change is when your colors run

テレビ朝日系で放送されている特撮ヒーロー番組「スーパー戦隊シリーズ」が、現在の「ナンバーワン戦隊ゴジュウジャー」を最後に終了することが30日、関係者への取材で分かった。昭和50年開始の第1作「秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー」から世代を超えて愛されてきた人気シリーズが、半世紀の歴史に幕を下ろす。

The Tokusatsu hero show "Super Sentai Series" now airing on TV Asahi will end with its current run "No.1 Sentai Gozyuger", as we have learned from an insider on the 30th. The popular series loved by generations since it primered in Showa 50 (1975) is set to take a bow after half a century.

Kyodo news is the first to report, while Sankei News has an extra paragraph.

関係者によると、イベントや関連グッズ、映画化などで得られる収入が、番組制作費に見合わないことなどが放送終了の背景にあるという。

According to the source, revenue from events, merchandise and movie failing to meet the production cost is one of the reasons in the background of this decision.

Keep in mind that this has not been confirmed by either Toei or TV Asahi.

my thoughts:

At first glance, it's easy to wish the news merely meant Sentai could be changing networks as TV Asahi back down from sponsoring. But the text is adamant on Gozyuger being the last ever Sentai series to be produced. In the worst case scenario of this optimistic view, say if Sentai can't find a new TV station to partner, TTFC is mature enough as a streaming platform, and Zeztz is paving the way for overseas braodcast.

There has already been leaks and rumors of next year's Sentai. The logo for Gozyuger came out this time last year. With the old schedule, the cast should've been finalised by autumn. So to say, if there has not been a casting call for next year, these "industry tips" would probably know earlier, unless some event led to an abrupt cancellation - hopefully for a rebranding.

The additional reason that Sentai isn't making enough money is not too convicing. True Sentai toy sales have been on the decline for several years, but it hasn't reached that low. Gozyuger's collectibility seems to be improving that number. King-Ohger's events were cited as a big success hence Boonboomger's following suit with the Sanrio collab/pop-up store and addtioanal venue for FLT. The summer movie consistently earned that number for several years now so there shouldn't be any surprise. That said, Toei/TV Asahi could've been investing more than we know and the numbers just don't do. Sentai has been trying to break the mould as far back as Kyuranger when Bandai lost the PR license. From increasing the number of members, a VS format, non-human rangers to the breakthroughs of Donbrothers and King-Ohger, appealing to adult audiences in face of lowering birth rates... Sentai has been trying hard to reinvent itself, and still it is not enough for the investors. Still, I find it hard to believe Toei would entirely let the brand go. It's certainly hard to think the last Sentai Summer Stage has already passed, and the coming G-rosso and FLT maybe Sentai's last...

Realistically, it will be a rebranding. Maybe there will still be a team hero show next year, just not under "Super Sentai". The Super Sentai IP will surely go on with how much nostalgia bait and anniversary event Toei has been putting out. On the production side, maybe the crew will benefit from a long overdue break as long as they are promised new work and we the audience receive quality stories. Maybe the new production mode could even lead to Season 2 of popular teams. Maybe Toei will take the change to reform Sentai/PR globally.

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