Battlestar Galactica could move to NBC... We mean it

Yes, you have heard this story many, many, many, many times before. But thanks to this little event expected to begin next week known as the Writers Guild of America strike, there is a good chance that you may find some of your favorite shows like "Battlestar Galactica" and "The 4400" coming to a network near you.
Al Norton, the TV editor for Boston Now says it's a real possibility as networks scramble to find scripted programs that aren't simply reruns from their existing shows.

And it's a different world in television than it was in 1988 when writers struck for 22 weeks, causing many shows to bring down their tents midway through the season. Even "Star Trek: The Next Generation" tried to get around it all by digging up old scripts from "Star Trek: Phase II," but most shows don't have those kinds of luxuries.

Today, however, many networks own multiple cable channels, and nearly all of those have some kind of original programming or another. So don't be surprised if "Heroes" gets replaced by NBCU's SciFi Channel programming like "Battlestar Galactica," or even a watered down "Nip/Tuck" joining reality programming on Fox.

NBC Universal probably has the biggest library of cable programming to pull from thanks to owning both SciFi Channel and USA Network where they could easily start adding previously aired shows like "Psych," "Monk" and "The 4400" to the main network schedule. TNT isn't owned by a company that also owns a major network, but Time Warner officials reportedly are offering "The Closer" to networks ... for a price, of course.

"Battlestar Galactica" could be the biggest beneficiary. Although it's clear that a strike would delay production on the show's final season (and likely ensuring that the last 10 episodes will air in 2009), NBC could opt to start the entire show from the beginning or even start picking and choosing episodes it feels will draw viewers when they run out of existing scripted programs. "The 4400" -- which is possibly facing cancellation after a not-so-stellar fourth season -- may get new life with a run on NBC as well.

One thing to remember, however, is that not every show airing on cable is immediately available to the networks. "Stargate: Atlantis," for instance, is not owned by NBCU, and if it were to appear on any network, it would be after they negotiated with MGM.

Of course, no decisions have been made by any network as of yet. And while writers overwhelmingly voted to strike beginning Nov. 1, there are no guarantees that they actually will strike beginning a week from Thursday. So all you can do is keep watching, and see what happens.

well, I can see that TDZ, went at least 2 times over the 4400, otherwise we were always a little behind them (as to be expected, I assume). I aggree that The 4400 is a very serialized show and you need to know it's backstory. However, TDZ, isin't much seriallized, well in the last 3 seasons there's only been a handful of episodes that been about the ongoing storyarc.

I hope that both shows get renewed, as The 4400 season finale ended in a very interesting place, and I would love to see how they will go from there, story-wise.

Shawn Piller has said that they have material worth 7 seasons of TDZ. Here's hoping !

I want to know here, is there much interest from people to start a campaing to get TDZ renewed, or perhaps we can join the 4400 campain and ask that both series be renewed ! "Sunday night isin't a Sunday night without my shows"

I've watched The 4400 from the start. It's very serialized and so far 'out there' these days that I'm not at all surprised it's on the bubble. Sadly, execs have paired the two so it's logical to think that as The 4400 goes so does DZ. Not fair, but logical. I could care less if The 4400 is renewed but I would happily write a letter in support of The Dead Zone. Even if renewal consisted of a short run to wrap the series.

I'm not sure TDZ fan base is large enough to support a campaign on its own.

I do think NBC should put it on the main network and give it a real chance to compete. All the networks will be in the same boat if the writers strike happens and TDZ might finally get its chance to prove that it was the first and best of the paranormal shows now peppering the airwaves.

But then what do I know? I'm only a loyal viewer!

To the contrary, season 6 went out with a very weak wimper and deserves a much much MUCH more fulfilling and respectable finale than that below average ending they gave us. there was nothing there at all..