Lhbizness wrote:Same question, though. Would it be impossible (or difficult) for TV show or web-series to license The Avengers and produce the first season scripts as actual TV episodes, rather than just the audios? Why would that be any more difficult than what Big Finish is doing? (There's tons of reasons no one should TRY to do that, just wondering if it was possible). Given that we've speculated on what would entail a reboot/revival of The Avengers, it seems that making first season scripts as TV shows would be an interesting project.
It's a question of scale. No, there's no reason why StudioCanal couldn't or wouldn't license such a TV series, but the problem arises with audience. There is no way that such a television series could recoup its costs because no broadcaster would take it. It's a worthy project, filling the gaps that are there in a culturally important series, but that counts for nothing in the television landscape of today. It wouldn't last five minutes on television, not if done authentically - and if the producers buckled to pressure and made it a sassy, modern production, it would miss the point with people like you and me, the fans.
Big Finish can make it work on audio as they have a consumer base that is loyal, interested in The Avengers and similar programmes for what they were, and are looking for sympathetic continuations or (in the case of The Avengers) recreations. They don't rely on getting a broadcast deal (though occasionally they have struck them with BBC Radio for Doctor Who), just on finding a relatively small but loyal set of listeners who will buy on CD or download.
Take it one step further, make it on video, production costs would higher, licenses would no doubt be more expensive, and they would have to satisfy 'bosses' in a number of organisations (StudioCanal, broadcasters, video labels, etc) and no doubt the product would be compromised as a result.
As it stands, Big Finish have to get the OK for anything they do from StudioCanal, but beyond that they are essentially working in-house to their own agenda.
I would also imagine that from StudioCanal's perspective, the licensing of a series of CDs which reach a small market brings money in without actually screaming to a mainstream audience "this is what The Avengers is", so that somewhere down the line they can produce or license an Avengers television series or film of their own and not have the CDs as a competing image of the series in the minds of a general audience. Stick a 'remade Series 1' on television, and suddenly they've shot their bolt for an Avengers TV series. Possibly.
Sorry if I'm rambling!