This morning, Stargate enthusiasts Rita and Rebekah forwarded me a list of some 30 more fan sites to go with the 40 or so sites you’ve all been kind enough to send my way. These Stargate fan communities boast a combined membership of just under 4 million. Of course when you account for crossover, attrition, Russian bots, and those who signed up in the mistaken assumption they were joining a fan club for the Norwegian music producers of the same name, you can conservatively place our core army at, roughly, 2 million. Give or take.
Not bad.
Over the next few days, our job will be to reach out to these various communities worldwide and enlist them in the cause.
Our mission is simple: Let MGM know that Stargate fandom remains strong and eager to support a new series that has its roots in the television franchise Brad Wright and Robert Cooper created. Convince them that they don’t have to choose between old fans and new viewers. By green lighting an in-canon fourth series that breaks new ground, introducing new characters, new settings, and new stories, they – and fandom – they can have the best of both worlds.
Coincidentally, I came across this article today: The New Economics of TV’s Reboot Craze. The title is somewhat inaccurate as the piece focuses on not just reboots but revivals as well (which is what we’re talking about here), but one section really drives home the point I’m trying to make with this campaign:
“How do you break through the clutter when there are 20 places to sell a show? The marketing and promo folks will always tell you, ‘Give me a title. Give me a star. Give me something where I’m not starting from scratch.’ And, in many cases, these series come with built-in, contemporary fan bases through years of original series reruns on both cable and streaming platforms.”
Are you kidding me? Stargate comes with one of the biggest of built-in, contemporary fan bases, a core audience (to add to all those new viewers who’ll be discovering the gate for the first time) that will not only tune in but help get the word out. THEY are your ready-to-go marketing campaign!
But first things first. The biggest challenge this campaign faces is focusing the energies of Stargate fandom. To do that, we need to target one social media platform with a single monumental event. And this is why I’m asking you (to ask your fellow fans) to head on over to twitter, join up, and follow @StargateNow. The only thing it will cost you is a little time now and a little more time when Stargate fandom comes together in a massive show of force.
P.S. I see that @StargateNow has already amassed over 3000 followers in the short time it’s been active. This bodes VERY WELL.
Alright, that’s it for now. If you enjoyed any of the Stargate shows in the past, be it SG-1, Atlantis, or Universe, mourned the absence of old favorites like Jack and Sam, John and Rodney, or Eli and Rush, yearned to do something, anything, that could open the door to more adventures through the gate – well step up because we’re going to need your support to get this done.
With that said, I return this blog to it’s previously scheduled entry: My Favorite Comic Book Covers of the Week!
The Amazing Spiderman #796
Cover art by Alex Ross
Batman #41
Cover art by Mikel Janin
Doctor Strange: Damnation #1
Cover art by Rod Reis
Horizon #18
Cover art by Jason Howard
Quantum and Woody #3
Cover art by Julian Totino Tedesco=
Sole Survivor #1
Cover art by Daniel Pez Lopez
So, what do you think?
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