Official Babylon 5 Magazine canceled?
TBrush1090
in comic book shops and speciality bookstores, the british Official Babylon 5
Magazine will cease publication with its Volume 2 Issue 24 issue, scheduled to
go on sale in the U.S. in May. The blurb on page 289 of "Previews" has this to
say about the issue:
"Special 100-page giant-size issue! It's a farewell to arms and a farewell to
Babylon 5 Magazine with the last issue ever! As Babylon 5 Magazine draws to an
exciting conclusion, Issue 24 chronicles the making of Season 5, the TV Movies
and the spin-off series, Crusade. Babylon 5 Magazine has exclusive new fiction
from author J. Gregory Keyes and a final epic installment in the acclaimed
Official Babylon 5 Chronology. In a special feature, get to the heart of the
conflict between the Shadows and the Vorlons which lies at the center of the
Babylon 5 story. Also, Babylon 5 Magazine talks to series creator J. Michael
Straczynski for the final time. Don't dare miss it!"
Well, nuts. I certainly hope that Previews has got its wires crossed on this,
for with the continuing publication of Peter David's Centauri novels and the
upcoming Techno Mage novels and the hoped-for resurrection of the Sierra video
game, I sure felt that the ladle had far to go before it reached the bottom of
the B5 well.
Gotta admit I really looked forward to picking up my issue each month,
especially during its coverage of the production of Crusade. Some of the
exclusive photos and proproduction designs they published were quite lovely.
ta
tsb
"The sleeper dreams oblivion"
Taelon scientist Rho-ha
"Pandora's Box"
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict
Alison Hopkins
TBrush1090 wrote in message
<20000303044026...@ng-df1.aol.com>...
This doesn't sound right. I get the UK version, and there's nothing in it at
all. It could be that they aren't publishing in the US any more?
Ali
Mac Breck
"Alison Hopkins" <fn...@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:89qnsr$nus$1...@lure.pipex.net...
> This doesn't sound right. I get the UK version, and there's nothing in it
at
> all. It could be that they aren't publishing in the US any more?
They don't publish in the US, do they. We in the US get the UK version, so
I'd tend to think that there is only one version.
Mac
Alison Hopkins
Mac Breck wrote in message <89r4p0$r...@library2.airnews.net>...
Sorry, I mis-explained. <g> I wondered if they'd stopped exporting to the
States. I've emailed Titan and will post the reply.
Ali
Tammy Smith
It's amazing that a series--B5--could have such a great following, and
yet, because of one network's meddling, the whole thing has just about
collapsed! I've just about had it with TV entirely! If this is how
viewers are treated, forget it!
Tammy
Chibi-Light
writes:
And now we know why I own around 170 CDs and spend anywhere between 3
to 12 hours a day listening to music (8 hours at work, yay for the CD
players in the electronics section of Toys R Us) with only about 2 to
3 hours a day of TV (one of which usually ends up being B5).
CL
Alison Hopkins
Tammy Smith wrote in message
<19071-38...@storefull-135.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...
If this is true, I'm going to be angrier at TNT than I all ready am!
It's amazing that a series--B5--could have such a great following, and
yet, because of one network's meddling, the whole thing has just about
collapsed! I've just about had it with TV entirely! If this is how
viewers are treated, forget it!
Tammy
I don't think that this time we could blame TNT, much as I'd love to. The
magazine is published here in the UK, and gets most of its revenue here. The
heyday of *general* interest in the show has passed, which is pretty normal,
and the people left buying it are the hard core fans. Probably not enough to
keep it going.
Ali
Susan Phillips
>If this is true, I'm going to be angrier at TNT than I all ready am!
>It's amazing that a series--B5--could have such a great following, and
>yet, because of one network's meddling, the whole thing has just about
>collapsed! I've just about had it with TV entirely! If this is how
>viewers are treated, forget it!
It is true and it's NOT TNT's fault.
Sales are down since the show ended. B5, not Crusade. This is not TNT's
fault.
B5 is over. TNT gave it a fifth season and thus got to the end of the story
JMS wanted to tell. That was a good thing.
I find it weird (can't think of another word) that people who were so excited
that TNT gave B5 another chance are suddenly so upset at them that they blame
them for EVERYTHING that goes wrong.
(No, Tammy, I'm not necessarily speaking about you in particular - this is a
generalized rant.)
Sue
"How can you be anal-retentive if you don't have an anus?"
Bartleby, "Dogma"
UnltdLife
Do any of you think that a) since TNT has exclusive airing rights in the US and
b) they've relegated B5 reruns to an early Saturday morning doom slot... that
these two factors could be contributing in any way to a decline in sales of B5
related merchandise since B5 is probably not picking up any NEW U.S. fans.
Just wondering...
Jason
Iain Reid
but it probably has nothing at all to do with US sales. Being a UK
magazine, the majority of their sales were probably here in the UK - where
Babylon 5 is repeated at some gawdawful time in the middle of the night.
I would also suggest that, although TNT are probably not the direct cause,
they do share some of the blame. The B5 Magazine had changed to "The
Babylon 5 / Crusade" magazine. If Crusade had not been cancelled then the
Magazine would still be having stuff to report. As it is, it has all become
a bit stale in the last few months (the best sign of this would seem to me
that "The Great Machine" has had no letters to answer for some months).
To be honest, I suspected it was only a matter of time before this
happened - as would most people. There is only so long a magazine can
report on what the people who used to make a show are doing now. The sad
fact is, the "Babylon 5" franchise is now dead. It's something to look back
on and marvel - watching the shows again and reminiscing. However, I am
begining to suspect strongly (as I am sure all but the most optomistic of
you are) that JMS has pulled his last trick out of the big hat marked "B5".
Sure, we will get the odd dying gasp - probably only extending as far as the
rest of the Centauri and (probably) the whole of the Technomage trilogies of
books.
Who knows, one day when we're all old and crinkly, we might even see a
ressurection in the form of "Babylon5: The Next Generation", or at least a
re-issue of the series on Data-Crystal (or whatever the format of the day is
;)). Maybe it might even be issued in widescreen one day...
As for the magazine, it was a bit of a one-trick pony. Someone shot the
pony, and the rider fell off.
Iain Reid
"UnltdLife" <unlt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000306140259...@ng-xe1.aol.com...
Susan Phillips
>I know everything that has happened is not ALL TNT's fault, but...
>
>Do any of you think that a) since TNT has exclusive airing rights in the US and
>b) they've relegated B5 reruns to an early Saturday morning doom slot... that
>these two factors could be contributing in any way to a decline in sales of B5
>related merchandise since B5 is probably not picking up any NEW U.S. fans.
I think that it might have hurt the video tape sales...as discussed
elsewhere. But the magazine is published in the UK where B5 has always been
better promoted, imo. The fans I know over there are still very much B5
fans, for the most part. TNT should have very little, if any, influence over
*their* sales figures.
Of course, I could be blowing smoke.
Disclaimer: This is all just my opinion, unless someone elsewhere can
corroborate it.
Shaz
"Susan Phillips" <vam...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:inzcelzvaqfcevatp...@news.mindspring.com...
Sadly, with Channel 4 UK relegating it to *somewhere* between 1 and 4 am
Sunday night/Monday morning it's not like it's easy to find, and the target
audience are fed up with trying to set the VCR only to get 20 minutes of
something else, 30 minutes of B5 and wondering how it ended. We're trying
VERY hard, but it's quicker to beat your brains out against a brick wall
than try and get something through to C4 at the moment. The fact that they
have on their hands a series that is STILL attracting new and dedicated
viewers should be regarded as a good thing, but C4 just don't seem to get
it.
<sigh>
Shaz
Jms at B5
>>It's amazing that a series--B5--could have such a great following, and
>>yet, because of one network's meddling, the whole thing has just about
>>collapsed! I've just about had it with TV entirely! If this is how
>>viewers are treated, forget it!
>
>It is true and it's NOT TNT's fault.
>
>Sales are down since the show ended. B5, not Crusade. This is not TNT's
>fault.
>
>B5 is over. TNT gave it a fifth season and thus got to the end of the story
>JMS wanted to tell. That was a good thing.
>
>I find it weird (can't think of another word) that people who were so excited
>that TNT gave B5 another chance are suddenly so upset at them that they blame
>them for EVERYTHING that goes wrong.
>
Actually...it is.
We've heard from licensors and publishers, including Titan and Del Rey, and the
#1 reason they cite the problems they're having is that TNT is airing the show
at 7 a.m. Saturday mornings here in the US, which is the biggest market, and
where it *cannot* add new viewers. (Kung Fu is aired middle afternoon
weekdays.) Putting it at 7 a.m. Saturdays was a testosterone decision by some
folks at TNT.
So without question or hesitation, from the source: the continued placement of
B5 where it is is hurting the publishing licensees. This is but the most
current and visible example.
jms
(jms...@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com
(all message content (c) 2000 by
synthetic worlds, ltd., permission
to reprint specifically denied to
SFX Magazine)
UnltdLife
... oh yeah, and WB, too. Wouldn't want anyone to feel left out!
Jason
RaG
I can believe that its no longer going to be released in the US. All the
book stores in my area carried it for a few months then stop. When I asked
why, the store manager told me they put on the shelf what ever is sent them.
this was at Waldens book store and Barnes & Nobles. So I gave up on them.
Local comic shop carries it but they go fast and its first some first
served. we can't get a subscription for it here in the US. So between poor
distrubution and no way to get a subscription, they probably are not selling
very well here ??
RaG
been a constant battle to find an issue to buy. Barnes & Noble claim they
carry it but I have not seen a issue in our store for about six months.
Walden's book store use to carry it, but I have not seen a new issue since
xmas. When I asked the managers why no new issues are on the self. Their
story is they put on the self what is sent to the store. They did not
understand why no new copies were sent since they usually sold out..
It seems to me we are losing B5 because of the dumb asses in charge of it.
The show went down the tubes with TNT in charge, now the magazine is going
down the tubes because the people in charge can't get it to the stores...
I've never heard of something with such a strong cast, crew and fans go down
the tubes so fast !!! Its mind boggling.. I think I'll go watch star trek
.... It sucks but at lest I know its going to be on tv next week
Christian Smith
<ia...@greysector.freeserve.co.uk> wrote
>Who knows, one day when we're all old and crinkly, we might even see a
>ressurection in the form of "Babylon5: The Next Generation", or at least a
>re-issue of the series on Data-Crystal (or whatever the format of the day is
>;)). Maybe it might even be issued in widescreen one day...
Probably more chance of this than on DVD <g>
Christian
"Every new beginning is some other beginnings end..."
ICQ 45494039
(E_Mail: Remove "NOSPAM" from e-mail address when replying)
Andrew M Swallow
>better promoted, imo.
Looking at issue 21 of the B5 Magazine, there were only 8 pages of adverts out
of 68 pages. Two of those were for other Titan products, so no money from
advertising there.
The iron rule of capitalisum applies. If it does not make a profit, it is
banned.
Andrew Swallow
James Bell
> <snip>
> To be honest, I suspected it was only a matter of time before this
> happened - as would most people. There is only so long a magazine can
> report on what the people who used to make a show are doing now. The sad
> fact is, the "Babylon 5" franchise is now dead. It's something to look back
> on and marvel - watching the shows again and reminiscing. However, I am
> begining to suspect strongly (as I am sure all but the most optomistic of
> you are) that JMS has pulled his last trick out of the big hat marked "B5".
> Sure, we will get the odd dying gasp - probably only extending as far as the
> rest of the Centauri and (probably) the whole of the Technomage trilogies of
> books.
It isn't dead! It's only sleeping!
> Who knows, one day when we're all old and crinkly, we might even see a
> ressurection in the form of "Babylon5: The Next Generation", or at least a
> re-issue of the series on Data-Crystal (or whatever the format of the day is
> ;)). Maybe it might even be issued in widescreen one day...
I don't think it will take that long unless you're already nearly old and
crinkly. I don't expect a Next Generation but I do expect the novels to
continue and another movie to eventually be made sometime before the actors are
too old to be in it. Isn't DVD already in the works, too?
So, yeah. It is resting at present but I believe the phenomenon is far from
over. In fact, I don't believe the phenomenon has even happened yet. Just
wait.
Jim
Andrew M Swallow
>have on their hands a series that is STILL attracting new and dedicated
>viewers should be regarded as a good thing, but C4 just don't seem to get
>it.
Of couse not. B5 is not childrens tv, although that is the part of Channel 4
that transmitted. Nor are the women naked. So it does not fit any of there
standard slots.
Andrew Swallow
ear...@hotmail.com
>On 4 Mar 2000 17:59:25 -0700, Tammy Smith wrote:
>
>>If this is true, I'm going to be angrier at TNT than I all ready am!
>>It's amazing that a series--B5--could have such a great following, and
>>yet, because of one network's meddling, the whole thing has just about
>>collapsed! I've just about had it with TV entirely! If this is how
>>viewers are treated, forget it!
>
>It is true and it's NOT TNT's fault.
>
>Sales are down since the show ended. B5, not Crusade. This is not TNT's
>fault.
>
>B5 is over. TNT gave it a fifth season and thus got to the end of the story
>JMS wanted to tell. That was a good thing.
>
>I find it weird (can't think of another word) that people who were so excited
>that TNT gave B5 another chance are suddenly so upset at them that they blame
>them for EVERYTHING that goes wrong.
>
>(No, Tammy, I'm not necessarily speaking about you in particular - this is a
>generalized rant.)
>From what I understand - and please correct errors, TNT was behind the
show because it had a guaranteed audience. Since B5 viewers were not
sticking around to watch ER and Due South and wrestling and their
other mindless tripe, they declared B5 as "not a good leadin for our
other programming". So, they bumped it and bumped it and bumped it
some more - until it landed it its current lousy slot. They further
felt that the followup (Crusade) could generate even more revenue if
they meddled with the new formula. JMS gave them the finger, so they
yanked the show (essentially returning the salute). Whether this had
any effect on the current B5 slot is anyone's guess, but I'll wager
that it does since there were more preferable slots that they
themselves proposed.
---
"Cannot run out of time. There is infinite time. You are finite.
Zathras is finite. This.. is wrong tool." -Zathras
Tammy Smith
with nothing much to write about, & the fans with nothing much to read.
This is why I blame TNT for the magazine problem. Their stupid decision
to tell a writer (JMS) what to write when they know nothing about
writing set in motion all the things that have happened since.
Tammy
Mac Breck
> So then, TNT AND C4 have gone completely mental...
>
> ... oh yeah, and WB, too. Wouldn't want anyone to feel left out!
Londo!
Mac Breck
them?
Mac
"Jms at B5" <jms...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000306184153...@ng-fo1.aol.com...
> >>If this is true, I'm going to be angrier at TNT than I all ready am!
> >>It's amazing that a series--B5--could have such a great following, and
> >>yet, because of one network's meddling, the whole thing has just about
> >>collapsed! I've just about had it with TV entirely! If this is how
> >>viewers are treated, forget it!
> >
> >It is true and it's NOT TNT's fault.
> >
> >Sales are down since the show ended. B5, not Crusade. This is not TNT's
> >fault.
> >
> >B5 is over. TNT gave it a fifth season and thus got to the end of the
story
> >JMS wanted to tell. That was a good thing.
> >
> >I find it weird (can't think of another word) that people who were so
excited
> >that TNT gave B5 another chance are suddenly so upset at them that they
blame
> >them for EVERYTHING that goes wrong.
> >
>
Mac Breck
news:38C4196E...@vt.edu...
> Iain Reid wrote:
>
> > <snip>
>
> > To be honest, I suspected it was only a matter of time before this
> > happened - as would most people. There is only so long a magazine can
> > report on what the people who used to make a show are doing now. The
sad
> > fact is, the "Babylon 5" franchise is now dead. It's something to look
back
> > on and marvel - watching the shows again and reminiscing. However, I am
> > begining to suspect strongly (as I am sure all but the most optomistic
of
> > you are) that JMS has pulled his last trick out of the big hat marked
"B5".
> > Sure, we will get the odd dying gasp - probably only extending as far as
the
> > rest of the Centauri and (probably) the whole of the Technomage
trilogies of
> > books.
>
> It isn't dead! It's only sleeping!
I have a sudden urge to go watch the Monty Python Dead Parrot skit. :-)
Mac
Tammy Smith
timeslot. It's a painful thing to do, having to grovel, but if we don't
get it out of that slot, we'll lose more B5 stuff. :(
Tammy
Christian Smith
:-((((
Christian
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
RaG
group ???? Sorry for sending a double post...
John Freeman
Titan wasn't able to get a subs house sorted out, though I believe it has
done for its Xena title.
John Freeman
John Freeman
been the barcode box. Early editions had some different ads and the UK#1
(volume 2) had a poster in it -- you can still buy that from the back issues
page. Issue 4 UK had a promotional poster for the SciFi Channel featuring
Claudia Christian which wasn't in the US edition. Can't think of any other
major diffrences.
John Freeman
http://www.jfree.dircon.co.uk
> From: "Mac Breck" <macb...@timesnet.net>
> Organization: Vorlon Empire
> Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
> Date: 4 Mar 2000 06:59:04 -0700
> Subject: Re: Official Babylon 5 Magazine canceled?
>
> They don't publish in the US, do they. We in the US get the UK version, so
> I'd tend to think that there is only one version.
>
> Mac
Mac Breck
Technomage Trilogy ??? I'd call that A LOT to lose, and TNT would love it
if that fell through.
Mac
"Christian Smith" <chri...@jasdigital.com> wrote in message
news:8a3680$odh$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Susan Phillips
>Forgetting the Novels 2 and 3 of the Centauri Trilogy, and the entire
>Technomage Trilogy ??? I'd call that A LOT to lose, and TNT would love it
>if that fell through.
If sales of the books don't pick up, Del Rey will cancel them, whether or not
TNT moves the show.
Diane K De
>Date: Thu, Mar 9, 2000 09:34 EST
>
>On 8 Mar 2000 16:21:24 -0700, Mac Breck wrote:
>
>>Forgetting the Novels 2 and 3 of the Centauri Trilogy, and the entire
>>Technomage Trilogy ??? I'd call that A LOT to lose, and TNT would love it
>>if that fell through.
>
>If sales of the books don't pick up, Del Rey will cancel them, whether or not
>TNT moves the show.
>
>Sue
I can understand why TNT's scheduling effects the acquisition of new fans, but
the subject matter current books seem designed more for existing fans like us.
A person who would just be discovering B5 now would need to see the whole
series before really appreciating the psi-corps trilogy or centauri trilogy.
So, are the sales dropping because existing fans aren't buying them? And if
existing fans aren't buying them, why?
DD
Mac Breck
in the stores. In my local Waldenbooks, the B5 books are buried in the
back, and you can only see the spine. Only once have I seen a B5 book out
by the register (The Fate of Bester). There were two copies, and I bought
one.
Star Wars and Star Trek books are either out by the register, in special
displays, or on the end caps, so you can see them when walking down the main
aisles. Star Wars and Star Trek books are shown with their covers facing
out. In addition to this, they have their Star Trek and Star Wars sections.
B5 books are only shown by their spine, and they never have them all, and
usually only have one or two of the ones they do have.
I guess you just can't fight city hall (the Star Trek/Star Wars machine).
Mac
"Diane K De" <dian...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000309102812...@ng-de1.aol.com...
Tammy Smith
them. Maybe there's a B5 fan working there! :)
Tammy
Chibi-Light
writes:
>At my Waldenbooks, they have put the B5 books out where you can see
>them. Maybe there's a B5 fan working there! :)
>
>Tammy
Wouldn't be suprised. Everywhere I worked, if I were able to rearange
the merchandise, I'd put out the stuff I like.
CL - Mr. Insightful (but not very deep)
Susan Phillips
>>
>>If sales of the books don't pick up, Del Rey will cancel them, whether or not
>>TNT moves the show.
>
>I can understand why TNT's scheduling effects the acquisition of new fans, but
>the subject matter current books seem designed more for existing fans like us.
>A person who would just be discovering B5 now would need to see the whole
>series before really appreciating the psi-corps trilogy or centauri trilogy.
I agree. And this existing B5 fan likes them a lot.
>
>So, are the sales dropping because existing fans aren't buying them? And if
>existing fans aren't buying them, why?
I'm assuming it's because not enough fans are buying the books but are
contenting themselves with the show, either on tape/ld or through the reruns
on Saturday mornings.
Why aren't they buying them? I don't know. A multitude of reasons, I
suppose; some people may not be able to afford it. Some might just prefer to
see their sf rather than read it.
I don't know.
Susan Phillips
>Might have something to do with having absolutely no advertising or displays
>in the stores. In my local Waldenbooks, the B5 books are buried in the
>back, and you can only see the spine. Only once have I seen a B5 book out
>by the register (The Fate of Bester). There were two copies, and I bought
>one.
Bookstores buy dumps (the big displays of books that usually come when you
order a certain number of copies) for things they consider saleable, that
they want to push. A lot of people even in bookstores probably consider B5
to be a bastard child of Trek and it doesn't deserve such. Trek and SW books
sell pretty damned well.
ImRastro
I front the B5 books when I go to a bookstore. (Meaning I turn the Star Trek
books to spine and the cover of the B5 out) I have a friend who is an author
and I front his books (Steven Saylor in case any of you want to read a good
Roman mystery), so I just added B5 in there. Its not illegal. Everyone should
try it. :)
Pelzo63
>I front the B5 books when I go to a bookstore. (Meaning I turn the Star >Trek
>books to spine and the cover of the B5 out)
i would never....i mean, the whole concept...it's just wrong.... <g>
what you really need to do is grab the B5 books they have multiple copies of,
and strategically place the second and third copies of it right in the middle
of the Trek and Star Wars books....and if there's enough, near some of the
other high selling novels, maybe even "accidently" setting it down in the
middle of the "top ten sci-fi books" shelf(if the store has one).
not that i would condone such behavior....shame shame
---Chris AOL/AIM--pelzo63
http://members.aol.com/pelzo63/welcome.html
a former mac advocate, former because i find they no longer need me to help
sales. to retire in victory is everyone's dream.
Mac Breck
"Final Reckoning" of the Psi-Corp trilogy, and "Legions of Fire" of the
Centauri trilogy.
They were out of "Dark Genesis", and I bought their last copy of "Legions of
Fire" and I let them know this. I also asked the manager if he'd put some
of the Babylon 5 books on the new book display they have in the front of the
store in the main aisle. There was one DS9 book, one Next Gen Book, and two
Voyager books on that display. He said he'd order some Dark Genesis (should
have them in about 2 weeks), and "highlight" the other Babylon 5 books.
While I was there, straightened up the Babylon 5 section, and fronted "Final
Reckoning" and "To Dream In The City of Sorrows".
Maybe if other Babylon 5 fans would do the same in the bookstores they
frequent, the bookstores would get the message, and browsing customers would
see the B5 books.
I'm going to donate one copy of each of the official Babylon 5 books to my
local public library.
Mac
"Pelzo63" <pel...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000311183318...@ng-fq1.aol.com...
James Bell
the B5 books so that the covers are facing out. It is a small thing but it is
something I can contribute.
Jim
Mac Breck wrote:
> Might have something to do with having absolutely no advertising or displays
> in the stores. In my local Waldenbooks, the B5 books are buried in the
> back, and you can only see the spine. Only once have I seen a B5 book out
> by the register (The Fate of Bester). There were two copies, and I bought
> one.
>
> Star Wars and Star Trek books are either out by the register, in special
> displays, or on the end caps, so you can see them when walking down the main
> aisles. Star Wars and Star Trek books are shown with their covers facing
> out. In addition to this, they have their Star Trek and Star Wars sections.
> B5 books are only shown by their spine, and they never have them all, and
> usually only have one or two of the ones they do have.
>
> I guess you just can't fight city hall (the Star Trek/Star Wars machine).
>
> Mac
>
> "Diane K De" <dian...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20000309102812...@ng-de1.aol.com...
> > >From: "Susan Phillips" <vam...@mindspring.com>
> > >Date: Thu, Mar 9, 2000 09:34 EST
> >
> > >
> > >On 8 Mar 2000 16:21:24 -0700, Mac Breck wrote:
> > >
> > >>Forgetting the Novels 2 and 3 of the Centauri Trilogy, and the entire
> > >>Technomage Trilogy ??? I'd call that A LOT to lose, and TNT would love
> it
> > >>if that fell through.
> > >
> > >If sales of the books don't pick up, Del Rey will cancel them, whether or
> not
> > >TNT moves the show.
> > >
> > >Sue
> >
> > I can understand why TNT's scheduling effects the acquisition of new fans,
> but
> > the subject matter current books seem designed more for existing fans like
> us.
> > A person who would just be discovering B5 now would need to see the whole
> > series before really appreciating the psi-corps trilogy or centauri
> trilogy.
> >
> > So, are the sales dropping because existing fans aren't buying them? And
> if
> > existing fans aren't buying them, why?
> >
> > DD
> >
The Nuclear Marine
Mac Breck wrote:
>
> Might have something to do with having absolutely no advertising or displays
> in the stores. In my local Waldenbooks, the B5 books are buried in the
> back, and you can only see the spine. Only once have I seen a B5 book out
> by the register (The Fate of Bester). There were two copies, and I bought
> one.
>
> Star Wars and Star Trek books are either out by the register, in special
> displays, or on the end caps, so you can see them when walking down the main
> aisles. Star Wars and Star Trek books are shown with their covers facing
> out. In addition to this, they have their Star Trek and Star Wars sections.
> B5 books are only shown by their spine, and they never have them all, and
> usually only have one or two of the ones they do have.
>
> I guess you just can't fight city hall (the Star Trek/Star Wars machine).
>
> Mac
>
This is when you practice small acts of defiance and turn the B5 books
face out. Make sure the videos are displayed neatly and obviously and
drop a word or two at the counters of relevent stores.
Yeah its a small amount but it is like I do when I play a B5 tape in a
lounge of my barracks (when I lived in them) and have the gumption to
shut up the naysayers. Every little bit helps. Same thing happens with
the Dreamcast vs Playstation. Everybody is waiting for the playstation2
till they see the Dreamcast in action (NFL 2K mainly) then think of
buying.
Grass roots work people, and its not like its civil disobedience, just a
little nuisance to the wage slave at Barnes and Nobles. Dropping notes
on B5 in other newsgroups you frequent never hurt either (working it
into the topic to keep it from being spam however takes a little more
creativity.)
When all else fails, watch Racing the Night and remember the potential a
few corporations are denying us.
============================
On the other hand, you have five more fingers
Patrick MARCEL
> So, are the sales dropping because existing fans aren't buying them? And if
> existing fans aren't buying them, why?
They are dropping because fans are not buying them *anymore*. It might
be a good idea to check where the dropping-off started. It probably
means that, from there on, people didn't deem worth their time and money
the further reading of Bab5 books.
One must admit that the early one-shot books were pretty boring stuff,
not even consistent with canon, apart from #7 and 9. As for
novelisations, well, once you've seen the episode, do you *need* the
book repeating the story and stretching it to the required length?
It might be a matter of convincing fans that the new trilogies are worth
buying. I've liked what I've read so far of the Keyes books, and I'll
read the Centauri trilogy, even though I'm really not a fan of Peter
David's stuff.
Patrick
--
"We are all born as molecules in the heart of a billion stars; molecules
that do not understand politics or policies or differences. Over a
billion years, we foolish molecules forget who we are, and where we came
from. In desperate acts of ego we give ourselves names, fight over lines
on maps, and pretend our light is better than everyone else's. The flame
reminds us of the piece of those stars that lives on inside us, the
spark that tells us, 'you know better'." JMS
Lisa Coulter
them and the First Centauri Prime book on antoher . This is for Media related
books. The lists were Amazon.com and Locus's survey of SF bookstores. One was no.
2 and one no. 5 ( I forget which was which). I assume this is fairly good news,
although of course we should all keep up the good fight,
Lisa Coulter
Susan Phillips
>Not that I would admit this but....oh hell, why not...
>
>I front the B5 books when I go to a bookstore. (Meaning I turn the Star Trek
>books to spine and the cover of the B5 out) I have a friend who is an author
>and I front his books (Steven Saylor in case any of you want to read a good
>Roman mystery), so I just added B5 in there. Its not illegal. Everyone should
>try it. :)
Absolutely. I used to work in a bookstore and I also try and maximize the
use of space.....<g>
John Freeman
> I know this is probably hard for some Americans to come to terms with ;),
> but it probably has nothing at all to do with US sales. Being a UK
> magazine, the majority of their sales were probably here in the UK - where
> Babylon 5 is repeated at some gawdawful time in the middle of the night.
The sales were about even on both sides of the Atlantic, with the UK just
having the edge. The major problems for US sales were/are: 1) late
distribution 2) problems sourcing a US subs house which could have meant the
title's survival. As you may or may not know, many US titles survive because
of their huge subscriber base, while news stand sales are far more important
to a title's ongoing viability in the UK (which is not to dismiss
subscriptions: high subs help encourage ad sales).
>
> I would also suggest that, although TNT are probably not the direct cause,
> they do share some of the blame. The B5 Magazine had changed to "The
> Babylon 5 / Crusade" magazine. If Crusade had not been cancelled then the
> Magazine would still be having stuff to report. As it is, it has all become
> a bit stale in the last few months (the best sign of this would seem to me
> that "The Great Machine" has had no letters to answer for some months).
>
There's no doubt in my mind that if Crusade had continued the title would
have. If anything, B5 Magazine had greater access to the set during the
Crusade shoot than it did in the last two seasons of B5, and the magazine
has hundreds of exclusive photographs from the show.
> To be honest, I suspected it was only a matter of time before this
> happened - as would most people. There is only so long a magazine can
> report on what the people who used to make a show are doing now. The sad
> fact is, the "Babylon 5" franchise is now dead. It's something to look back
> on and marvel - watching the shows again and reminiscing. However, I am
> begining to suspect strongly (as I am sure all but the most optomistic of
> you are) that JMS has pulled his last trick out of the big hat marked "B5".
> Sure, we will get the odd dying gasp - probably only extending as far as the
> rest of the Centauri and (probably) the whole of the Technomage trilogies of
> books.
>
If what you're saying were true, that doesn't explain why Doctor Who
Magazine is still being published 11 years after the BBC pulled the plug on
that show. My pet theory is one of a 'snowball effect': the Doctor Who
snowball was rolling down the hill for 30 years as an ongoing show, building
a loyal fan base. When the show ends, the snowball hits the bottom of the
valley and starts to run up the other side. Thanks to the BBC's continued
releases, and now repeats and new audio adventures (not forgetting the
novels) that snowball might just make it quite a way up the hill before, if
there's no new core show, it starts to crash back into the valley and Who
fandom 'ends' in _commercial_ terms.
Babylon 5 was always intended to be a five year show and the momentum behind
it was never as strong as Who, no matter the quality of the show. So the
snowball crashes into the valley a lot quicker...
That doesn't mean fans will stop being B5 fans; it just makes _commercial_
activity difficult. And as Mr. Straczynski points out elsewhere, the times
for repeats of the show in the US don't help exposure.
John Freeman
Iain Reid
"John Freeman" <jf...@dircon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:B4EC0388.1224%jf...@dircon.co.uk...
> Iain Reid wrote:
> > I know this is probably hard for some Americans to come to terms with
;),
> > but it probably has nothing at all to do with US sales. Being a UK
> > magazine, the majority of their sales were probably here in the UK -
where
> > Babylon 5 is repeated at some gawdawful time in the middle of the night.
>
> The sales were about even on both sides of the Atlantic, with the UK just
> having the edge. The major problems for US sales were/are: 1) late
> distribution 2) problems sourcing a US subs house which could have meant
the
> title's survival. As you may or may not know, many US titles survive
because
> of their huge subscriber base, while news stand sales are far more
important
> to a title's ongoing viability in the UK (which is not to dismiss
> subscriptions: high subs help encourage ad sales).
Yes, but you aren't really comparing like with like. Unless you are talking
about market share, then the UK sales were far more important. This is
because the UK is so much smaller than the US and therefor the market share
in the UK will be far higher. Sales in the US are far more widley
dispersed. You could perhaps compare sales with one of the smaller US
States, or compare US and European sales for a valid comparison. So the UK
sales would be more important as far as both adverts and distribution are
concerned.
Speaking of which, was the magazine reprinted for the US with US adertisers
in it? If not then the US market would be even less important as far as
making it commercially viable was concerned since most UK advertisers
(especially since most of them were UK-specific small and medium-sized
companies) would only be interested in how well it is selling in their own
marketplace where most of their potential sales are located.
<snip>
> If what you're saying were true, that doesn't explain why Doctor Who
> Magazine is still being published 11 years after the BBC pulled the plug
on
> that show. My pet theory is one of a 'snowball effect': the Doctor Who
> snowball was rolling down the hill for 30 years as an ongoing show,
building
> a loyal fan base. When the show ends, the snowball hits the bottom of the
> valley and starts to run up the other side. Thanks to the BBC's continued
> releases, and now repeats and new audio adventures (not forgetting the
> novels) that snowball might just make it quite a way up the hill before,
if
> there's no new core show, it starts to crash back into the valley and Who
> fandom 'ends' in _commercial_ terms.
There is also a difference in quality (not in terms of "goodness", but in
terms of "type") of the two shows. Doctor Who is more than a show, it is an
institution. Multiple generations of Britons grew up with the Doctor, and
it had a far wider audience. Babylon 5, because of its nature, was always
something of a niche show. It was highly intelligent, had a continuous
storyline and characters which developed over time. It required a great
deal of commitment from the viewer - since you couldn't just tune in every
couple of weeks and expect to be able to pick it up easily in the way you
can with most of Star Trek, say - or indeed, Doctor Who.
> Babylon 5 was always intended to be a five year show and the momentum
behind
> it was never as strong as Who, no matter the quality of the show. So the
> snowball crashes into the valley a lot quicker...
> That doesn't mean fans will stop being B5 fans; it just makes _commercial_
> activity difficult. And as Mr. Straczynski points out elsewhere, the times
> for repeats of the show in the US don't help exposure.
Or in the UK either. It's on at around 2am on a Monday Morning (not that I
really care - I bought all the WB Home videos...ahh it's good to be British
(not that I am...I am Scottish ;))
Iain Reid
Mac Breck
news:8b66di$34ddn$3...@fu-berlin.de...
> Speaking of which, was the magazine reprinted for the US with US
adertisers
> in it?
No, we get exactly what you get (UK advertisements). So, we get to see all
the great stuff that's available to you, but not us. :-(
> If not then the US market would be even less important as far as
> making it commercially viable was concerned since most UK advertisers
> (especially since most of them were UK-specific small and medium-sized
> companies) would only be interested in how well it is selling in their own
> marketplace where most of their potential sales are located.
I have ordered items from the UK (e.g. a discontinued Nikon HN-21 lenshood,
new-in-the-box, that only Samantha at Grays of Westminster could find).
Mac