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Why was SatAM season 3 REALLY canceled?
Rumours:
Here are a few rumored reasons of why SatAM season 3 was never aired.
1. Power Rangers completely battered SatAM's ratings, and they therefore had to cancel.
2. DiC had been selling animation cells on the market without Sega's consent.
3. ABC's kidvid programming has recently adheared to a 'Two seasons a show' rule.
Analysis of Reason 1:
Now, this is very possible. When Fox aired Power Rangers, it was placed in the same timeslot as SatAM. Power Rangers soon
became far more popular with the viewers, and it almost completely annihilated Sonic SatAM's ratings. In an attempt to avoid
this problem, DiC moved SatAM to an earlier time slot. However, Fox instisted on keeping in competition with SatAM and also
moved Power Rangers to an earlier time slot. After Season 2 was finished, the manager of DiC was eventually fired and replaced
with a new one, who sadly didn't like the show and decided to cancel it. DiC was not long after also bought by Disney, and
they then controlled all of their shows.
Analysis of Reason 2:
This one, I personally think to be the real reason. It is said that DiC began selling animation cells on the market with Sega's
knowledge or consent. However, DiC hadn't expected Sega to find out about this, but they did. Sega's property was being sold
off without their knowledge, and they weren't making any money from it whatsoever. Angered by this, Sega immediately refused
to work with DiC any longer. It is also possible that Sega took DiC to court for doing such a thing, and this would also prove
to be the reason for DiC going out of business not long after this incident. Sega had also been angered by DiC once in the
past, when Sonic had cried in the SatAM episode 'Ultra Sonic'.
Analysis of Reason 3:
Heh, now this one I don't believe, even in the slightest. Any company with any sense whatsoever wouldn't set all shows the
exact same timespan, as this would remove some of the greatest shows from their grasp also. This one is extremely unlikely
to be the real reason, although that may of seemed a pattern in ABC's kidvid programming.
Overview:
Well overall, after analysing all three rumors, the second rumored reason seems to be the most likely to me. However, before
this editorial was finally published, I located an e-mail from none other than Ben Hurst himself, outlining the truth behind
what truly had transpired. The e-mail read the following:
“First, we were up against Power Rangers, which was the big kid on the block and so we didn't get the ratings required
to keep Sonic SatAm going. Second, the President of ABC children's programming - who was the champion of the show - was fired.
As often happens, a new broom sweeps clean - and Sonic was a "product of the old regime" and thus the new executives had no
interest in it.
Cells were marketed by Dic during the second season - but that was a deal approved by Sega and quite legitimate. I even bought
some myself, which were packaged with the original line drawings and the original background. They're my favorite animation
collectables. I have one each of Sonic and Sally from the opening credits - and a 5 layer cel of Robotnik, also from the opening
credits.
I hope this clears the air.
Take care,
Ben”
So, there you have it. My original assumption on this subject was indeed incorrect, but now you have the definite truth from
Ben Hurst himself. As his e-mail stated, the first rumour is in fact the real reason behind Season 3 of Sonic SatAM never
airing. The second rumour is told to of been only partially true, for although cell images were sold, Sega DID have knowledge
of this happening. As for the final aforementioned rumour, this was not mentioned at all in the e-mail, and is very likely
to be lie entirely, or perhaps just a coincidence with ABC's shows. I hope that's cleared up the air about the reason why
Season 3 of SatAM was cancelled, and will soon stop the various other rumours from floating around the Internet.
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