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 am thrilled that this fine series has found a home. It is the highlight of my viewing week and I applaud the writers for fleshing out the complexities of each character along with compelling story lines. They are humans performing in an almost superhuman environment which makes for a very engaging program. Thank you for this superb alternative to inane reality programming.
This series is one of the smartest and most engaging. All the actors are superb and I cannot say enough about the content. Very topical and exciting. I cannot wait for the next episodes. Can you let me know when the “unaired” episodes will air on ION TV which is becoming my favorite channel. CBS is losing on this one for sure!!
Flashpoint is one of the best under-rated shows, I do not know why more people don’t watch it, perhaps CBS would have been wise to have tried moving it to a different day/time slot. When a show is on Friday night, perhaps the threshold for what is considered a decent rating should be lowered, how many shows are going to be able to do as well on a Friday night as other nights when the general viewership is probably lower on a weekend night vs a weekday night.
I am glad to finally see Flashpoint again ,thank you ION,CBS is not thinking at all.
So glad I found this notice! We’ll definitely be watching Flashpoint on ION. It’s our favorite t.v. show now because it’s so well done! Great acting, interesting characters, exciting plots. Best show on t.v. for sure.
CBS are idiots!!! This show is one of the best police dramas ever written! I definitely will watch; I even watch the reruns, and I never, repeat never watch reruns foor anything else!
I love Flashpoint and can’t wait to see the episodes not shown on CBS.
So happy ION picked up Flashpoint. I can’t wait for the start later tonight. One of the best shows on television.
Can’t wait. FlashPoint is one of the best written, acted and directed police dramas since “Police Story” (dating myself). The plot adaptations are well done and the characters are complex and interesting. Thanks ION for recognizing what should be a “score” and thus, a revenue builder!
YES YES YES!!!!!! DO not Cancel this show……
I love flashpoint and would love to watch it, but I don’t get it on my cable AT&T. It is a great show I am sorry to miss it. What is CBS thinking or not.
I am VERY HAPPY that ION NETWORK is picking. PLEASE CONTINUE,
THANK YOU! THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
just great cbs gives up on flash point and the sad part for me and others who watch this great show will no longer be able to see the she once ion network starts airing it due in part my local cable provider suddenlink does carry the network. The previous cable cox cable took Pax tv network away from us years ago.
So glad ION is picking this great show up! Thank you!
Definitely. I will be DVRing it so I won’t forget and hope to see some new episodes as well. Best show on TV!!!!