Fans of the sci-fi series Fringe had reason to be concerned when Fox unceremoniously moved the show from its prime Thursday night slot to the cancellation waiting room that is Friday night. Also known as the “Friday night Death Slot,” due to Fox’s long history of axing shows shortly after they move there, Fringe’s mid-season reassignment was greeted by fans with deserved trepidation.
Luckily, Fringe’s strong cult following (and solid DVR numbers) have convinced Fox to renew the struggling series for a fourth season. Executive Producer J.H. Wyman broke the good news on Twitter last night, exclaiming “Fringe was picked up!!!! Thanks Fringedom!” Creator J.J. Abrams was just as excited in his email to New York Magazine’s Vulture, writing “Whew! And thanks to Fringe-rs everywhere!!!!”
Still, all the renewal drama highlights the continuing problem with DVR, which audiences (especially younger ones) are increasingly taking advantage of to watch series like Fringe. No commercials also means no advertising revenue for the networks, posing a whole slew of difficult new questions to execs struggling to make a buck off of even a well-liked show.
Source: AV Club
