Touchdown for 'Friday Night Lights'

    Are your ready for some more Dillon Panthers football?
    “Friday Night Lights” will be back for a third season, thanks to a deal between NBC and DirecTV that splits costs and distribution rights, giving DirecTV customers first dibs at the high school football drama, starring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton.
    The 13-episode season will air first on DirecTV in the fall and then run on NBC in midseason, probably in its current Friday night time slot, said David Nevis, president of Imagine Television, which produces the show. NBC is expected to officially announce the deal in a presentation to advertisers in New York this afternoon.
     Nevins declined to say how much money DirecTV is forking over for the rights but characterized it as “a lot of money, significantly more than if we just did second runs on a cable network.” Nevins remarked that he wished a deal like it had been possible three years ago when Fox was forced to cancel “Arrested Development,” another show with a small but loyal audience.
    “I love these shows, and I think that they’re unique,” Nevins said. “They have an incredibly strong bond with them and seem to appreciate the characters and actors in them at a deep level. My whole goal is to make television that is not boring. For better or for worse, we make these beloved but not-for-everyone TV shows. And I think that the truth is that in this new climate of television, there is more and more room. There are so many programming sources that there’s a hunger for distinctive programming even if it’s not unbelievably mass.”
    While the audience of “Friday Night Lights” ranges only from 6 million to 7 million, its viewers tend to be upscale, which advertisers like, and very passionate and loyal, Nevins pointed out.
    “Five years ago, or probably three years ago, this show would have sunk below the water and disappeared without a trace,” he said. “Now, there’s value in these shows that have incredibly passionate audiences and passionate fans in the public and passionate fans in the press. I just think it’s really interesting that NBC, being one of the big networks, is now able to capitalize on it.”

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Comments

[Jaime]

FNL is amazing! It is one of the best TV shows (by far) on TV and a potential classic. I watch two TV shows and this is one of them. The story lines and the characters are lovable, believable, and endearing.
Go Panthers!

[paula mcgrail]

Thank God! This is the best show on TV in a long long, long, time. I have been despondent since it has been off the air. I think I will get direct TV as well. I agree with the previous post, how many times a week can Dateline be on? The reality shows are pathetic. The half hour comedy sitcom are brutal followed by the horrific gameshows. The one show that saved me during my FNL separation was Breaking Bad, very good tv which leaves me to believe they will cancel it. See you soon Timmy! ahhh.

[Chris]

I agree that Friday Nights may not be the best time to air this show. However, if it were a spring show, then Friday nights are great for it. The thing that killed it during season one was that they put it against American Idol. You can't have a show against American Idol and expect it to survive. Then, they move it to Fridays during season 2. Their whole viewing population is at a football game at that time. Move it to a different night (maybe Thursdays before ER) and keep it away from American Idol. This show is a wonderful show and should be around for at least 10 years.

[tinytvfan]

Agree with everyone here: Friday Night Lights is the best show on tv and deserves a better time slot. Long Live FNL!!!

[Renee]

I don't have DirecTV and cannot wait until January for new episodes of FNL? Does anyone know if episodes will be available for download anywhere in the fall? I will still watch in January when it moves to NBC (to keep the numbers up), but there's no way I can wait that long. I'm already going through withdrawal.

Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose

[Johnny Bartee]

This is a bad dog that should have been put down long ago. It's only redeeming quality is that it keeps union crew in Austin working. Other than that PLEASE let it die the death it deserves.

[Kristen]

I searched for FNL online after my sister had mentioned that she heard it was a good show. I do not have television, so I found it on the NBC web page. I was hooked after watching the first episode. I am sad to hear I will have to wait until next winter to watch whatever comes next for the Dillon residents. I love watching a healthy marriage go through its ups and downs. I love how the heart of every character shines through their circumstances. And I love how Christianity is portrayed in a fairly realistic fashion. FNL is my escape from my own reality and I don't feel like I've been slimed after watching it. Please keep it coming!!

[CJ]

Fantastic - drop the reality fat shows and get back to the heart of America. Nice work, I'll buy DirectTV just to watch...

[C.O]

My worries have now been relieved! I'm so glad that they are bring this show back and I agree with everyone else, it needs to be moved to a better time and day. I can wait until the fall and have the best of both worlds, my Dillion panther football and my NFL! What more could a girl want!?!

[Kathryn Dansby]

Thank you so much for bringing back Friday Night Lights Season Three. It is truly the best written show of all time. Kudos to the producers, cast, and most of all you YOU for bringing Season Three to us loyal fans.
Kathryn Dansby

[Lesley]

So happy to hear Friday Night Lights will be returning for a 3rd season. Just finished watching both seasons again on DVD. This is probably the best show on television, how could the network even think about not bringing it back. I really think it would become just as important to others if it ran on a different night. Friday's start the weekend and nobody really watches tv on Friday's. Hope it lives on for a long, long time!

[Danielle]

ok so i dont fully get this . if you just have cable you cant watch fnl this fall? but the same seson will come on in january?

[Chrissy]

I am glad it is coming back, but it's unfair that direct tv customers will see it first. I wonder if they will play them online, or if we will really have to wait until NBC decides to air them. I will not subscribe to Direct Tv because I personally think that satellite tv is awful.

[Eileen Jenks]

love, love, love this show! tim riggins is my hero

[Lars]

I'm so glad FNL will be back. I'm glad I have directv.

[JOSH BRIGGS]

They must have Morons working at NBC to air this on Friday night during High School football. Any common sense handy?

[JO]

Friday night lights is an amazing show.... !!! I am thankful for a Season 3---
thought I don't have Direct tv... I have friends that do!!
It has quickly become a new favorite for me

[jAY]

This show will have 8 seasons if loyal viewers like us keep supporting it!