Life on the Fast Track

The curious case of fast tracking television to Australia

You know the thing that the earth does, with the sun and the rotating and such. It’s a phenomenon that means that us here in the southern hemisphere are getting sun burnt and sweaty while those in the north are chilling out with their frostbite, and then visa versa, versa visa.

Now you may ask yourself, why the clearly in-depth, well thought out science lesson, it is because these subtle differences in hemispheres, that have a very significant effect on what television programs are shown when in Australia.

For those who watch television and I hear that's a few people, more than two at least, it has meant  that for a very long period of time a television program that run in America could be done and dusted twice over in its homeland before trickling slowly, if ever, to the land down under.

Now that was fine, the circle of life, it was filmed there, they win and it didn't matter that much.

That was however was before the magical creation of the Internet. This newfangled invention has meant that Australian audiences have access to television programs as they air in America that was never possible before.

Hence Fast Tracking, Television stations airing returning and new TV shows as close to the American air date as they possibly can.

On Wednesday the 19th of September Fox 8 will be premiering Revolution, a brand new series created by Eric Kripke (Supernatural) and produced by J.J Abrams (everything) is broadcasting the show 'Express from the US'’ after it airs on NBC.

 It is one of many of shows that the station is bringing forward advertising new shows 666 Park Avenue and returning shows Gossip Girl (season 6) Hart of Dixie (season 2) and Grimm (season 2) all 'Express from the US’.

 Alongside it, FX will be airing the first episode of season 2 of The Walking Dead  hours after it premieres in the US and free to air channels like Channel 7 have announced that they will be fast tracking the 9th season of Grey's Anatomy

So what’s the problem then? Simply put: summer time.

At the same time as our shows are going into hibernation for the summer, the American programs are just ramping. With new seasons having only started  in September, they are heading into a period known as 'November Sweeps' the highest rating period, when shows pulled out all the twists, turns and celebrity cameos to get viewers to watch.

Therefore shows that have been fast tracked to Australia are stopped only a few episodes into a season and are half over in America by the time they are brought back in January or February.

Now what are the options?

- Fast track and air them over the summer following the same breaks between episodes as overseas (American shows have mini hiatuses throughout the season including a mid-season hiatus into the new year) The risk being that shows do not rate well over the Summer period, therefore they risk shows being pulled due to lack of viewers before getting a chance to build a fan base and less revenue from advertising.

- Fast track and air the first few episodes before pulling it for the summer non-rating period. Meaning that the audience who is getting into a show have to now wait for a few months until it starts again, by that time the United States is well into the season.

-Wait and start the season next year, meaning that audiences may have already watched it online or it the case of shows like Revenge and Once upon a time after months of constant advertising, having to rush through episodes airing sometime more than once or twice a week to catch up, as the show has already finished overseas. But on the flip side they will be airing the programs for a larger viewership than they would over the summer months.

Now on one hand I am excited to get shows like The Walking Dead as soon as possible and will be shamelessly begging Fox 8 to air the next season of the Vampire Diaries as soon as it airs in America, but on the other I understand that Television networks do need to make money through advertising to function and keep airing the shows we love as well as having to board members etc therefore cannot run shows during times that don't rate well.

I have no affirmative answers that would make everyone happy, so I wanted to open it to debate.

How do you think Australian TV stations should go about airing American TV shows? Do you mind waiting? If they did run them over summer would you stay in to watch?

Let me know in the comments below, I'm really interested to hear your thoughts.