A few months ago I wrote about the fans, who brought back their favourite TV programme Jericho by protesting online, getting organized and sending CBS about 18 tonnes of peanuts. Now CBS has announced that next week’s episode will be the last one. The ratings weren’t high enough for them.

Naturally, fans are rioting again. The show has very passionate followers, but not enough followers to make it worthwhile for CBS to air it on TV. This reminds me of one of my favourite TV shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy never had huge ratings, but a dedicated followership, that still wants Buffy to come back (myself included). Now imagine, as this article nicely illustrates, that all these fans sign up to buy a new season on DVD or iTunes or where ever… creators wouldn’t need networks to produce their shows, because they could sell them directly to their audience.

I’d happily pay normal retail price of a season on DVD to co-fund a new season of Buffy in advance – where do I sign up? Don’t think I’d do the same with Jericho, but I am conviced that there are heaps of people who would. I think Jericho’s creators should turn to their fans immediately, strike the iron while it’s hot and distribute the show via new channels. Also, I think this will happen more and more – again, the paradigm is shifting, and we are making it happen.