Challenge, Knightmare, and Good Manners

[GrimaldineGrimwold]

No, this isn't an update to say Challenge have agreed to show any more series than they've already mentioned. It's not a schedule guide either, although I will post one for when Series 5 gets going.

I want to quote "JamesP", one of the Challenge officials. He's the main source of official information on the Challenge forum and he's also been known to post news here. As everyone knows, I don't agree with everything Challenge do. I often criticise them, not for the sake of it, but in the hope I can get them to correct things that I think could and should be corrected. I keep my flippant remarks on this forum as far as humanly possible. Others have done much the same in a more or less constructive vain.  However, I think we as KM "fans" need to be careful not to push too hard. Challenge welcome feedback, and I now think that they genuinely do take their forum posters' points on board, whereas at times in the past they haven't. If you have a comment to make on any Challenge programme, Knightmare or any other, do so, but let's stop hounding them about getting more series. As I've said before, I think now it all depends on ratings and strategy. They've slowly accepted KM as one of "their" shows and do now make an effort to promote it. If the ratings suggest it, I think they will continue to purchase other series, subject to cost constraints. Starting 1000 new threads on their forum will do absolutely no good. I don't think it does a huge amount of harm, because I'm sure Challenge look to ratings feasibility rather than the behaviour of forum posters when making purchasing and scheduling decisions. But at the same time it's pretty pointless, and it upsets other members of the forum there when people nag and nag and nag, especially when KM fans hijack non-KM threads to do so. I'm sure we all want our community to have a good reputation outside the bounds of the KM forums. Please, let's be sensible.  
 
Anyway, JamesP's reply also answers several questions and points that have been raised from time to time on this forum, so I'll copy it here.

"It simply doesn't make sound financial sense to purchase more than one series at a time of Knightmare. We don't have a limitless budget, and while I'm sure Knightmare fans would be delighted for Challenge to purchase every remaining series, we'd have a hard time explaining the choice to the people who hold the purse-strings, so to speak.

As much as we value the opinions, suggestions and ideas expressed by the viewers on this forum, no amount of forum postings will be enough to convince us of a programme's popularity on their own. This forum is a good indicator of any show's popularity, but only when taken in context with ratings. Add to this the variable of the HUGE cult following Knightmare enjoys online (especially the crossover between this website and the knightmare.com forum, which I personally read daily) and you must appreciate the bigger picture we have to consider.

So, to put it bluntly with no disrespect intended, we will not be procuring every available series of Knightmare all at once simply to avoid long threads in the forum. If the ratings figures are so high we can be convinced that such a move is wise, then we might, but until then we will be treating Knightmare the same as all our non-commissioned shows - on a series by series basis."

[Emii]

Well said, GG, and thank you for posting JamesP's message, as some of us (including me) hadn't seen it - when Challenge? started purchasing the series one after the other I decided that three series was good enough for me and was happy that Challenge had listened to its viewers from the start and their actions had depicted this.
So long as people keep watching Knightmare liek the dedicated fans that they are, we won't need to rant about a lack of series on TV, and the Challenge? people will do their jobs and cater for the majority audience!
Its also nice to know that Official Members pootle around our forum - JamesP...would you like to join the Knightmare Boarding School, perchance?
*grins cheekily*
and anyone else who be interested?

[Malefact]

Bit of shameless plugging, eh, Emii?

My uni housemates and I are getting cable tv, btw - Challenge? included which means that I'll be able to watch Km live myself, which is nice.

[Snowwiewolf]

Im interested about the school,but since I'm already there

[KaM]

Wow! Thank you for the info. I'm trying to catch up what I've missed during my failed efforts to read Paradise Lost, which I now submit is more dark and dreary than any of my current moods.

Well, I certainly think they have a point on the caution issue, especially since we've customarily established the high costs of purchasing series of KM. However, another important point, which I think all fans will consider as well as Challenge, is future preservation. If more than one series was shown at once, the intensity of KM fans switching onto Challenge would be huge - but not only does it 'wear' more than one series out more quickly, but it's also damaging the potential that Chellnge has, and KM fans have, to lap up each series individually as they are shown.

Perhaps I'm been over-optimistic that they will be: but to have S5 purchased after S4, which I continue to assert is definitely not my favourite - is certainly promising. The way Challenge are operating right now; they have all the attention from crooning fans, willing them on to show more, and know they could keep it that way for months and months to come; so why not keep the anticipation and draw it out. Why have all good things happen at once, when you could have them fed piece by piece over a longer term period? I think Challenge are doing the right thing, and certainly looking forward to S5 with a passion. KaM

[JamesP]

Thanks, but no thanks. Boarding schools have always been too frightening a concept to me!

I just wanted to say that I appreciate the general current consensus amongst Knightmare fans online - To support Challenge, rather than treat us as the enemy. To be honest, the general level of criticism we were apparently receiving from Knightmare fans around the end of Series 4's original run (people upset we hadn't already confirmed Series 5) was so severe that we were finding it hard to show enthusiasm about purchasing any more series for what seemed to be an ungrateful and unsupportive fanbase.

We are now fully aware that this wasn't the case at all, and that unfortunately there will always be a few bad apples that spoil the barrel. Since announcing Series 5 we have found 99.9% of KM's fanbase to be highly enthusiastic and supportive of Challenge and for that we are genuinely grateful.

We pride ourselves in our unique relationship we have with our viewers. Knightmare was purchased on the strength of viewer requests (plus a personal vested interest by myself and Jonny, the 'fat controller'!) and we even started with Series 3 as a direct result of the voting undertaken by this very website. It's highly doubtful that without you guys pushing for Knightmare's return it would have ever happened.

But then, you knew that already didn't you?  :)

[Velda]

Just want to say thanks to you guys at Challenge for buying the rights to show Knightmare.  It really is great to have it back!  ;D

Quick question: when is the date for Series 5 to be shown again?  I've forgotten but I know it's sometime in October.  

I've also heard you've purchased the rights to show Funhouse - that was another favourite of mine!  ;D

[GrimaldineGrimwold]

Velda-

Series 5 will be shown from the 20th October: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 10am, repeated at 6pm and midnight.

Hope that helps.

[Velda]

Thanks  ;D

Wow, only about a month left 'til it starts - I can't wait!

[KaM]

Hehe, I can't wait either. I've even made the sacrifice of offering my youngest sister a pound per taped episode for me  :-X since I won't be able to see it myself.

What I'd like to say to James P, because I believe that although not posting often, he does read everything regularly - good on you sir. Well, as you might see from another thread further in this category: The Talking Skull is Mad at You ~ or something to that effect - there are those amongst us who will be frustrated, and try and ruin it for everyone; there are those amongst us, and my promises I'll continue, who will try and curb that ruthlessness from amongst the fan group.

What Challenge? are doing, is nothing short of fantastic. Ok, we often have a whinge at the inconsistency of the viewing times, but given that the main changes occur when a particular series has already been shown a few times and will not likely attract as many watchers anyhow, I do see the logic in that.

What some people are failing to do (I think I mention this is the other thread) - is step back and look at the relative picture. One year ago, all our efforts and praying for Knightmare to return, [and it seemed then to be more likely on a VHS/DVD release than any television network] were still continuing in the same enthusiastic, but forlorn route to no reward. However, you guys took what you might consider a gamble in buying up KM, and I did think S3 was a grand choice, being as it is my own, and likely most others', personal favourite, and are continuing to provide more than most of us could ever have hoped for.

I've already said on this thread, I think, that it would be far better to see series of KM one by one, and drawn out over time - preserving something to look forward to for a fair time to come; if we do our bit, and keep tuning in and providing POSITIVE support; and Challenge?, who, if this happens from our side, should have few reasons not to - keep an interest in acquiring further series. I'm just there to plead with you at the moment, sir - and am thankful you have already noted, that for the few who bad-mouth your channel, the vast majority of us are majorly grateful to Challenge and yourself included, and will support you guys in every way we can. I truly understand about the motivational issues to continue showing KM - abuse always makes you wonder why you bother at all. It's also generally the case that for 99 good comments and 1 negative, it's the latter that is remembered and hangs deep. But like you said in your metaphor, some rotten cider shamefully; some people don't know a good thing when they see one, and I for one will be damned if my return-of-Knightmare efforts and dreams are ruined by obsessive and obtrusive fools.

Let's keep the faith everyone ~ and three cheers for you James.  

[Malefact]

Absolutely! Thanks a lot, JamesP! As I say, we're getting cable at my uni house so I'm going to be able to join the throng. I'm really looking forward to seeing Km live again!

(Sorry to go on about it but I'm rather pleased about it! )

[Illusion]

I always found it frustrating reading some of the abusive comments from a small minority of KM fans on the Challenge forum. I like to believe that most of those people are not from this forum, but I'm not sure.

As mentioned, there will always be some people who don't have any idea of constructive criticism. They certainly don't represent the views of the majority of KM fans. For Challenge to show Series 3 was fantastic enough, and any further series has been a bonus.