Is an Absentia US premiere date in 2017 off the table?
Why? There are more reasons than we’ll be able to get to here, but some of the biggest ones include simply that we want to see a great mystery find its way to US television. There’s a lot to like here, you’ve got a great cast led by Stana Katic, and we’ve certainly seen over time that shows like this play very well with American audiences.
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a premiere date announced for the show in America, while there are some territories that have aired several episodes of the show at this point, there hasn’t been any pressure for the show’s US home (whoever it is) to announce an actual date for the show just yet. Is it better to wait at this point until 2018? While in some ways we hate to say it, we do certainly think that could be the case. It probably should be the case, as well.
Let’s just start here with the obvious: If Absentia is suddenly announced as premiering in either November or December, there wouldn’t be a whole lot of time to promote it. Also, airing a show over the holiday season isn’t always the best move when it comes to ratings given that there are so many different things going on and you want to ensure that you’re getting as much exposure as you can. We’d of course watch Absentia any day of the week, but you want casual viewers, people on the fence about watching, to be excited and available.
At this point, there are some added benefits that come with starting the show in the new year. For one, you could promote it at a TCA Winter Press tour if its home network is participating in it. Beyond that, there are typically a pretty large pool of viewers available at this point in the year. Temperatures are cold, and for many there isn’t a whole lot else to do other than sit at home, relax, and watch a little bit of TV. The season’s only ten episodes, so the entirety of it could air before the spring rolls around and viewers start to drift away a little bit from TV to doing some other things.
While technically anything could still happen (it’s very well possible someone will come out and announce a premiere date in a day or two — this whole process has been somewhat unpredictable), for right now we’re banking on the show starting in America in the new year. We’ll see if that changes.
What do you want the Absentia US premiere date to be at the moment?
Share in the comments below right now! For now, take a look over here to read our piece about why Sony should go ahead and prepare for an Absentia season 2 to get people all the more excited for the future.
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w
October 25, 2017 @ 8:38 pm
Sadly I have given up on the show now and will probably not be watching it
Manu1
October 26, 2017 @ 7:44 am
Several European countries, UK, France, and Hungary, didn’t get Castle for over a year after it aired in the US, Sweden had to wait two years. For once, most of Europe, except the UK, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and NZ will be able to view Absentia within a couple of months of it premiering on Sept 25 ahead of the US. At least it has been announced that Absentia has been acquired by some, albeit as yet unknown, US network, but like Canada, no airing date has yet been announced, the UK hasn’t even got that consolation yet, but I’m lucky enough to have access to AXN Spain. If you enjoy watching dark thrillers and/or Stana you might want to still give it a try when it does eventually reach the US.
Boo Hodges
October 28, 2017 @ 12:35 am
I find your statement disingenuous.
Okay, it premiered outside the US first. Perhaps the producers wanted to target a different demographic initially.
But let’s be honest. Would Castle have premiered outside the US had it not gathered such a large audience here first?
We’ve been told for months that the premiere of Absentia would be announced here in the US “soon”. Suddenly “soon” has moved. I’m beginning to wonder if there was even going to be a “soon” to begin with.
From the viewer’s point of view the ground the ground keeps shifting. I don’t think I’m the only potential viewer who feels this way.
Please offer us a reason why we should believe you and then please offer a reason why we should watch Absentia should it finally be shown here.
Manu1
October 28, 2017 @ 5:58 am
As most of my post was factual that can easily be checked on IMDB and other sources I’m not sure what you find unbelievable, and I offered a reason to watch the show in my last sentence, I didn’t claim that the show is the best thing since sliced bread, or that Stana should win every award under the sun, just that if you like the type of show that Absentia is you might want to give it try.
In the UK “Forever” and “Private Eyes” were picked up, and neither of those came on the back of good US ratings, so it seems that the size of its US audience doesn’t necessarily dictate whether a show makes it across the Atlantic or not.
warpheads
November 12, 2017 @ 2:45 am
I agree 100%. This has been nothing but a big tease. I’m convinced there is no U.S. network and now that it’s wrapped filming Stana doesn’t even talk about it anymore; tells me no 2nd season was ever planned nor will be. And why should we go to a web page to discuss the need for one when we won’t get to see it in the first place?
IF it comes to the U.S. it’ll be Netflix in 1-2 years or late night USA or TBS at best with no promo.
I’ve lost interest in Absentia and Katic as well as am enjoying a plethora of outstanding TV shows already on with promo’s of many more to come!
Bored now!
Bye!
Boo Hodges
November 12, 2017 @ 11:56 am
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Whoever handled the marketing badly misread the public and overplayed their hand. I do still appreciate Ms. Katic’s talent but I am disappointed—as I am sure many others are.