lost!!!!

[khelil]

Is it true that there are going to be 7 seasons of LOST? i read it in the News of the World but of course that doesnt mean too much, but mind you there is no smoke without fire so u never know....

[jim-maynard]

i think u could well be true - my friend found a website the other day statin that there are 7 seasons worth of Lost and that if the producers change this narrative then its due to executive pressure.

[tonymclark]

The run of a TV show in the states, as here, is all down to audience ratings. If the viewing figures dip, then Lost wont last 7 seasons.

I'm sure the producers of the show have high hopes, and may well have planned plotlines for 7 seasons.

[WaldoMcFroog]

The holy grail of US television is 'Syndication', whereby a show that originally ran on a broadcast network (NBC, ABC etc) is sold to other carriers and can continue to generate revenue for years and years, even if the show is no longer made (I love Lucy being a prime example).

My understanding is that you typically need over 100 episodes to stand a good chance of syndication, though it can happen before and just reaching 100 episodes doesn't guarantee it. Given that most US shows run 22-26 episodes a season, syndication will typically occur during the 5th season (since first seasons are often just 13 episodes).

Therefore, the broadcast network will nearly always aim to do at least the required number of seasons for syndication, and continue producing the show if profitable.

[Postdog]

As I understand it, the person who concieved the idea for lost (if you can call it an idea) reckoned he COULD stretch the story over 7 seasons. As said though, American TV is pretty fickle, and if ratings dictate, a programme can easily be pulled. Personally, I gave up on lost after 5 episodes because I felt they were making it up as they went along.