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SUGGESTIONS FOR LETTERS AND EMAILS.

1. First and most importantly, BE POLITE! No profanity, insults or rudeness. The second a letter or email gets abusive or threatening the reader tunes out and tosses it in the trash can.

DO NOT WRITE THIS:

"You big frakking asshole, if you split BSG into two seasons and make me wait for the conclusion for another year I’m gonna rip off your head and crap down your neck…"

TRY THIS INSTEAD:

Dear Ms. Hammer,

I recently heard that the Sci-Fi network is considering splitting Battlestar Galactica’s fourth season into two separate seasons and not broadcasting the final half until 2009. As a loyal viewer of your network and Battlestar Galactica, the decision to do that would be quite upsetting to me. I feel that the viewers of this series, who have supported it from the start, deserve better than to have to wait an additional year to see the series conclude. In fact, I am sad to say that if the final season is split in two with the second half not aired until 2009, I will withdraw my support of the series, your network and all of your sponsors. I will also find it necessary to write to each of your sponsors and tell them that the splitting of Battlestar Galactica’s final season is the reason why I can no longer purchase their products ever again. This, of course, also means that I will not be purchasing the final two seasons of Battlestar Galactica (or any other Sci-Fi Network or NBC/Universal series) on DVD or on any other format.

It is regrettable that I believe it necessary to write a letter like this but I feel quite strongly about seeing Battlestar Galactica’s fourth season conclude in a reasonable time frame as do millions of other fans all over the world.

2. DO NOT COPY AND PASTE THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH! Be original and write in your own words what you feel. If you just send out a form letter or email, the networks will ignore it as mass-produced garbage. Years ago, the fans of two TV-shows, Star Trek and Hee Haw, started letter writing campaigns to save their shows from cancellation. Star Trek was successful because, according to network execs, the huge number of letters and telegrams received by NBC were individually written and could not be ignored. Letters to save Hee Haw, on the other hand, appeared to be generated by a small number of fans who mass-produced the exact same letters; the effort failed because of that. Network Executives are not stupid and they can spot an attempt to manipulate them by a small number of fans. Your letters, phone calls and emails must be from you, not from us. They must be written in your own words and, though they all share similar points, they must be personalized and individual.

3. BE PROFESSIONAL AND USE YOUR FRAKKIN’ SPELLCHECK. State the nature of the letter, what you are requesting and a clear description of the consequences it your request is not met. As seen in the above sample letter, there is a financial threat stated but it is written in a polite, business-like manner. Get in the mindset that this is a business letter and write it as such. It is more likely to be read if it is professional, grammatically correct, polite and to the point.

4. ALWAYS MENTION SPONSORS AND SALES OF BSG MERCHANDISE. This is how networks make their money, through advertising sponsorship and the sale of DVD’s t-shirts, I-tune downloads, etc. the loss of sales and advertising revenue directly affects them and their stockholders and it a profoundly powerful tool in affecting the decisions of corporations.

5. BE REPETITIVE. Don’t just write one letter or make one phone call or send one email. Write ten letters, make ten phone calls and send ten emails to the networks. Each one should be different, polite and honest and send the message that we are the bosses, not them. We are the consumers and we spend our money on their products so we should have a say in how and when they are distributed. Look at it this way; if you went to a restaurant and ordered dinner, what would you say if the manager came over to you and said that he has decided that he’ll have half of your dinner served tonight but you can’t get the other half until next week. Would you give you money to a business like that?

6. FOLLOW THROUGH. If the networks go ahead and decide to split the season up, do what you said you would, write the sponsors, don’t buy the DVD’s. Decisions can be overturned if there is a big enough outcry to do so but lack of follow-up will do nothing but strengthen the network’s belief that they can do anything they want to and that we’ll just roll over and take it.

7. WRITE TO INDIVIDUALS. Do not write "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sirs" letters. Address individuals directly. People respond more strongly to their name than to generic titles. In addition, it shows that you cared enough to find out who was responsible for making the decision and directing your letter to them.

8. THANK THEM. If our efforts are successful, please remember to send a thank you note, email or phone call to those responsible. Just do one, however, as it wouldn’t be so nice for the networks to be buried in a flood of thank you notes.

SUGGESTED PHONE CALL DIALOG

As with the letters and emails, phone calls to the networks should be courteous, professional, non-abusive or threatening. The calls should relate the same points as those in the letters and emails and whould include the statement that financial support of all BSG-related items will be withdrawn if the final season is split.

Here is a possible conversation opening:

"Hello, my name is Chris Smith and I’m calling from Chicago and I wanted to speak to someone in regards to the TV-series Battlestar Galactica..."

You can take it from there if someone is willing to speak to you.  if not, ask if there is a viewer suggestion or comment line or voicemail.

On this page you will find how to write effective emails and letters and how to make phone calls that make a positive impression.

TO FIND A LISTING OF WHO TO CALL OR WRITE TO, PLEASE CLICK ON THE "WHO TO CONTACT" LINK ON THE NAVIGATION BAR ABOVE.