Author Topic: Fremantle Working On Project For Classic Games? (Read 5029 times)

mmb5 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2009, 05:32:53 PM »

[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'209810\' date=\'Mar 8 2009, 03:29 PM\']
Has GSN ever done anything with cable systems' on-demand? It seems like a reasonable idea for them or Fremantle, although I suppose if the consideration set is "Password Plus" or "Spring Break Babes in Heat '09," it might not work.
[/quote]
You are likely the winner. There is major push from cable and satellite companies to significantly increase their VOD to keep customers from fleeing. I know we (former TVGuide) are being told that we should be concentrating on enhancing their VOD listing data.

--Mike

Joe Mello · « **Reply #16 on:** March 09, 2009, 01:36:20 PM »

[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'209822\' date=\'Mar 8 2009, 05:32 PM\']There is major push from cable and satellite companies to significantly increase their VOD to keep customers from fleeing.[/quote]
To what? Each other? Netflix?

/honest question

mmb5 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 09, 2009, 01:50:16 PM »

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'209895\' date=\'Mar 9 2009, 01:36 PM\']
To what? Each other? Netflix?

/honest question
[/quote]
Any and all of the above. Now that satellite is a pretty strong competitor to cable, and phone companies are making inroads as well, cable is hurting (a little bit). One thing they hope that will be a value-add is a large catalog of VOD, so your TV can be more You Tube/Hulu-ish.

From a cynical standpoint, I believe it's also a ploy for cable companies to become the owner of the channels itself rather than the pass-through, since the real money in cable now seems to be being a channel owner. $3.5 Billion for The Weather Channel. Really?

--Mike

Joe Mello · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:37:28 PM »

[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'209899\' date=\'Mar 9 2009, 01:50 PM\']From a cynical standpoint, I believe it's also a ploy for cable companies to become the owner of the channels itself rather than the pass-through, since the real money in cable now seems to be being a channel owner. $3.5 Billion for The Weather Channel. Really?[/quote]
Doesn't that seem like an impractical approach? Comcast has a handful of channels already, but only 2 or 3 are worth a damn on their own merits. Wouldn't it seem like a better idea to try and invest money to improve on what they already have instead of buying and selling networks like stocks?

mmb5 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:08:47 PM »

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'209907\' date=\'Mar 9 2009, 02:37 PM\']
Doesn't that seem like an impractical approach? Comcast has a handful of channels already, but only 2 or 3 are worth a damn on their own merits. Wouldn't it seem like a better idea to try and invest money to improve on what they already have instead of buying and selling networks like stocks?
[/quote]
There's a difference between "on their own merits" and "makes money". Think TechTV -- lots of buzz, no money. Now that they are G4 -- no buzz, but profitable (I'm assuming). If Comcast ever buys GSN, the party is over.

If Comcast (or whoever) can prove that game shows are a value add to their VOD product, they will keep it. The thing with VOD is, you have an absolute and unassailable calculated rating, rather than an estimate.

--Mike