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Futurama Syndication?

There has been some (seemingly well-informed) rumour about Futurama being syndicated on Cartoon Network as part of the Adult Swim block. The rumours started on the San Diego Comic Con where strangely enough non of the Futurama people talked about it, but the Cartoon Network guys seemingly did. Here is a thread about it on PEEL and a short notice at 'Cartoon Research' (authored by Jerry Beck who works for Cartoon Network if I remember correctly).

    This could mean several things:
  • A late time slot (possibly after midnight even).
  • Futurama gets to show how well it performs with an older audience
  • Opens the gates for American Season 1 DVDs in a few years
  • They could run 5 days a week
  • Might make it more lucrative for FOX to order a real new Season 5

View comments | Aug 6th 2002 | slimmii

Comments (8)

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Tin_FoilAug 6th 2002, 00:00
Wow! This is some really good news for Futurama! I would think that right now Futurama doesn't have enough episodes to go into syndication so hopefully this deal forces FOX to let them make another 20 or so shows!
KazzahdraneAug 6th 2002, 00:00
As I said on alt.tv.futurama (go there, we're all friendly!), It's true people. There is a God. And his name is 10011010101110001. (Don't translate it, it's gobbledygook.
JonAug 6th 2002, 00:00
andie, for your info, most adult swim shows start at 8 o clock. Mission hill is on at 11, so nothing would be on after 12.

Also, adult swim is only on sunday, adult swim anime is on saturday. But adult swim is only on the weekends.
JonAug 6th 2002, 00:00
oops, sorry, guess i was wrong :) read the peel thread, didnt know it was pretty much certain to be on CN and daily. Wow, great news! :)
PCCFredAug 7th 2002, 00:00
Allow me to be the miserable voice of caution.

Futurama currently has 72 episodes, compared to 79 for the original Star Trek, so a move into syndication may not neccessarily motivate FOX to make new ones.

Furthermore, if the rumour about Futurama being on adult swim at 1:00am is true, then I doubt we'll see the significant rise in audience needed for FOX to sit up and take notice.
BrianLewisAug 7th 2002, 00:00
I don't know if this is such good news. A deal like this might sentence Futurama to the endless fate of being a midnight viewing only current fans can find out about.

I had always hoped that Futurama could get picked up by the same syndication deals The Simpsons has, and then local networks might have the brains to air Futurama after the Simpsons as had been wanted from the start. This type of national showing could really bolster attention to Futurama.

Ah well, some syndication is better than none...even if I don't have cable.

Let us all pray for those region 1 dvds...hey...maybe this upcomming deal is why fox has held back the region 1 dvds...
dedvirusAug 7th 2002, 00:00
Well, since Cartoon Network wants to put Adult Swim on weeknights, I could see Futurama most likely between 10 and 12 PM Eastern/Pacific time Monday thru Thursday. I think it's a good thing. CN only has one commercial break per half hour slot and no smashed credits. Also CN really does a good job promoting their Adult Swim shows. I also doubt CN would cut the show to hell like how The Simpsons is on local networks, which is done for more commercial airings.

Um, well, if it all works out, maybe Cartoon Network will buy a 5th season. It's possible. They did it with Home Movies.
BenderAug 9th 2002, 00:00
"Let us all pray for those region 1 dvds..."

Don't be a chump of the MPAA! You can modify DVD players to ignore regional encoding. Or, you can buy modded DVD players on eBay, etc. Plenty of info on the web on this...