Lost Remote » ABC falls flat with ‘Daybreak’ streaming

ABC falls flat with ‘Daybreak’ streaming

Cory Bergman January 17th, 2007

On December 20th, ABC announced it was canceling the excellent serial Daybreak and would stream the remaining episodes online. Great, but nearly a month later, the shows are nowhere to be found. “You search ABC.com for Daybreak and there are no results found. It’s like the show never existed,” writes one of many disappointed fans. “What’s this lie that ABC pulled about Daybreak being released online? What a bunch of LIARS!!!” writes another. Turns out, ABC was held up with a music rights issue. But instead of posting something on ABC.com’s Daybreak page explaining the hold-up, they pulled the page off the site altogether. “Its pathetic to leave the fans in the dark,” writes another fan. ABC now says the streaming will begin on Jan. 29th, but I imagine most fans have moved on with a bad taste in their mouths.

20 Comments Add your own

1. Tania | January 17th, 2007 at 5:05 pm

There really is nothing left to waatch right now on television. I can’t wait until Jericho starts up again. Can we atleast get the oppertunity to see the last few episodes.
2. Eric | January 17th, 2007 at 6:12 pm

While I can understand the disappointment, are companies going to be expected to coddle the small audience of every cancelled show from here on out?
3. Cory | January 17th, 2007 at 6:16 pm

Not every show perhaps, but serials definitely.

Daybreak was much like 24 with a long story arc. Fans who watched 7 episodes had invested 7 hours of their time in what’s essentially a long movie split into TV shows. When it was canceled, they were left hanging.

If networks keep canceling serials like this, they’re going to build up bad blood with viewers who will be less receptive to invest their time on new shows.

This can be mitigated to a degree if they can smoothly transition to the web with ample promotion and a short lag time.
4. DayBreakonTheWeb | January 18th, 2007 at 6:02 am

You gotta love the speed at which they moved on this to solve the “problem.” A month and change. Nice old-school speedy resolutionthere ABC. Get out of corporate mode and get into a more nimble one if you want to survive the wrath of fans.
5. Jimmi | January 18th, 2007 at 8:15 am

Eric - The issue is not about how a company should handle viewers when it cancels a show - the issue is promising something to viewers and then not following through.

I feel let down. Daybreak was the one show that I tuned in to watch every week. At least put up a page on their site explaining the conflict.

No, I won’t be logging on to watch the rest of the show.
6. sean tubbs | January 22nd, 2007 at 5:55 am

While I’m disappointed that it’s taken this long to get the shows online, I’m glad they’ll be up. Viewers still get something for free, and it’s an excellent show. ABC should have been more clear on what to do, but I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt when they stated legal reasons for not getting the show up right away. After all, this is fairly new territory for the networks.
7. DJ agency | January 26th, 2007 at 8:01 am

Gutted this got canned Thought it was quite a good show.

Thought we’d get to see the last few episodes.

Agreed Tania - Can’t wait for Jericho.
8. JACK | January 30th, 2007 at 12:11 pm

DAYBREAK WAS ONE SHOW THAT I COULD HARDLY
WAIT TO WATCH VERY DISSAPOINTED THAT IT WAS CANCELLED IF IT WERENT FOR LOST I WOULD NEVER
WATCH ABC. ALSO WILL THE REMAINING EPISODES
BE AVAILABLE ON DVD AS A BOX SET.
9. Susan | February 21st, 2007 at 6:30 pm

WHy is the finale not available on line? Darn good show11
10. General Lysis | February 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 am

Yes! Where is the finale at?! What is going on now?! This show was the best show ever! Soooo sooooo good! Such quality~!
11. Anonymous | March 1st, 2007 at 6:59 pm

still waiting for the finale……. what the hell!!!
website says that the finale would be available this week and it still isn’t there……???????????
12. vancollins | March 2nd, 2007 at 7:23 pm

Finale is finally there!!! It does not show up on the homepage. However, if you launch the show, it is the 3-2-07 episode. Just finished watching it.
13. sinuhe | March 2nd, 2007 at 7:37 pm

I cant speak for everyone but this was a very good show .
it had a good story line , it kept you waiting for more, and just when it got some good twists in it ,its over .
nice job abc ,maybe you should look into doing something other than tv programing . thanks for nothing.
14. pat | March 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 pm

Just finished watching the finale. So who was that guy watching Hopper in the final scene? Have I forgotten a character?
15. Aaron | March 4th, 2007 at 5:18 pm

That is the other guy that may have been having the same day repeating cleaned up with a suit…Jared. Guess it means maybe that guy had more to do than we thought with the show.
16. t | March 5th, 2007 at 11:50 am

So do we have any idea why he was repeating the same day over and over again?

anyone have insight to how the guy at the end of the finale, Jared, was connected?
17. Lynn | March 21st, 2007 at 8:51 am

I live in Canada and been trying to find the show for 2 months and more.Never heard a thing but now I know that I wont see the ending cause only the people of the United States get to see it on line. It’s not fare at all so now I’m trying to find the transcript online so I can read the end of this show. Thanks
18. Maura | April 4th, 2007 at 12:55 am

I miss the show so much….If I had the money, I would finish the series
Does anyone possibily know where I could find the music played on that show at?? I heard a song I absolutely loved and have looked everywhere online…no luck
any suggestions??

peace
19. Cheryl | April 5th, 2007 at 11:21 am

Thanks for putting the shows on the website. I just found them so have to now get them all watched. I hope they leave them on for a little while. Really liked the show.
20. Terrie | May 3rd, 2007 at 9:10 am

I would love for ABC to seel the whole season on DVD. They did release Invasion on a DVD. I was a big fan of Daybreak and couldn’t wait until it was on. I guess it was too complicated for some people. I love shows like this. It makes you think.