Question about Super Password jackpot

[cmjb13]

Forgive my ignorance here, but which is better for the producers (if there is any difference at all)

$5k is won 5 days in a row

or

On the 5th day, someone wins $25k

[zachhoran]

[quote name=\'cmjb13\' post=\'115609\' date=\'Apr 7 2006, 11:56 AM\']
Forgive my ignorance here, but which is better for the producers (if there is any difference at all)

$5k is won 5 days in a row

or

On the 5th day, someone wins $25k
[/quote]

Winning the $5K five days in a row, as they don't have to pay out consolation money(up to $900 each) on the first four bonus round losses

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'cmjb13\' post=\'115609\' date=\'Apr 7 2006, 08:56 AM\']
Forgive my ignorance here, but which is better for the producers (if there is any difference at all)
$5k is won 5 days in a row
or
On the 5th day, someone wins $25k
[/quote]
I'm sure this a bit of a holy war topic in the game show industry, but I gotta think the latter. Budget-wise, the two are functionally equivalent, of course. But you would think more viewers would be likely to hang on if there is the potential for a bigger-than-normal payday at the end of the rainbow.

[Jeremy Nelson]

I never really gave it that much thought...even with jackpots, they DID give away $5,000 for every match played. But I do have to agree with Lemon on this one. I'm sure the producers were willing to pay an additional $3,600 (four $900 bonus round losses) for higher ratings. I know I would probably skip class to see someone win a $50k jackpot, rather than a normal $5k win.

[tvrandywest]

After ratings and other factors that play into the network's "deal or no deal" for the show's renewal, the primary concern is staying within budget on the long outlook, beyond any particular week's payout. When I was involved in a show under development with CBS, I learned that, at that time, the budget would be designed to support a bonus round win approximately 3 times per week. If a bonus round wasn't won on at least half of the shows, it was thought not to be satisfying for the home viewer.

As to whether or not a progressive jackpot that pays off with a HUGE win less frequently is considered more or less satisfying, I have no clue what the research shows.

Randy
tvrandywest.com

[Robert Hutchinson]

Super Password's cash prizes were designed by someone who really really wanted a stable budget, I think. Not only was there a contestant-independent progressive jackpot in the bonus round (effectively $5000 per game played), but also one for the Cashword (another $1000 per game). Every full game played was going to pay out, averaged over time, either $6600 or $7000, plus consolation money in the bonus.

[TLEberle]

I turned around on this. For every one of us that can figure out the math, there are 999 housewives and little kids who see the big numbers and jump up and down (or at least sit and watch the solo game). If a $25,000 jackpot goes begging on Friday, the host can build it up. "Be here Monday to see if one of our players will win $30,000!" and so on. Maybe those houswives and kids that were home from school will tell their friends.

The only problem with all of that is that the ratings will only stay level if the game is good. The viewers that watch for a $35,000 jackpot but leave after a win are not the ones you want.