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.
Yeppers Jellybean, I will be wayching Flashpoint. I had been waiting for the season to begin and discovered, CBS had canceled it also , along with Chaos. How sad CBS will keep Two and a half Men, after the Charlie problems, think that Kutcher could even begin to replace Charlie , but, low and behold, they do and then canceled a couple of really good shows. For those of us living on the east coast, many great shows do not come on till 10 PM , so, there tallying of demographics are slanted , nor do they survey many of… Read more »
I absolutely love Flashpoint. Thank God for ION. At least one network knows a good show when they see it!
I will absolutely miss it. As first generation American on my mother’s side, which makes me 1/2 Canadian, I enjoyed the story lines on Flashpoint. The female cops weren’t dressed in tank tops or other sexy clothing and most of the actors were actually from Canada. I certainly will miss this program. The good news for me? I am a subscriber of ION TV so I can see the episodes I have missed. I also hope CBS picked up Lie to Me. Another terrific program although I don’t think it originated in Canada. I could be wrong about that fact.… Read more »
DO NOT TAKE OFF FLASH POINT CBS SHOULD HAVE KEPT FLASH POINT AND TAKE OFF HAWAWII 50
I think CBS is run by monkeys… to make all the dumb moves the network keeps making the offices for CBS have to be in a zoo.
For some of you who have cable ION was once the PAX channel, my provider still has the PAX icon.
Another dumb move by some exec at CBS. Glad to see Ion picked up the show. At least someone out there has half a brain.
I am glad that some tv stations know what tv shows are good. I have been waiting for flashpoint to com back on CBS and nothing. I am that there are tv stations out there that know whaat show are good and pick them up. the three biggest tv stations always cancel all the good shows and put on more stupid reality shows.
We are thrilled you are going to carry Flashpoint. If you can pick up ‘Lie to Me’, we would be grateful. I was so disappointed when they cancelled it! I am with Tina, they always cancel the shows I like.
One of the best shows on CBS and you move it to ION. The worst part is you don’t even announce what’s going on with it so we think its been cancelled. That’s a lack of respect to loyal cbs watchers. So the ratings are down. Its on on a friday night when most people are out shopping or dinner. It is a weekend night afterall. Don’t bother trying it on a weeknight! Very disappointed!
My cable provider doesn’t offer ION…how do I get this fabulous show in the Seattle area???
Thank you ION tv for picking up a great show, another reason not to watch CBS.
I’ll watch where ever and when ever its on.
They always cancel the ones I like. What channel is ION?
Tina » It varies with each cable provider. Check your listings.
Why does CBS cancel the best shows, can’t that cancel show like Two men and half, ect. I always like that show was waiting for it to come back, now I have to wait and watch it on ION.