Date: 7/23/99
From: QuinnisHot

I've been reading the other posts and most of them say
it's cancelled because of people complaining. If they didn't like it
why did they even care about saying it? If they hadn't of there
would be a 6th season. I just started watching it a couple
months ago and I love it. I just wish I could have known about it
when it started. I didn't watch too much TV then. If everone who really likes Sliders would write or e-mail the producer or somebody else who could help we could save Sliders. The original Quinn
might be gone, but let's give the new one a chance. And Diana
might not be Wade, but she's better then nothing. PLEASE everyone
I want to keep Sliders alive.

There's more to it than just that

Date: 7/23/99
From: Executive

I don't have to again explain why I feel the show has been so awful this season (so far that is, but I am still looking forward to some upcoming episodes). The real reason is the ratings *. When SLIDERS started on the Sci-Fi Channel last year, the "Genesis" season premiere got a 2.2 and "Prophets and Loss" airing right after it the same evening (June 8, 1998) scored a 2.4. In the weeks that followed the ratings started to plummet and for a long time the show was coming in at around a 1.8 in the Nielsens. This year it has yet to top a 1.4 (and has sometimes gotten even less) so to say the show is still doing well is simply not the case!

Now SLIDERS may still be one of the highest rated shows on the Sci-Fi Channel, but that's saying nothing considering that TBS and USA continue to dominate basic cable ratings with numbers well into the 3 range. ALL of the Sci-Fi Channel's shows are low-rated by comparison. "First Wave" has a 3 year committment, so no matter how bad its ratings are it will continue on the channel until at least 2001. "Farscape" isn't doing much better than SLIDERS, but as * the * highest rated show on the channel the execs aren't letting go of it just yet. As was mentioned in the Sci-Fi Wire column, the channel feels that SLIDERS has run its course. There is a very good possibility that the hate mail and postings on the new season may have been a contributing factor, but ultimately it always comes down to ratings performance.

* 1 ratings point = 980,000 viewers (approximate)


THE EXECUTIVE

That's interesting...

Date: 7/24/99
From: TemporalFlux

If ratings was such a major factor, then why didn't the official report say so? Ratings for the entire network have down since last year (the best of the channel rarely goes above 1.4 now)...but Executive places all the blame on Sliders back. It's all their fault for the *entire* channel going down the tubes.

I would also like to point that he has given false information (once again). 1 ratings point on Sci-Fi does not equal 980,000 viewers. That is the network standard...NOT the cable standard. The cable standard is closer to 490,000 per point. If you don't believe, ask somebody who actually works with television and posts ratings like Sci-Fi Wire -

scifiwire@scifi.com

They will confirm that number Exec gave you is wrong...

Basically what you have here is a man who hasn't kept up with any of it but acts like he knows everything. Reader beware. And I'm sure he'll spout off some crap about he does keep up with it...but don't take my word for it. Ask the people who work with this stuff. That's what I did to learn...Exec could have done that too by now, but he enjoys misleading people too much.

Tf
temporalflux@hotmail.com
http://www.dimensionofcontinuity.com

And if I may add...

Date: 7/24/99
From: TemporalFlux

Those ratings on season five so far are what almost saved the show. The decision even before season five was to cancel (because of Jerry leaving after they committed to season five)...but the surprisingly good ratings of season five made Sci-Fi take pause. The third episode of season actually did better than the first (The Premiere was a 1.3 - Episode 3 was a 1.4)...and considering that the Execs were expecting the ratings to halve without O'Connell, this took them by surprise. Season Five was also doing better than most of the last season four episodes (most of which got a 1.1).

There was no plummett...season five was actually improving the ratings. But ultimately Sci-Fi stuck with their original plan of cancellation despite this...mainly because they had already committed to some other programming when they thought Sliders would be gone.

The decision to cancel Sliders was not lightly made...and some Execs are still wondering if the right decision was made. Take that for you will...the ratings info can be proven by Sci-Fi Wire if need be. The rest I doubt you'll ever see Sci-Fi admit...the closest you'll see to that is the press release at Sci-Fi Wire now...where they basically state their reason was because of O'Connell leaving. That's the truth...and they couldn't say they cancelled due to low ratings because we have the info and we know they would be lying.

Tf
temporalflux@hotmail.com
http://www.dimensionofcontinuity.com

Proof that Flux is lying to you

Date: 7/24/99
From: Executive

First of all, if Temporal Flux even read my previous post he would see that I am * NOT * putting the blame entirely on SLIDERS. All of the channel's programming is in trouble. And even he can't honestly deny that the ratings for SLIDERS this year are lower than the previous season. People have left this show in droves!

1 ratings point is equal to approximately 980,000 viewers for both network TV and basic cable as well. In fact in some cases it's even tabulated at over a million. Take a look at the Nielsen cable rankings at this site:

www.ultimatetv.com/news/nielsen


Click on Cable Networks (as of this writing it's July 5 to 11). The highest rated show was WWF Wrestling on USA, which had a 4.7 rating -- equal to an approximate number of 4,714,000 (listed on the right side of the screen). You don't need a calculator to see that is a LOT closer to the figure I gave you than the one Flux listed. The #15 rated show that week had a 2.2 rating -- far and above anything on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Hey TF, you're on the new Price is Right -- but don't come on down! LOL!!


THE EXECUTIVE

The Ultimate Proof

Date: 7/25/99
From: TemporalFlux

You look no farther than the official *Sci-Fi Channel* report from June of 1998:

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue72/news.html

(look about half way down the page)

There you will find something amazing. The report states that the premiere garned a 2.2 (1,072,00 viewers) and the 2nd ep garnered a 2.4 (1,168,00 viewers). Now, let's do the math, shall we? What's 2.2 times 980,000? Is that the number in the Sci-Fi Channel report? No...the number comes closer to 2.2 times 490,000. Right?

You are dealing with an unabridged dumbass in Executive. I'm sure he'll come back and tell that you Sci-Fi Channel was wrong...you see, everyone is wrong but him. And if you don't believe what I gave is the official Sci-Fi statement, then try typing in just the first part of the address I gave...http://www.scifi.com See where it takes you.

Anyone should have enough to make up their own mind with this last bit from me...the man doesn't research anything he talks about...he lives in his own little demented world where he is never wrong no matter what. He has no intelligence and doesn't even *try* to understand any of this stuff he's talking to you about. It's pathetic...and it makes me sad that there are people like him in the world.

Tf
temporalflux@hotmail.com
http://www.dimensionofcontinuity.com

So you doubt the Ultimate TV site?

Date: 7/26/99
From: Executive

Then, you sir are the dumbass!! You obviously don't know how to add because the 4.7 rating translating into 4,700,000 for WWF Wrestling on USA is clearly equal to 1 million per rating point. So as far as figuring ratings goes, the Sci-Fi channel is no different because it too is basic cable and owned by the USA Network. My information is 100% accurate, and I couldn't have said it if it wasn't true. The proof stares you right in the face on that site and you choose to ignore it.

UltimateTV is one of the most reliable sources, and it is a big part of their business to report ratings. Obviously you're just all broken up that SLIDERS was cancelled and you're taking it out on me.

Original URL http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/9520