Will Absentia spoilers impact US ratings? Don’t count on it…
Should there be fears that Absentia spoilers and the sheer abundance of them out there will impact the ratings in America when it airs? Sure, given that we do live in such a spoiler-infested culture. It’s almost counter-intuitive in a way as well — if you have a good show, it’s great because you get people hooked on the your program. However, you don’t want them to be so hooked that they go online, look up spoilers, and then stop watching because they know what happened. There are some challenges there.
Do we think that the vast majority of the Absentia family all over the world has done a good job keeping spoilers at bay? Absolutely and we give them a lot of credit for their restraint. That will make the job easier for American viewers looking to view the Stana Katic series through fresh eyes.
Despite all of our concerns over launching the show in America months after other parts of the world, we actually think it’s okay — provided that the American network/streaming provider (whoever they may be) does a few things to insulate themselves.
1. A separate hashtag – You don’t want your viewers stumbling across spoilers from the show airing in other countries! Get your own community going and diehard fans can go and look at the other hashtags if they choose.
2. Good, continuous coverage – Post behind-the-scenes content and be sure to give American viewers reasons to want to watch these airings live and with friends and family. Make sure there are many outlets aware that the show is airing. Interactivity for a mystery like this is very much a good thing.
3. Have confidence in the show itself – Ultimately, do what you can, but don’t focus too much on the fact that the show’s already aired elsewhere. Downton Abbey and Victoria have both shown that international series can still perform well in the United States — piracy stinks, but we don’t think the majority of viewers want to watch a poor-quality illegally-downloaded version of a good show. They would rather wait and check it out in all of its glory.
Even shows like Game of Thrones have already proven that “leaked” episodes don’t have much of an impact on overall ratings — it’s a very tiny percentage of people who pirate. Just focus on your own promotion of the show and casual viewers will find it. This group is the silent majority of the internet; they aren’t the ones you hear about, but they are the ones who help carry the show.
In case you missed it…
You can read one of our other discussions regarding Absentia and a possible season 2 over here!
Like us on Facebook for some additional news regarding Absentia and some others we cover. (Photo: Sony.)
warpheads
November 13, 2017 @ 2:33 am
I’m just being a realist here: Do you really think Hollywood are a bunch of rank amateurs? Do you really think that business community is sitting around befuddled over what to do with this one-season show? That they’ve dropped the ball somehow?
They know what is out there, weather they want it and what to do with it when they get it.
Ever notice the season lineup always comes out in advance and what networks buy them? Then notice the ad campaign that always follows, with the actors sent out to hopscotch all the talk shows to push the product they’re in? Seen Stana on US tv lately talking about Absentia? No. You haven’t. Because it has not been bought by a network to be added to a schedule… no one wanted it.
A whole lot of energy is being spent trying to generate interest in this tv show to get it on US tv where the big money is, and it MIGHT happen and it might not! Props for trying…but the production network of Sony called Crackle isn’t even showing it on its own cable service (which I have access to being an XFINITY customer) For a reason: No one bought it.
BTW: There is no season 2.
Could this change? Sure. But get real. Networks ALWAYS announce what shows they buy and when they’ll be shown; this BS about “a network has it but it’s a SECRET!” Is nonsense, whistling in the dark.
A network might change its mind if it needs a one season show to fill space in a bind, otherwise, “beggars can’t be choosers” and it’s an old show the minute the last episode plays. TBS? Lifetime? USA? Maybe. 1:100 chance. Netflix? Hulu? See you there!
Just trying to be a realist.
Jim45
November 5, 2017 @ 5:04 pm
Considering that the first 6 episodes have been available on streaming video since Absentia was released you have to assume that Sony/AXN/Absentia wants it that way. It’s part of the marketing plan to generate buzz. (The last 4 episodes have been very tightly held unless you speak Russian.)
All the spoilers and streaming episodes will not have any impact on the viewership of Absentia in the US, UK and Canada. The only people who have seen these 6 episodes are big fans of Stana. They will watch Abestentia again and again and buy the DVD and subscribe to the streamer who runs it.
Normal people who have a real life will watch Absentia for the normal reasons people watch whatever it is that they watch. Sony/Absentia is hoping that this much bigger audience will have heard the buzz and give it a look.
Even highly negative reactions on such sites as IMDB are positive for Absentia, because they tell potential viewers that there is something significant there. “Casual viewers” will look for themselves. It’s the old adage that all publicity is good publicity if they spell your name correctly.
The word that New Zealand is starting Absentia on 11/6 is interesting news from the point of view that in 6 weeks they will have shown the episodes that are easily available through streaming on the net. When you add in holiday programming that takes New Zealand right up to the beginning of the year for the remaining 4 episodes.
At that point English language versions of Absentia of the entire show will be readily available on the net. Sony/AXN/Absentia will have squeezed all the buzz they can get out of their marketing strategy without harming the audience for their show in the other English language markets. Promotion of Absentia in those markets should start Christmas night running into the premier sometime in early January, 2018.
sue
November 5, 2017 @ 2:42 am
I have seen some episodes and I await the shows being shown In US because I intend to watch them again.
Prior viewing and/or spoilers do not affect repeat viewing of something that is good entertainment.
And Absentia is good entertainment.