isn’t going to pick it up. I’m soon they’ll need something to fill their time slot when they begin canceling shows! 😉
I am so sorry to see that Flashpoint will not have another season,it is one of the best shows on tv.And yes I will watch it on ion tv.Hope they reconsider and bring the show back…..GREAT SHOW
I love this show and this show just ROCKS! I hate it that CBS has once again canceled one of my favorite shows. This just sucks! CBS is famous for canceling the good shows. I am watching more and more of ION lately because they believe in the good shows. Thank goodness right now I have ION on my list of shows that I can get. Thanks ION for getting the good ones! I will definitely be watching Flashpoint and all the ones that CBS didn’t get!
I don’t get that channel on TV so I guess they are forcing me to buy the DVDs. I’m not complaining though.
Again CBS is showing it’s excutives are getting to be as stupid as NBC and FOX. If they continue this trend I will not be watching shows on this network the same as I’ve stopped all programming on NBC.
I was never a fan, but know there are many out there. I have always thought of ION as being a rerun network, but maybe this will put the network on the map??? Good luck to them.
I WILL BE WATCHING FLASHPOINT FOR SURE. And less of CBS. I love the show and I love Enrico. One of the best shows ever and I hope to be able to see all shows not aired by CBS and all new shows to come. Thank you ION for giving us this chance. FLASHPOINT ROCKS !!
I can’t wait for October 18th to come and FLASHPOINT to start airing. I wrote so many comments and feedback and e-mail to CBS asking them why their Executives are being so idiotic and letting FLASHPOINT one of their best shows go. They (FLASHPOINT) have a wonderful writing staff and an absolutely fantastic cast. It was the smartest thing ION did to pickup FLASHPOINT. The only problem is they are going to lose fans because not everyone gets ION, I know this from my FaceBook connections. But I know how great FLASHPOINT is they may just pick up a million… Read more »