The X-Files is returning to Fox as a limited series event with a six-episode order thats set to begin production later this year. Of course the news met yesterday with massive excitement among fans particularly on social media. However while its exciting the truth of the matter is this revival has nothing to do with making those fans happy.
It also has nothing to do with bringing closure to the shows loose plot threads. In fact it does not even have anything to do with Fox trying to land a giant Nielsen score upon the revivals premiere. No all the X-Files reboot has to do with is a deal for the shows exclusive streaming rights.
Back in November 2013 we discussed the reason why Nikita The CWs painfully low rated action series was given a final six episode season that would not ultimately bring its total to the 88 episode minimum required for traditional syndication. The conclusion was rather simple a series that concludes with a six episode wrap up would be more viable to outlets like Netflix and Amazon since a show that has ended properly is more likely to be watched by customers on the service than one that did not. Similarly this is what The X Files revival is really about.Just prior to its return last May Fox struck a lucrative streaming deal with Amazon for the entire canon of 24.
Previously the show had been available on both Amazon and Netflix. The fact that Live Another Day was to follow only a short few weeks later made what was a dead property a hot commodity. Essentially 24 became found money. The mistake however was in the money Fox spent to bring Jack Bauer back to life and this is a mistake it is not about to make again the explaining the short order 6 episode season.
A revival of The X Files means all of the shows previous work is valuable again. Old fans are going to start re watching it and newcomers are going to start seeking it out in order to get caught up before the premiere. The reason this matters is because Fox can use that leverage to strike yet another highly valuable streaming deal with one of the big three Netflix Amazon and Hulu to make some serious money off the currently dead series.
Just as Transformers movies are about selling toys more than movie tickets a new X Files is all about selling Netflix subscriptions more than it is about Nielsen ratings. Fox does not actually care that people want a new season of The X-Files but they do care that Netflix would pay big money to stream the show exclusively in order to allow people the chance to catch up beforehand. Like 24 X Files is now nothing more than found money for 20th Century Fox Television.
0 Comments