From: "Robert Ashley Ruiz" (cybrarian@cybrary1999-4tag.com) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 12:34:39 +0000 Subject: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 CC: jscott@d44super.net (jerry scott) Jerry Scott and the other Campaign organizers have made some progress with PolyGram and now Steve Scherri of PolyGram is asking for input on how to market the series. If you have thoughts on how the series might be successfully marketed, please discuss them on the list with the above thread subject line. FYI, according to Mr. Scherri's e-mail, Space: 1999 is going on sale in Australia in October of this year. >Dear Jerry, > >PolyGram Australia will be releasing the Entire Space 1999 series to the >Australian Public on VHS October 1998. I am also keen sci-fi fan and >want to thank you for your efforts to bring to our attention your >interest in the series. > >I am responsible for Video Sell-thru Sales and Marketing in Australia. >Any thoughts you may have on how to promote the series would be >appreciated. > >All the best, regards, > >Steve Scherri
From: "Robert Ashley Ruiz" (cybrarian@cybrary1999-4tag.com) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 07:10:57 +0000 Subject: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 Not one response to PolyGram asking for input on marketing the series? I'm surprised. Every day it seems someone writes "I wish..." or "When are they going to do..." and here you've got someone at PolyGram asking for your input and saying in essence "I value your opinion and I'm willing to listen to (and pass on) suggestions," and no responses? I just don't get it.
From: "Simon Morris" (simes01@global44net.co.uk) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 14:26:58 +0100 Hello Robert and Everyone Else Maybe I have missed some mail or something,as I must be honest I don't know what you're referring to here. I have written to PolyGram UK before - as indeed have others - but apart from a terse "Your comments have been passed to the appropriate department" I have never heard one thing from them. And thats more than a lot of others have ever received,I'd like to add! Anyhow,if you'll just clarify your last post(like I say I must be missing some mail as its news to me...)I'll certainly give PG some feedback. But call me cynical....I really doubt how effective it'll be. But I'll certainly have a good try. Regards Simon
From: LKJ1999@aol4tag.com Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 09:29:12 EDT Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 What do You mean by marketing S-1999?? Do You mean Polygram, bringing S-1999 out on DVD?? I really don't think we will see S-1999 on DVD! I hope i'm wrong... Chas P. LKJ1999
From: "Robert Ashley Ruiz" (cybrarian@cybrary1999-4tag.com) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 09:01:48 +0000 Subject: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 For those who asked, the e-mail [at top] is what I'm referring to. I got it back through the list mail so I assume you all did too? Maybe not. Anyway, Steve Scherri of PolyGram Australia is asking for input on marketing the series. Input to PolyGram Australia will be shared with all the other parts of PolyGram. Now's your chance, so I hope we hear some input on this. Thanks!
From: "Atomic Possum" (atomicpossum@toast4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 09:17:51 -0500 I'm not sure what they're asking for. Do they want advice on WHAT to release, HOW to release it, or HOW to market it? WHAT to release--most of the live action ITC stuff. DVD is a collectors market- The Prisoner (Polygram owns this, right?) and 1999 would be great to see on DVD, although The Prisoner is the more marketable product. 1999 would need a little more of a push, but would probably have a good core market that would be very dedicated purchasers. Reaching the general public would be more of a challenge with that, but perhaps a good series of mid-priced, commercial videotapes--much like LOST IN SPACE has recently done. UFO--I don't know quite how to move that in the mass market...I think it lacks the identity with the mainstream public that 1999 might command, given Landau and Bain and the bigger syndication it had in the US. TOYS! Most people in the 25-35 age group will probably have some memory of the Eagle...a good, mass-market model kit would sell wonderfully WORLDWIDE. The UFO vehicles, all the puppet show hardwares. I mean, if you don't think of toy possibilities when you think Gerry Anderson shows, what is wrong with you? MARKETING-- To market 1999, exploit its strengths--the stars, Landau (Oscar boy), Bain (Mrs. Landau, and Cinnamon Carter), and Barry (I'll get you, Richard Kimble) Morse...put them on every box cover. Tie it in to the year being 1999. Mention the SFX by guys who did STAR WARS. Hit the nostalgia buttons....get the people who were kids then who now have money to spend on neat stuff. Play up the special effects--with the way Hollywood has trained people to think about SF, that is what they will require to remember it. I'm afraid if they want to do some numbers in the US, they will have to trigger people's memories and give people with no memories of this stuff some new ones. I don't know if there's enough identity to some of these shows here in the US to catch the interest of the mass market unless the mass market is educated first. If the fans and collectors are the people you are trying to reach, proceed....they are ready and willing. And, of course, who would mess with a kid that came to school carrying a "Prisoner" lunch box? :-) Jon "Mr. Wonderful" Stadter
From: "Brian Dowling" (brian@hellion4tag.prestel.co.uk) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:23:37 +0100 Subject: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space: 1999 > Not one response to PolyGram asking for input on marketing the > series? I'm surprised. I must have missed that post - skim reading and watching England's cricketers take a pounding don't go together too well... As far as marketing Space:1999 is concerned... (I'll try not to sound off, but apologies if I do - no offence intended to any list members) If you're going to make an effort to market the show, don't just limit it to back page ads in SFX, Cult TV and Bizarre. The current crop of Blake's 7 anniversary releases are supposed to have a full advertising campaign, and I have seen only 2 13x2 ads over the last three months! There has been nothing obvious in stores to publicise these releases aside from the stock on the shelves. And that brings me to another point - availability and release dates. As I recall, volume 19 was a bit late coming out, as were volumes 20 to 24 - the "missing episodes" from the compilations. Please don't put out release dates which you're not going to be able to meet - it gets up people's noses and demotivates them to continue collecting. I'm now ordering the Blake's 7 tapes via mail order because nobody seems to have them round Birmingham! Decent availability would be a very good thing. Why are release dates so damned difficult to get hold of anyway? If you want people to collect the product, surely the release dates ought to be publicised - the Space:1999 webring sites are ideal outlets to carry such information. Still on videos or DVDs, cover artwork makes a big impression. The UK videos are full of reverse images. The people who put those covers together may have never seen the show, but someone should have picked these mistakes up when checking them over. I say it on the UKVL, and I will say it again here - it's sloppy. It detracts from the quality of the product and its collectability. Tape quality is another issue. That is, if you're still talking about videos. Please use decent quality tapes - these will be kept and viewed time and again, and the last thing anyone wants is for them to become unwatchable after a year or so. By example, the BBC showings of Space:1999 look so much better than the videos so many of us bought from 1991 onwards. Sure, that's because they're remastered. OK, what about the 1994 showing of War Games by the BBC - I taped that on my uncle's near knackered VCR and it has enjoyed repeated viewings over the following 4 years. I compare that to the PolyGram Video version from January 1997, and the older, home taped one is still of better quality than the one I paid twelve quid for. There is much about the show which can be used for good publicity - the hardware for a start. Wouldn't it be cool to walk into your local video store and see an Eagle on the sales counter or hanging from the ceiling? Let's not forget that the Eagle Dinky toy was the most popular of that kind - even today people still recognise Eagles. The year 1999 has enough potential on its own - it's a chance to compare the vision of the series with what has actually come to pass. In many ways, Space:1999 is far more accurate a predictor of man's progress than Star Trek, B7 or Doctor Who. After all of the interest in the other planets in the solar system, interest has returned once again to the Moon, with talk of a base there and the discovery of water on the Moon's surface. The responses I got to my Space:1999 wish list mail a while back made interesting reading. From rereleasing the episodes in NTSC format (remastered, of course), through soundtracks (again remastered), new novels, patches, jackets, accurate models, commlocks with assorted functions, publication of scripts, director's cuts of episodes, new Dinky toys of spaceships, Space:1999 Multimedia reference CD (show those Star Trek guys how it should be done!), and a new book that the cast and crew are involved in creating -- each with their own section. Everything as authentic as possible, cost be damned. That last suggestion from Robert himself. Publicity shouldn't be too much of a problem - everyone has heard of Gerry Anderson, Martin Landau is an Oscar winner and involved in the X-Files movie, the guest star list speaks for itself, and many of the series crew have good reputations from larger projects before and after Space:1999. PolyGram do have very adequate resources available for a good, widespread publicity campaign. If the quality of the products are good - I don't believe that we're going to buy any old crap - the producers of the merchandise are honest with us about release dates, publicity materials et cetera, the products themselves available to a wide audience to pick up the impulse buyer, and the prices reasonable then I think that Space:1999 will sell. We should make ourselves heard, or we could find ourselves wondering "Why have PolyGram licensed this crap, when if they had asked us...". We know that Space:1999 is enjoying rediscovery all over the world - let's help to spread this rediscovery! Brian Dowling
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com) Subject: Space1999: The Australian Campaign Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:17:27 EDT I am a bit loss on this Australia campaign we are supposed to be responding too. It is great news that Polygram will be doing an Australian release and that they are asking for us - the fans - for help in marketing it. (Although it scares me that this is Polygram's job and they don't know how to deal with it!) However, if we are to respond who do we respond to? The message posted to the list speaks of the Australian division asking for our help but the message doesn't tell us who or what we are suppose to be sending our ideas to. Do we just talk about it on the list? Do we send the ideas to Daphne and Jerry's 1999 Campaign site? Do we send them to Polygram? I have some thought but would like to know where to send them off to! David Acheson
From: "Robert Ashley Ruiz" (cybrarian@cybrary1999-4tag.com) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:25:32 +0000 Subject: Space1999: Re: The Australian Campaign Discuss on the list. Catherine and the other campaign people will monitor the list and forward ideas on to Polygram. This is not just for an Australian marketing campaign, but marketing in general. An Australian success will trickle to the rest of PolyGram so don't think of it as just for the Australian campaign. Robert Ruiz
From: "Brian Dowling" (brian@hellion.prestel4tag.co.uk) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:36:34 +0100 Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 > I'm not sure what they're asking for. Do they want advice on WHAT to > release, HOW to release it, or HOW to market it? Maybe all three. Space:1999 hasn't been seen over there for the last 20 years! > although The Prisoner is the more marketable product. A Prisoner 2 box set has been released in the UK, but on VHS only. PolyGram does release DVD stuff, so I can't understand why they didn't put Prisoner out on DVD. It would have been the motivation I needed to get a DVD drive! > 1999 would need a little more of a push, but would probably have a > good core market that would be very dedicated purchasers. Like Thunderbirds, Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Babylon 5, X-Files over here. > Reaching the general public would be more of a challenge May be true in the US, but in the UK there was virtually no publicity for any of the ITC video releases! And yet they still sold well! > TOYS! Most people in the 25-35 age group will probably have some > memory of the Eagle...a good, mass-market model kit would sell wonderfully > WORLDWIDE. Oh, the number of times people have said on and off list they would love to see decent Eagle models! > I'm afraid if they want to do some numbers in the US, they will have to > trigger people's memories and give people with no memories of this stuff > some new ones. Although the series got messed about here, people do still remember it. I wonder just how much folks in North America remember of it? That will depend on how it got treated by the myriad tv stations there. > And, of course, who would mess with a kid that came to school carrying > a "Prisoner" lunch box? :-) With a bouncing pink balloon as his buddy? Brian Dowling - Online Alphan #144 - Birmingham, England
From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@new44rock.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 13:32:27 -0500 Ok. I'll bite. First off though, this for Australia, and what I think will work in the states may flop over there. I'd definately go for the nosstalgia pitch, and market it to those who grew up watching it. Also, those people are mainly in the 25-40 age bracket, which is pretty good as demographics go...lots of disposable income. As good as the Season 1 stories are, I think trying to market it to a younger generation is a waste. Here's why. think of when we were younger, what grabbed your attention? Great SFX, Maya, action, etc. Nowdays Trek and B5 have a hold on these folks. The X-files crowd is a good market, as S1999 is a moody, mysterious show with complex plots and characters. I'd like to see a "remastered" version of Space:1999. Not a radical rework like is being done on Red Dwarf, but more along the lines of the star wars trilogy. The SFX are mostly good, but I'd love the oppourtunity to load it up in my PC and erase all those SFX bloopers, cables, wrong eagle numbers, cardboard eagles, open visors, and yes folks, we could even fix those fucked up log entries. Yes, it is possible. I'm not a purist like a few on this list, who prefer to leave the show in all its uneven glory. Who cringes every time we see the wrong eagle in "All that Glisters"? How about the cables yanking the actors through the air in Breakaway. Or the impossible time line of Dragons Domain. Helena's log could be fixed or entirely removed. I'd fix the dates my self, maybe delete the voice references to them, and use a computer generated optical date overlay during the sequence. A friend tells me its even possible to sample the voice, and a computer can reassemble the syllables and sounds into the date you want. The music and sound could be similarly improved. I'd love to be able to pop in a tape and hear the opening music in CD quality sound and clear dialog during the episode. I love the show as it is, but I'd like to see it endure beyond 2000, and for that its gonna need a little refurbishing. How about a new 1999 movie? You'd sell tons of Videos then! -Mark
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 14:02:40 -0500 From: Mike Lynch (Mike-Lynch@big44foot.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 Robert and Online Alpha friends - I did read over the e-mail that was sent out to Online Alpha this past Friday (6/19/98), but due to time constraints I didn't have the time for an immediate reply. I have, however, had the past two days to think about this. First: We need market saturation prior to any sort of release (whether it be on video tape, DVD, CD, etc.). This saturation should start anywhere from six to four months prior to any release of a Space: 1999 product into the market so as to draw the attention of prospective buyers. Remember, the show has received some unduly negative press and attention over the years from the uninformed and careless, so we need to wipe as much tarnish off of the Space: 1999 image as possible. Hey, if it worked for LOST IN SPACE it can work for us! Following the lead of such films as INDEPENDENCE DAY, JURASSIC PARK, and the marketing tactics of such shows as LOST IN SPACE and STAR TREK we have a pretty good idea of what works. Now, I'm not talking about theatrical-style teasers, or gratuitous sound bytes, but something just as obvious yet less expensive: posters, standees, counter-top displays, hanging signs, and other displays that would fill every store that even remotely sells the product being marketed (be it video tape, DVD, CDs, etc.). These displays should not only market the show, but the cast as well - we have Martin Landau who is an Academy Award Winner; Barbara Bain who is perhaps best known for her role as Cinnamon in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE; Barry Morse from THE FUGITIVE; Nick Tate a genera veteran; as well as the enchanting Catherine Schell of James Bond fame; and a list of guest stars that includes the likes of Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Brian Blessed, Jeremy Kemp, Joan Collins, Margaret Leighton, and so many others that the guest cast itself could sell the show. Working in conjunction with the in-store displays there should be similar ads run in key magazines such as STARBURST, STARLOG, SCI-FI ENTERTAINMENT, CINESCAPE, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, EMPIRE, SCI-FI INVASION, etc. These ads should be placed strategically throughout the various publications (i.e. - not the inside of the back cover, but perhaps on the back cover, inside the front cover, or somewhere close to the front of the magazine so that the adds will be seen by the majority of readers). This would have a duel affect: further drumming in the upcoming release of Space: 1999 for those who have already been exposed to the in-store displays, and make the release known to those who may not have been in such a store. Bringing magazines such as EMPIRE and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY into the plan would spread the marketing to those outside of the Sci-Fi community (as would the in-store displays). Second: About 60 to 30 days prior to the release of the marketed Space: 1999 product (video tape, DVD, CD, or etc.) the market should be hit with a relatively new angle: high quality apparel and accessories. People eat these things up. T-shirts, mouse pads, mugs, baseball hats, buttons, pins, etc. These are still relatively inexpensive to run in bulk and add force to the campaign. Go into any Suncoast Video store and you'll not only find videos, but shirts, posters, baseball hats, mugs, action figures, and novelties galore! Adding new posters, signs, displays, and magazine ads at this time would also bolster the public response to the up-coming release, but is not entirely necessary. Third: Release the product. Because this is the first time it would have been released into the public (aside from Columbia House (presuming we are dealing with a video release)) issuing a promotional item along with a purchase would aid in sales - such as a free video documentary of the show, a "making of", or something along those lines. The promotional item should be something that would be of value to fans and non-fans alike, because remember: we are selling this not only to the people who already know the show, but to a public that may never have had exposure to it. I can think of at least four people I know that never saw the show, or even remember it ever being on - and they are just as old as I am (and I'm 28). Now, if every Space: 1999 fan knows of another four people that don't know the series than the marketing aspect has to play to those people even more than to the fans. If we are dealing with a video/DVD release (which is most likely going to be the case) the entire series should be released all at once. We should no longer need to "test the waters," since Columbia House has already begun that - and according to availability the Columbia House release was back-ordered for nearly three months following its initial release... which should indicate a heavy customer response. There should be absolutely no reason to only release ten or fifteen episodes out of the 48 as a "test" if we are going to proceed with any of the above noted ideas. If the plan is to only release a nominal portion of the series then we are playing into the hands of those that have always stood against the show, and once again we will come up short (just as happened with the four Space: 1999 video tapes that were released by J2 Communications in 1990... but then again there was no marketing for these tapes to aid their sales). If Space:1999 is going to be released for public sale then we should be willing to go all they way. Mike Lynch
From: CHH1999@aol4tag.com Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:15:48 EDT Subject: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space: 1999 Everyone else has had wonderful and well-thought out ideas. I don't know much about marketing, though. Here are my opinions. I know my ignorance is on display. Be kind in your responses to me - please! ** I like the idea of tying in the actors of 1999 with other movies they've done (i.e. Buy Ed Wood and get discount on Space:1999). It reminds people that actors such as Landau, etc. have done prior work. They may never have heard of that work but are now interesting in seeing it. ** Since we're talking about Australia, showcasing Nick Tate's work seems logical. By this I mean his work on Space:1999 and after. I think he did some funny commercials (I'm not sure on this) as well as roles on Star Trek's Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here, but featuring Nick Tate in the promotion for Australian audiences couldn't hurt. ** If there really is a significant amount of money to spend, why not have some of the actors from Space:1999 get involved in the marketing. Posters, radio, television, etc. I know this is probably really naive of me to assume they would be involved in marketing, but it's an idea. ** I like the idea of having the whole series released at once. Please, no 'trying out the audience' first! If Australia releases it, I'd probably try real hard to find a way to buy the products from the US. Just thinking about the money conversion makes me shudder - but I'd do it. ** I also agree that the early release of promotional counter products (i.e. posters, etc.) is a great idea. When people see things over and over again they keep reminding themselves the product is coming and to keep checking on the status. ** I kept trying to think of what would work on me. I have a busy schedule, so the only way I know of things coming up is if I see it advertised in the TV Guide (whatever Australia's equivalent is) or on online. What about asking those with Space:1999 web sites to post a small marketing blurb on their page? This way whenever someone searches out Space:1999 and visits their page they get information on the release of the product. The posters, etc. would also catch my attention -- in video stores, bookstores, etc. ** Sometimes, after I finish reading a book there is an advertisement for another book or similar product in an insert or in the last pages. Can this be done with other products Polygram produces? Other videos, for example? ** Of course, word of mouth works best I think. Getting the information out to the fan clubs, mailing lists, etc. would spread the words the farthest. I can't tell you how many people have been reminded of their past interest in Space:1999 because I've brought the subject up. Of course, it would be impossible to measure the success of any campaign of this sort. Well that's all I can think of for now. I'm glad Polygram asked for opinions. I hope it works out well. Christina
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 14:41:31 -0500 From: Mike Lynch (Mike-Lynch@big44foot.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing Space: 1999 Robert and Online Alpha Friends - Another aspect of marketing Space:1999 during the First phase of my projected plan from my previous e-mail would be to have video retail stores offer the sale/hold-order of BREAKAWAY as a promotional item even before it's release on video/DVD. Up to as early as six months before release stores could offer (on the request of PolyGram's marketing department) the first episode at a discounted rate of possibly $5.00 to $10.00 off retail price when a related purchase is made. I.E. - Any video or DVD purchased that features Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Barry Morse, Nick Tate, or Catherine Schell would be eligible for the additional purchase of BREAKAWAY at a discounted price. This would mean that if someone came in and purchased ED WOOD (staring Martin Landau) or JAMES BOND: ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (starring Catherine Schell) that person would be given the option to order BREAKAWAY at a promotional discount. This would work extremely well with MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, but also has a rather wide reaching market. Of course not every customer would take advantage of this offer, but I think enough would. And even those that don't take advantage of it would still come into contact with the show on a personal level (an episode was offered to them as opposed to just reading a poster) which would spread awareness. Mike
From: "Atomic Possum" (atomicpossum@toast4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 14:52:40 -0500 >** I like the idea of tying in the actors of 1999 with other movies they've >done (i.e. Buy Ed Wood and get discount on Space:1999). The only problem with this being that Polygram is not going to promote sales of tapes that are not Polygram products, so unless Polygram is getting money for "Ed Wood," they aren't going to do that. Perhaps a better thing for them to consider is a release of an entire LINE of their SF holdings...at least those that closely tie in with the ITC stuff. A "Cosmic Polygram" line or somesuch, that would feature this kind of thing that could descend as a BLOCK for name recognition, shelf space, and bulk buying and sales. Include UFO, 1999, the Prisoner, "Journey to the Far Side of the Sun," "Into Infinity," etc., etc., along with whatever Polygram has in their vaults. Hammer has only recently begun releasing their films, and they all are part of a careful line of products....A similar approach to the ITC materials would strengthen their visibility in the marketplace. Jon "Mr. Wonderful" Stadter
From: "Atomic Possum" (atomicpossum@toast4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:23:57 -0500 Well, ignoring for the moment the other ITC products, for 1999 Polygram needs to realize that they are coming up on the biggest event 1999 fandom will likely ever see: Breakaway Day next year. If they want to begin marketing that series, why not start with a cool poster of the moon with the slogan "Where where you when it went boom?" at the top in big letters, and maybe at the bottom "September 13, 1999. SPACE." in smaller ones. This would be a cool way to begin buzz preparatory to the release of the full series in whatever format they choose. Send any royalties to: Jon "Mr. Wonderful" Stadter
From: "Atomic Possum" (atomicpossum@toast4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:36:00 -0500 In my previous post, change that slogan to "Where Were You When It Blew?" It's pithier (well, it beats "Size Does Matter," anyway...)
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 14:37:59 -0600 From: Robert Gilbert (bcpgd@shaw4tag.wave.ca) Maybe instead of a poster (or in addition to) --- have the "September 13,"Alternate with "Space:!"
From: David Acheson (dkach@hot44mail.com) Subject: Space1999: Marketing 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:54:54 EDT I guess I was one step behind when I asked the list who do we respond to when discussing the marketing of the series in Australia. I am a digest member so after I sent the last question a new digest arrived in my email. And guess what? Everyone is now talking marketing! My ideas? Aim for the 25-40 year old market as someone else had mentioned. It seems that most of the fans appear to be those who remember it in their childhood. This is not bad as this group is the marketer's dream of people with good jobs and disposable incomes. Keep away from STAR TREK - no one wants a rerun of the STAR TREK vs. SPACE: 1999 battle in the era of the new TREKS and other big shows. It will come across as being too silly. I think the suggestion for the X-File fans is perfect. With Landau in the current movie it can't hurt. But 1999 was somewhat dark and moody as someone has mentioned so it falls more in line with the universe of conspiracy than the optimistic Roddenberry world. Capitalize on the big name stars for sure. Bring up Oscar winner Martin Landau and three time Emmy winner Barbara Bain. And do mention their work previously on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. That was an international success just like 1999. Promote Barry Morse as the veteran stage,movie and TV actor that he is and pop in Catherine Schell's name as much as possible. Mention the fact that an international cast is utilized and many well known actors and actresses have guest starred (Roy Dotrice, Christopher Lee, Brian Blessed, Joan Collins, Jeremy Kemp, Peter Cushing). For the Australian campaign, they might want to mention their own Nick Tate being one of the most popular actors in the show. That would definitely help a national campaign. Capitalize on the SFX of Brian Johnson. Mention it was movie quality effects on TV even before STAR WARS and that Johnson went on to do THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and ALIEN. Use Rudi Gernreich's name for the Alphan uniforms. Mention it was the 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY for television. I would also concentrate on the marketability of Gerry Anderson's name. Just last week the Canadian version of TV Guide called him the British sci-fi guru of SPACE: 1999 and THUNDERBIRDS.(This was in an article about his latest show SPACE PRECINCT). DONT'S? Do not heavily use Fred Freiberger with the exception of his name on the credits for the boxes for second season episodes. There can be a brief mention of the fact he was a STAR TREK producer but do not go beyond that. We really don't want to much interplay with the TREK market and really don't need anti-Freiberger sentiments appearing during a marketing campaign. Thus stick to a major Anderson tie-in. I like the promotional ITC/Polygram thing some one mentioned. In North America, however the movie JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN is a Universal/MCA release so it may not be able to be used. However, Seagram, which owns MCA, just bought out Polygram so who knows. In Britain I think this ITC tie-in may work but in North America many people may not know enough about ITC and their programs for a major campaign to work. But Polygram can include the 1999 campaign along with other popular Polygram hits in the region of the planet they are trying to sell to. Despite its failures, SPACE: 1999 has more than enough things on which a good campaign can be based on. Not many programs have the same type of luck. David Acheson Site Administrator, Return to Moonbase Alpha http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Heights/4376/moonbase.html
From: Atomic Possum (atomicpossum@toast4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:28:24 -0500 Hey Polygram--Why not put together a little documentary of your own about Gerry Anderson? Do a profile of how he got into film, examine his shows, his films, his work, interview everybody you can find, and release it to home video (you might even get the SciFi Channel to broadcast it--how's that for building interest?). Then, should you go ahead with releases of the man's shows on tape (or DVD), include the tape as part of a boxed set or special edition (Mystery Science Theater has done this with one of their blooper tapes). I mean, there's a lot of interest when you add up all the fans of his various shows....a bio-mentary would have to have a fair amount of appeal , wouldn't you think? Jon "Mr. Wonderful" Stadter
From: "Brian Dowling" (brian@hellion4tag.prestel.co.uk) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 22:30:19 +0100 Subject: Space1999: More Marketing Space:1999 Hi folks, Much interesting writing on the marketing idea. This is my take on the PolyGram Aus request for input, based partly on my drinking sessions with the marketing crew at work. The PolyGram Aus marketing crew have had this 20 year old sci fi series thrust upon them, with the order "market this!" attached. Even with the best will in the world, I don't expect them to be too switched on about a series their parent company bought the rights to a few years ago, never mind be all knowing. Sci fi fans do have a certain reputation (Nutcase? Moi? Very likely a total one, but not obsessive) - picky, pedantic, creative, quick to criticise, a little slower to praise, perhaps - and you can bet that there's a hard core fan base out there somewhere who might be able to lend a hand. After all, if the release gets announced and then muffed for some reason, who'll be criticising? Stereotypical sci-fi nerds (flame shield up for that one) often hang out on the Net, so they take a look there. And what do they find? MoreSpace write in campaign, Cybrary, Cyber Museum, in fact a whole web ring of sites! PolyGram may have some kind of generic marketing template, but from what I've read in the past, Australia and New Zealand do get a bit left out in the cold where sci-fi is concerned. With not too much knowledge of Space:1999 available in house - the UK videos prove that - they go ahead and ask a group of Space:1999 fans for their ideas and input. What have they got to lose? They can argue that they are giving the fans and collectors what they want, because they have the letters, faxes and e-mails saying just that. I don't suppose the PolyGram marketing department has anyone who care about the series as much as we do - they've got lots of other stuff to concentrate on as well. Getting the basics right is a good start - put the whole series out, not just a couple and then think "Not selling well, bugger it - we'll do something else"; avoid the kind of cock ups the BBC seem to specialise in - very dodgy tapes, mastering, audio tracking; commit wholly to the show - don't try and do it half assed, because it will show. Space:1999 has not been seen in Australia and New Zealand for 20 years, and 1999 is fast approaching - what a combination of circumstances for a publicity blast! 13th September 1999... a serious blast from the past. Anything of value posted on-list will get through to the MoreSpace campaign crew - myself and Catherine Bujold are still subbed, reading and passing stuff on to Jerry and Daphné. I'm closing down until Tuesday night - the England match is on tomorrow night, and it's a wonderful opportunity to do some company teambuilding. It may take me until Tuesday night to recover... Brian Dowling
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 22:25:56 From: David Welle (dwelle@online.dct4tag.com) Subject: Space1999: Marketing Don't know if they're looking for catchy slogans, and these might not be them, but how about... WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN 1999: SPACE [WATCH] SPACE: 1999 [either use or skip the word "WATCH"] .. or a slight variation .. WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WATCHING IN 1999: SPACE! SPACE: 1999! (Not very subtle, are these.) Regardless whether the above are used or not, the rest of the rest of the poster (advertisement, whatever), could be something like one of these two approaches: Simple: -- Picture/painting of the Moon, a very noticeable size, but not too big, set against a much wider background of stars and some nice but not overdominating nebula, and a blue-and-white planet on the other side whose features are not clear and thus might be any planet -- not necessarily Earth. Complex: -- All of the above; plus -- A small Eagle midway between Moon and planet; and -- A few faces in a corner (e.g. John, Helena, Victor, Maya, Alan). Or *both* could be done; quite a few different things and variations can be done in a single marketing job. I'm thinking of a few other things too, but I'll write them separately. ---- David Welle
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 19:21:13 -0400 From: Patricia Embury (Patriemb@sprint44mail.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: Marketing I like the poster concept, but I'd use a different title. Picture a poster with the moon, enlarged, in the center, with stars in the background. In yellow type, on the bottom, in the 1999 typeface we've known and loved, "September 13, 1999.... Where will You Be?"
From: djlerda@juno4tag.com Subject: Space: 1999 Marketing Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:22:57 EDT OK, if this is to be a wish list: First and foremost, release of all episodes on videotape, the way Star Trek has been done. I mean high quality picture and sound. Next, Year 1 and Year 2 soundtracks. And for Year 1, all of the Chappel library music that still exists. Perhaps even a re-recording of deleted selections. Models, models, models! Kits of Eagle 1, the Hawk, Alpha, and a few others that were never released the first time around (e.g. Ultra Probeship, Voyager, Sidon Warships). Plenty of stuff for the kiddies - Stun Guns / Commlocks, action figures. As far as the show itself - I don't think a movie is the best way to go. It would spend too much time going over familiar territory for old fans and take too long to get off the ground. Perhaps a GOOD animated series (a real, not hallucinated one) is the way to go. Kind of the way Star Trek was handled - use top notch writers, don't make it a kiddie show. And much better animation. Also a string of comic books wouldn't be a bad idea either. The comics / animated series would allow adventures with Year 1 and Year 2 characters. Definitely use the year 1999 theme and hype Landau, Bain, et al. Just some thoughts. David J Lerda
From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@new44rock.com) Subject: Re: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space: 1999 Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 18:37:22 -0500 Christina brought up some good points, and her comments about the web sites brought up another one(few). #1.ADD THE WEB SITE ADDRESSES TO THE BACK OF THE BOX! Roberts awesome Cybrary is a must have. When you go out and buy something, you like to know that others enjoy it as well. If you flip over a box or open a jacket and find 20 some S1999 web sites, hey, youve suddenley made the customer feel "Gee, I guess I'm not the only one who loved this as a kid!" #2 I loved the poster Ideas! Big ones. #3 Good quality tapes, no crappy tapes that break after 4 plays. #4 Do the jackets right! Get some one who is good with photoshop to do a nice montage for the cover(please don't get some hack artist to paint one) using original photos or prints from original episodes, NOT OFF VIDEO. I think a holographic Eagle taking of would be pretty cool! #5 Release the WHOLE SERIES!! Why not go with DVD, its cheaper and you can charge more. Hey, I'd even buy a DVD player then, 'cause right now, its just an expensive CD player to me. #6 Do it right, spend a little money, you'll cash in on the Sept, 13th 1999 thing big time! #7 Mention in the Jacket that the S1999 fandom helped you get the word out, hey it helps! -Mark
From: South Central (Tamazunchale@web44tv.net) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 22:24:05 -0700 Subject: Space1999: Slogan for Space: 1999 The slogan used to be, IIRC, THE FUTURE IS NOW ON SPACE:1999! Well in 1999 this slogan will be doubly ironic. [WHAT WAS] THE FUTURE WILL INDEED BE NOW! :-) Mateo
From: "Robert Ashley Ruiz" (cybrarian@cybrary1999-4tag.com) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 09:32:17 +0000 Subject: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space:1999 Simon wrote: > Once the show is widely seen and proved there is an audience there > for it,its up to manufacturers to capitalise on its popularity by > coming up with ideas for merchandise which they can sell under a > marketing licence from PolyGram. That's another area PolyGram can work on. We know they've been approached about Space: 1999 by prospective manufacturers in the past but the licensing fees were felt too exhorbitant by these manufacturers to justify proceeding. PolyGram should be more willing to work with quality manufacturers at fair terms, as less of something has to be better than nothing. If they had toys in the stores, that would expose the show to a wider audience as well. Battlestar Galactica is nearly 1999's contemporary, an inferior though more well known product, and they have toys and models in the stores in the past year or so -- 18 years after the show's cancellation. Even if they don't do new toys some companies would surely have an interest in reissuing old ones if PolyGram made the terms more favorable. Some modeling company would surely like to do a high quality Eagle as I've been told Icons is considering doing, depending on interest and their ability to get the rights. Mattel makes a collectors' line of Barbies available (Barbie as Scarlett O'Hara, Barbie as Eliza Doolittle, etc.). Mattel also has an awareness of Space: 1999 since they produced a large number of 1999 toys (and could possibly reissue them in 1999 if convinced of enough interest). Couldn't they be approached now about doing just two 1999 figures for 1999? Remember lead times -- it would have to be NOW. They did the Star Trek figures that are still in stores, and flipping through channels yesterday I see they've now done Barbie and Ken as Scully and Mulder from the X Files. I can't remember which company makes the newish series of dolls/figures from classic shows (it's the one that does the Wild Wild West figures [Premiere?]), but the resemblances to actors and the detail on these is surprisingly good, and I wish that PolyGram would work with them on a limited run of 1999 figures to commemorate the coming year. What a waste of an opportunity if they let 1999 go by without giving the show a push. PolyGram needs to realize that according to their sales numbers (as for the laserdiscs) Space: 1999 isn't all that popular, but the real problem is that ITC and PolyGram don't promote the releases enough. Most people, for instance, never knew the show was even released on laserdisc until it was too late to buy it, and now they routinely pay sometimes 10 times the original price of the discs to obtain them. High quality new Space: 1999-related web sites pop up routinely and prices on vintage collectibles have gone through the roof in just the past year. There is a great deal of renewed interest in the series thanks to the Internet and showings on the Sci-Fi Channel and elsewhere, and in 1970s things in general. (Have you seen all the commercials recently that have 1970s classic furnishings in them? Have you seen people walking around in ultra high heels and bell bottoms/flares on the streets in the last few years as I have?). PolyGram needs to be willing to do something to promote the series, not just do what's been done in the past which equates to putting it out there unheralded and hoping for the best -- with disappointment on all sides being the result. Robert Ruiz
From: "Simon Morris" (simes01@global44net.co.uk) Subject: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space:1999 Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 13:48:59 +0100 Hello All The way I read the PolyGram Australia appeal for help,they wanted ideas on how to bring the Space 1999 series to a wide audience. Consequently I don't see much point in appending a wish-list of the type most of us have put out before. Once the show is widely seen and proved there is an audience there for it,its up to manufacturers to capitalise on its popularity by coming up with ideas for merchandise which they can sell under a marketing licence from PolyGram. Maybe its to the manufacturers we should send our ideas. PolyGram's job is to actually realise the value of their property. This doesn't just apply to Space 1999,it applies to many of the other ITC series it owns as well. They need to whip up the interest amongst a jaded public to watch the series on tv,buy the episodes on laser disc or tape,and perhaps buy the merchandise. I hope that their Australian division is rather more successful in all this that its UK and US counterparts,who up till now haven't tried very hard. A golden opportunity was missed with the new BBC screening. There hasn't exactly been a flood of new interest in the series(either from press or mechandisers)and I put this down to the fact that the BBC appeared to have scheduled it at short notice,taking potential merchandisers by surprise. If they'd had a few months notice..... PolyGram can't expect the BBC(or any other tv station in the world)to do all the publicity itself. PolyGram profits as well,so put adverts in the newspapers. Encourage tv publicity campaigns.Approach potential book/magazine publishers and toy manufacturers. SPACE 1999 IS NOW (or will be next year)and PolyGram need to make maximum use out of that fact. Lets get hold of some of the original cast and hear from them via interviews etc. They can capitalise on the popularity of sci-fi at the moment. But there are many who are sick to the back teeth of the many Star Trek clones on the screen at present. Any one person on this list can give PolyGram a list of areas that make SPACE 1999 a different and unique programme by comparison. When the first of the "new chapter" of STAR WARS films are eventually released,PG can capitalise again on the media interest that will be generated. By all means,release DESTINATION MOONBASE ALPHA once again as a feature film(I'm in two minds about the effectiveness of that tactic...:-) )but the main thing is LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT THE SERIES IS. There is possibly a slight advantage in that the show can be made to appeal to all kinds of groups: those who like the serious intellectual fare of Y1 or those who prefer the more straightforward adventure of Y2. Got to be worth a try! Simon Morris
From: "Atomic Possum" (atomicpossum@toast4tag.net) Subject: Re: Space1999: Re: Marketing Space:1999 Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 17:49:26 -0500 Perhaps that would be an important thing for Polygram to think about--How aggressively are they trying to move these shows to stations here in the US? Granted, the syndication market is almost unrecognizeable from what it used to be here in the US. Local stations don't want old shows when there are plenty of first-run syndication products to pick up, not to mention so-called networks like the WB. But I do remember that DOCTOR WHO, while completely unsuitable to American commercial television, got a big fandom movement going here in the States by syndicating mostly to PBS stations. Would Polygram consider starting at ground zero, with the programs themselves? Offering them in syndication packages cheap--after all, nowadays there's a lot to be made off of merchandising and perhipheral markets, not just the syndication fees themselves. If they would like to build their existing product into something stronger, would they consider more of a press to let people see the product again in the first place? I mean, does ANYONE know of ANYPLACE in the US the 1999 is currently showing? And SciFi doesn't count. Not unless they give the show a good timeslot, and stop the butchering. They aren't prepared to give the show the kind of presentation that will help make it successful. Perhaps it should be taken to people more willing to show it. Jon "Mr. Wonderful" Stadter