CBS may have decided to dump Flashpoint but ION thinks the show is a keeper. The cable channel has made a deal to renew the cop drama for a fifth season. There’s no word on when they’ll start airing.
CTV had previously renewed Canada’s most-watched drama series for another 13 episodes and those will go into production next month. ION made a deal earlier this year to air all of the episodes that had run on CBS, in addition to 11 extra installments that hadn’t been seen in the United States.
The unaired episodes of Flashpoint began running on ION in October and drew 1.25 million viewers, fewer than the cable channel’s Criminal Minds reruns lead-in. However, according to ION, the December 27th installment attracted a series high with 2.1 million.
Here’s the press release with the details of the renewal:
ION TELEVISION RENEWS ITS ORIGINAL POLICE DRAMA “FLASHPOINT” FOR SEASON FIVE
After Successful Launch, ION Television Orders 13 More Original Episodes for 2012
NEW YORK, January 3, 2012 – ION Television announced today it is renewing its original police drama “Flashpoint” for a fifth season. The network is picking up 13 more episodes, set to begin shooting in February 2012. The announcement was made today by Brandon Burgess, CEO, ION Media Networks.
“Flashpoint” joined ION’s primetime schedule in October 2011 after the network acquired all episodes from seasons 1-3 along with 11 season four original episodes. The production of season five contributes to ION Television’s original programming goals for 2012 and beyond. Since its debut on ION, “Flashpoint” recorded its highest-telecast ever among the network’s key demos on December 27, including households (1.5 million), A25-54 (869,000), W25-54 (566,000) and among total viewers (2.1 million).
“Flashpoint’s’ solid performance season-to-date shows that a growing number of fans enjoy the series on ION Television,” says Burgess. “We welcome back this exciting dramatic series and its cast to ION Television for another season in 2012.”
“We’re thrilled to be continuing our relationship with ION,” says Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos, executive producers of ‘Flashpoint’. “We are delighted with how ‘Flashpoint’ continues to resonate with fans in the U.S. and we look forward to creating another season of compelling and engaging episodes for them to enjoy.”
“Flashpoint,” a nail-biting cop drama, is an emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of police in the Strategic Response Unit. Members of a highly-skilled tactical team, they’re trained in negotiating, profiling and getting inside the subject’s head to understand the emotional breaking point (the “flashpoint”) that triggered the crisis. The series stars an impressive list of talent, including Hugh Dillon (“Durham County”) as Ed Lane, team leader and lead sniper; Enrico Colantoni (“Veronica Mars”) as Gregory Parker, team sergeant and head negotiator; Amy Jo Johnson (“Felicity”) as Julianna “Jules” Callaghan, profiler and secondary negotiator; David Paetkau (“Whistler”) as Sam Braddock, the young, hot-shot sniper; Sergio Di Zio (“Just Buried”) as Mike “Spike” Scarlatti, bomb tech and communications; and Clé Bennett (“The Line”) as Rafik “Raf” Rousseau, Team One’s newest diamond-in-the-rough recruit.
“Flashpoint” is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and ION Television. Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos serve as executive producers, and co-creators Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern helm the writing department. David Frazee is the Series Consultant.
Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live+SD. Flashpoint TUE 10P telecasts 10/18/11 – 12/28/11.
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? Have you been watching Flashpoint on ION? Are you glad to hear it’s been renewed?
Image courtesy CTV.
I’m glad Ion TV brought back Flashpoint for a fifth season. I was upset when it got cancelled from CBS just when I started to get interested in the show. I love the cast and it was great to see how the relationships are progressing. Keep up the good work Ion!
We LOVE Flashpoint & were disappointed when it left our regular TV channel but elated when we heard it was on ION as we had recently been tuning into ION because all of our favorite shows were being shown on that channel. We’re not elated that ION is now showing so many reruns of Cold Case as we never really “bonded” with the blonde with the messy hair but we do like the show other than her unprofessional appearance … sort of like having to see David Caruso on CSI:Miami as he’s such a conceited jerk.
YES! I LOVE this show. It is EXCELLENT in EVERY WAY. Storylines ARE CAPTIVATING, cheracters ARE REAL, as well as inviting. The show has NEVER been disappointing.
Thank you ION for keeping an EXCELLENT show on the air.
SINCERLY,
Karyn Burgner
I love this show!!!! Please bring it back.
So glad this show will be back. Such good story lines. Network tv does not know how to pick them any longer. I have always enjoyed iON
My Husband and I look forward to watching flashpoint everynight we get a chance. We watched all the seasons on Netflixs and now we are SO excited to see the new season coming up! This show has brought us closer together in a very difficult time in our marriage. We will be right infront of our television the nights season 5 airs on ION 🙂
Great news, great show….I can’t believe it has run into the problems it has….but YAY for season 5….can’t wait!
Love the show–record it so I can see all the episodes!
what is ION? is this why we can’t get it anymore?
ION is a cable channel – check with your provider to see if it’s available in your area.
i have just recently started watching this show and i love it… We watch it every Tuesday on ion.. Thanks so much for picking it up…..
I am glad to know that Ion has decided to air out new episodes flash point is one of my favorite shows, I can’t wait for the new series
I am so glad you all picked it up! Every time I get into a show the networks cancelled it and I thought they had this one too till I decided to see what shows were cancelled and saw you picked it up in October so now I am hunting for show times to watch ! Thank You SOOOOO much !!
I feel the same as the previous comment. Always been my favorite show. CBS just doesn’t know how to promote a good thing these days.
i am so glad ION tv has picked it up , i am hooked on flashpoint but i do not see sergios name here for season 5?
yesss thank you ion! cant wait for season 5
Flashpoint is our Favorite show! We were so glad ION was smart enough to pick it up!! We had never heard of the channel now we watch it regularly and NO cbs! Thanks ION!!
We’re the MInorities in Broadcasting Training Program; a non-profit organization formed in 1992. Our website is http://www.theBroadcaster.com. (We are also listed as a charity on Ebay; user name: thebroadcaster.com) We received a donation of a set visit to FLASHPOINT in Canada! The set visit includes: * Visiting the set between now and late June, 2012 in Toronto, Canada * Two (2) guests * Meeting available cast members * Watching Filming * Tax deduction for US citizens for every dollar over $1000 bid * Must be 12 years and older * Transportation and lodging the responsibility of the winning bidder *… Read more »