Catacombs Reference LibraryTrade Press
1975 Ratings Far Out
Catacombs Reference Library
BackStage, 3 October, 1975. BackStage is a trade weekly, published since 1960.
By Ted Green
All the advance P.R. on Space: 1999 promised that the new science fiction series, starring Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, would be the most successful new show this season.
I've just seen some of the ratings from around the country, and ITC's claims seem to be coming true. In New York WPIX scored with a 17 rating and 36 share average for the hour.
At 7:00 when it was opposite the Family Hour shows, Space: 1999 achieved an 18 rating and 37 share, as compared to Disney with an 8 rating and 16 share, Three for the Road, 8 rating and 18 share and Swiss Family Robinson with a 6 rating and 13 share.
Results around the country are similarly outstanding. In Los Angeles on RKO General's KHJ, during its third outing; Space: 1999 won a whopping 10 rating and 21 share of audience, beating all competition.
In Indianapolis Space: 1999 on WLWI, the ABC affiliate, drew an 18 rating and 42 share, higher than the combined rating and share of the CBS and NBC affiliates.
In Cleveland Space: 1999 is running on Independent UHF station WUAB. It achieved a No.1 position in its time period, opposite its affiliates with a 15 rating and 32 share, one of the best for a UHF station.
This pillar will keep on checking out on Space: 1999's ratings just in order to convince ourselves what we have predicted.
Friday 23 April 1976 page 8 centrefold and reverse. This is ITC promotional copy, with some oddly misspelled character names, and the music credit still assigned to Barry Gray and Vic Elms.
Back Stage expanded its syndication coverage by inaugurating last year this new department, the only one Of its kind in the industry. Periodically, we present a complete PROGRAM PROFILE of a new television property. In this profile, we outline every pertinent fact about both the property and the producer. We hope you find it helpful and informative.
The First Year of Space: 1999 marked a new chapter in television history as the widely sold first-run series throughout the world.
The Second Year of this spectacular space sci-fi series includes many new exciting elements to make Space: 1999 even more successful.
Added to the roster of stars are Catherine Schell and Tony Anholt, (see separate stories) in addition to new producer-story edit«r Fred Freiberger (see separate story).
Starring Martin landau and Barbara Bain and also starring Catherine Schell. Space: 1999 is the sci-fi series of the 1970's, the only new sci-fi series being telecast.
It is a distinction recognized by audiences throughout the world, evidenced by winning ratings, not only in significant U.S. markets, but in other countries as well.
In the U.S., of all prime time access shows. Space: 1999 is #1 among men and women, 18-49 per 100 households delivered, according to ARB Reports.
The popularity of Space: 1999 also is evidenced by nearly 300,000 fan letters received by ITC and the formation of Space: 1999 fan clubs all over the world.
Also, ITC has so far licensed no less than 176 different items for merchandising.
Hollywood also recognizes great popularity of sci-fi entertainment. Major motion picture studios are currently producing 16 major sci-fi films at a cost in excess of $100,000,000.
All these factors make Space: 1999 one of the hottest first run one hour series, with immediate renewals in markets representing 57.3% of total U.S. TV homes, as well as renewals in 73 countries around the world, including Canada's CBC English and French networks.
The Space: 1999 Network, which marked the first time in television history that a network of stations was formed to launch a brand new series, plays a prominent role for the Second Year of Space: 1999.
The Space: 1999 Network was organized by ITC in order to mount one of the most extensive promotion, publicity and advertising campaigns ever on behalf of a television series.
In order to quickly communicate the avalanche of ad-promo-publicity developments among stations telecasting Space: 1999, the Space:1999 Network Newsletter was born and in successive newsletters, affiliates of Space: 1999 exchanged local ideas and were alerted to all the facets of ITC's vast promo-publicity-ad campaign.
A brief summary of the activities of the Space: 1999 Network the First Year furnishes an insight into what is planned for the Second Year, for which an even greater multi-media advertising, promotion and publicity campaign is planned.
An unprecedented two-page colour spread in TV GUIDE launched the national magazine editorial coverage of Space: 1999, which embraced Time and Newsweek, as well as virtually every other leading publication.
Personal appearances by Martin Landau and Barbara Bain on "The Merv Griffin Show," "Dinah", "Mike Douglas", "Johnny Carson", "A.M. America." as well as other shows. more
Space: 1999 costumes were toured in various markets, where they were showcased in department stores, shopping malls, and winning coverage in newspapers throughout the country.
Personalized promos for all Space: 1999 stations.
Periodic alerts on the availabilities of Space: 1999 merchandising, from Pocket Books to Dinky Toy's Eagles. (Now, in the Second Year, with all manufacturers tooled up, there will be an avalanche of merchandising product.)
Screenings Of Space: 1999 were held in planetariums of major cities, accompanied by fulsome press coverage. Many stations also screened Space: 1999 as a high-light of their fall premiere parties for VIPs and local press.
ITC prepared full page, half-page, quarter page ads for newspapers and TV Guides.
The "recommended viewing" endorsement of the National Space Institute by NSl's president Dr. Wernher von Braun, welcomed Space: 1999 for imaginatively capturing "the excitement of living in incredible age of space."
All the activities of the SPACE: 1999 Network serve as the launching pad for "Space: 1999, Year TWO."
More world-famed stars, additional exciting dramatic elements, and even more spectacular special effects highlight the Second Year of SPACE: 1999, starring Martin Landau and Barbara Bain and also starring Catherine Schell.
The highly successful space science fiction series is the most expensive series in the history of television, with the Second Year Budget increased to $300,000 per episode for a record of $7,200,000.
Fred Freiberger. one of the most gifted sci-fi producer-story editors, formerly of "Star Trek." is the new producer-story editor of Year Two, with Gerry Anderson executive producer.
Commander John Koenig and Dr. Helena Russell, the roles played by the husband and wife starring team of Martin landau and Rarbara Rain, assume new multi-dimensional roles in Year Two.
A romantic relationship develops between Commander Koening (Martin Landau) and Dr. Russel (Barbara Bain) in line with the Second Year concept to wed the dazzling technology and special effects evidenced in Year One, with the inherent humanity of the characters.
Starring with the Landaus in the Second Year is Catherine Schell, star or ITC's motion picture The Return of the Pink Panther, the highest grossing comedy of all time.
In a competitive field of international stars, beautiful Catherine Schell was selected to play the coveted role of the resident alien Maya, a new incredibly exciting and enchanting character.
Also new to the continuing, starring cast is Tony Anholt, star of the television series The Protectors, who, in the Second Year, is one of the key Alphans on Moonbase Alpha, which was hurled into a fantastic journey into space when a thermonuclear explosion swept the moon out of Earth's orbit.
A romantic relationship also exists in Year Two between Tony Verdeschi, portrayed by Tony Anholt, and Maya (Catherine Schell).
Humour, in a sci-fi setting, is another key ingredient of Year Two, as the Alphans continue their adventure in space.
Twenty. four brand new hours of fast-paced, extraordinary space fantasies, rich in suspense, humour, action.
New incredible sci-fi characters of the exciting, enchanting and fabulous dimensions.
New, dazzling, never before seen special effects, devised under the supervision of Brian Johnson, responsible for the amazing effects seen in Year One of SPACE: 1999.
New, fabulous, sci-fi high fashion costumes, for the many beautiful women in the cast, with the accent underscoring femininity and glamour, designed by Keith Wilson.
In order to provide safety from radiation, Moonbase Alpha goes underground the Second Year, with landing and take-off pads and other external essentials remaining on the surface.
Also featured is new out-of-this-world original sci-fi music.
An even greater multi-media advertising-promotion-publicity campaign is committed for the Second Year.
Catherine Schell, star of ITC's motion picture, The Return of the Pink Panther, the highest grossing comedy Of all-time, plays tbe coveted role of the resident alien, Maya, in Space: 1999 starring Martin Landau and Barbara Bain.
The introduction of Catherine Schell to play the incredibly exciting and enchanting resident alien, Maya, came after a series of casting conferences held by Fred Freiberger, the producer of Space: 1999 and Gerry Anderson, executive producer, in which top stars from throughout the world were considered.
In Catherine Schell's new role as Maya, she possesses the incredible power of molecular transformation, an unlimited ability to transform herself into fascinating creatures and other life forms, including a lioness, a panther. a tigress, a dove, a dolphin and more, as well as different human beings and beings never before imagined. She also possesses a computer brain, so fantastic it defies all scientific experience and explanation.
It is a role which intensifies the excitement of the sci-fi adventures of the Alphans as they seek to find a compatible planet to Earth.
Catherine Schell is no stranger to Space: 1999 since she has guest starred in the episode "Guardian Of Piri".
Recently winning world-wide acclaim for her performance with Peter Sellers in The Return of the Pink Panther, Miss Schell has a host of motion picture and television credits, including the feature film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and television series such The Persuaders, The Adventurer, and The Rivals to Sherlock Holmes.
Tony Anholt. star of The Protectors, joins the Second Year of SPACE: 1999, portraying Tony Verdeschi, described as "the most dynamic adventurer in the universe", a new continuing character in SPACE: 1999.
As a key Alphan leader, Tony develops a romantic relationship with Maya, the resident alien possessing the incredible power of molecular transformation, portrayed by Catherine Schell.
A world popular performer, Anholt's stage credits include "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", "The Importance of Being Earnest", "Enemy of the People" and "Boys in the Band".
Fred Freiberger, one of the world's most gifted sci-fi producer-story editors, formerly of Star Trek, is the new producer-story editor of "Space: 1999, Year Two," which stars Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and also Catherine Schell, in 24 brand new hours of spectacular sci-fi entertainment.
Freiberger said the Year will feature greater depths in the relationships between the characters.
"Romantic are being developed, with emphasis on the love relationship between Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) and Dr. Helena Russell (Barbara Rain) as well as between other characters from time to time." Freiberger explained.
There will also be a humour in the series, stemming from situations and characterizations.
"Barbara Bain is a naturally warm and vibrant person, with a sense of humour, and we are exploiting these qualities." he added.
Fred Freiberger's producing and writing credits, in addition to Star Trek, include Wild. Wild, West, Ben Casey, and Slattery's People.
Freiberger has thirteen feature film credits as a script writer, among them Beast from 20.000 Fathoms and Crash Landing.
Space: 1999 copyright ITV Studios Global Entertainment