sample4network

You will find below a sample letter for inspiration purposes (which you may use for e-mailing too when
available). Feel free to use it in whatever way you please (use parts of it, modify them, etc...).
I also provide a link to it in word format for your convenience.
Note that we have put in bold in the document itself the type of messages that networks are not used to
receiving from fans. This is because just about everything else that we tell them, they already know. We
need to attract their attention on what is new in our message, because this constitutes the additional
"carrot" that we have to offer, i.e. the thing that we hope can make a difference and help tip the scale in
our favor (aside from the sheer amount of mail, of course).
Also mention the network concerned by name whenever you can (ex. SCI FI Channel, ...). You can do so
using mail-merge too.
Also, underneath are links to other sample letters to networks for further inspiration.

                                                                                                  [Your name ]
                                                                                                  [Your address]

                                                                                                  [Date]

[Name of person the letter is addressed to]
[Address of the network]

Dear [-------]

I am one of the 8 million viewers of the People's Choice Award's winner for "Best New
TV-drama", Moonlight. *
[- give personal information of interest to them, for instance "I am a 28 year old woman
living in New York City";
- explain what you love about the show
- If you found out about Moonlight only by word of mouth, or in another way than by
CBS promos, state it, bold it, but don't directly criticize CBS. If you discovered
Moonlight relatively late in the season, also state it and bold it.
- also very important (it implies that Moonlight suits their existing viewers): talk about
some of the shows that air on their network (SCI FI, etc…) that you like]

As a fan, I understand that you would like to know what type of investment you will be
making when renewing Moonlight. Not only is it a truly unique and amazing show, as
proves the amount of enthusiasm that it has and is continuing to raise, but I believe that
its fanbase itself constitutes an additional resource for your network. It is a
very active, international online community of thousands of individuals at least,
eager to help make Moonlight a financially profitable venture for your network.
Indeed, we all understand that the future of a show depends on its having a large
number of viewers. We want to see many seasons of Moonlight, and in keeping with our
already established pro-active attitude, I am personally eager to help attract new
viewers for your network, as well as sponsors, by any means that you will
suggest (for instance, encouraging my friends to watch the show, wearing at big
events Moonlight T-shirts stating the name of your network, informing people that the
show is now aired on your network on the non-Moonlight related online forums that I
frequent, etc…).

Moonlight fans recently financed and ran full-page advertisements in Variety and The
Hollywood Reporter. The purpose of these advertisements is two fold:

- Firstly, to let the networks know how much the continuation of Moonlight means to us
as fans, as well as to the millions of viewers who love the show.

- Secondly, to draw the networks' attention on the fact that Moonlight's fanbase
wishes to work in partnership with the network that will renew the show to ensure
its success. Our community is not only numerous, but also highly creative and
rich in a variety of skills that it is eager to put to the service of your network for the
sake of Moonlight.

I believe that the fans' efforts in the past few months testify to our level of commitment
on this issue. Moonlight followers across the country have literally poured out blood,
sweat, tears and cash in the name of this show through Blood Drives and Bone Marrow
screenings. They are also calling out for Myanmar Disaster Relief - “Fans for Moonlight
Unite for the Greater Tribe”.
On Memorial Day weekend Moonlight fans descended on Los Angeles for the first
annual MoonlightCon. At this gathering they collected 50 pints of blood and 37 Bone
Marrow screenings for the American Red Cross. A Moonlight memorabilia auction was
also held which collected $6,000.00 for the Food Bank.

These various projects were all initiated and entirely coordinated by Moonlight fans.

These are some of the amazing things that the Moonlight fanbase, together with the
millions of viewers of Moonlight have done in the name of this show, and out of passion
for it. The vast majority of them have never been so inspired to reach out like this
before. I am sure that each one of them can give you a different reason for it. Yet in all
cases, I strongly believe that these reasons have to do with the inspiration that they
draw from the extraordinary show that is Moonlight.

Imagine how many more of your viewers will be similarly inspired when Moonlight
continues on your network, and will then join in our efforts to ensure its success?

I would also like to point out, although I am sure that you are well aware of this, that
even after a 3-months hiatus, the show came back with ratings similar to its pre-strike
figures: “Moonlight won its time slot every week, along with the hearts of millions of fans.”

Many thanks.

Yours sincerely,

[your signature]

[Your name]

Link to the corresponding word document

Link to Tracy's letter to DISH NETWORK

For mail-merge and labels files click here.

NETWORKS: Sample letters