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.
My Gosh ,this show ‘Flashpoint ” is the best show on tv. please do not stop a good thing ! Better than any show that CBS is showing now ! Please make more on ION ou are the Greatest so real , honest show .the compasssion that it shows !! Love me some Flashpoint.
I came late to the show, but can’t stop watching it. I tape every episode and have watched many two and three times though I know how they will end. The acting is excellent, plots are well thought out with interesting twist. I am so glad to hear there will be another season. How do I find all previous episodes?
excellent show I will be very upset if the show is canceled I agree with the other viewers network keep shows that should have been canceled years ago. The show has lots of dramas good plot and good rescue team , we need shows that gives us hope if we ever in a difficult situation I watch every show and please bring back to regular network not cable. I have friends who are not able to have cable and come by to watch in my house.
Communist Broadcasting Service sucks anyway. They drop good shows and keep garbage for the one brain cell losers of today. I will be happy when they have only BS “reality” shows so I can stop watching their crappy network!
I agree! I recently discovered this show and I am hooked! Thanks ion for great tv programs.
i like flash point but i think it should come out the 19th thursday 2012 july
I was very disappointed when it was no longer available. It was the best show I have seen in ages. I haven’t able to find it any place. Will it return in the NY metropolitan area any time soon?
Barbara
Please, Please……show or give us the 5th season & I am sure thst a lot of viewers will be happy!
Mila B’
Flashpoint is the best show I have seen in ages. I was very disapointed when it was no longer available on Long Island.
I love this show started watching it about 4 months ago and have seen all the episodes….I hope there are a lot more….excellent show…..ion keep it on please!
I just discovered this show on ION tv I never new it was on CBS or It would have been my favorite show to watch. Every episode is exciting, I don’t leave my seat for a snack or drink, It is that good. My favorite character is Enrico, I love all the others but he is my favorite. I am in the 60-65 age bracket.Please keep this show.
What a rollercoaster ride this has been! From being devistated when I learned the other station dropped it, to elated after learning ION picked it up (and did a much better job at airing it on a regular schedule I must say-kudoos to you). Then the long wait wondering if it was coming back this fall. With all the rubbish TV out there I am so glad you are bringing back such a quality show. Thank you so much!
Thank you ION for continuing to show “Flashpoint!” This is one of the BEST police dramas I have watched and believe me, I do watch alot of them. The cast is terrific and blends well together. Is there anything the faithful followers of this series can do to try and convince the producers and writers of “Flashpoint” to not end the show after this season? It would be a definite loss to all.
THANK YOU ION TV FOR KEEPING FLASHPOINT I HAVE WATCHED IT FROM THE START OF FIRST SEASON. IT’S WHAT ALSO STARTED ME TO WATCHING ION TV ON A REGULAR BASIS, SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ION!!!!!!!!!!!!. IT’S THE BEST COP SHOW ON TV!!!!!!!!
Love, love, love flashpoint. Want to see more. We dvr the episodes, and we have watched them over and over. The cast is perfect together. keep them coming ion and Canadian television.
please keep flashpoint on we are crazy about it. our daughteer watched it for the first time this week visiting from utah and loved it. said it was a winner for her family. keep it coming