Author Topic: Question about the G-T Gameshows (Read 3417 times)

14gameshows · « **on:** May 12, 2012, 05:27:22 PM »

USA Network and the Family Channel both had a gameshow block back in the 80s-90s and we saw great shows from the Hatos-Hall, Reg Grundy, Bob Stewart, Barry-Enright libraries along with a host of others. How come Goodson-Todman shows weren't shown? Was there a "lack" of interest? High license fees? Goodson not interested? Any thoughts?

BrandonFG · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2012, 05:32:03 PM »

FWIW, CBN showed "Card Sharks" and "Blockbusters" in the early-80s, but not sure why Family Channel didn't, other than license fees.

Chief-O · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2012, 06:04:48 PM »

I'd think high license fees if anything, but then again, that's apparently what's kept GSN from airing "Scrabble", SOTC, and "Concentration".

WarioBarker · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2012, 06:50:15 PM »

Quote from: Chief-O on May 12, 2012, 06:04:48 PM

I'd think high license fees if anything, but then again, that's apparently what's kept GSN from airing "Scrabble", SOTC, and "Concentration".

Scrabble and $ale, I'm pretty sure you're right. Concentration, on the other hand. has not only never been a Fremantle property (NBC owns it, bought from Barry-Enright some weeks into the original run) but as far as I know has never had any licensing fees ever put on the episodes. I remember reading that GSN tried to license the Goodson-produced versions in 1994 or so and NBC flat-out refused (yet apparently bothered to convert the Trebek shows to digibeta).

Bryce L. · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2012, 09:37:38 PM »

Quote from: fostergray82 on May 12, 2012, 05:32:03 PM

FWIW, CBN showed "Card Sharks" and "Blockbusters" in the early-80s, but not sure why Family Channel didn't, other than license fees.

Question, wasn't Family Channel nothing more than CBN under new ownership?

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2012, 10:04:53 PM »

Quote from: Bryce L. on May 13, 2012, 09:37:38 PM

Quote from: fostergray82 on May 12, 2012, 05:32:03 PM
FWIW, CBN showed "Card Sharks" and "Blockbusters" in the early-80s, but not sure why Family Channel didn't, other than license fees.
Question, wasn't Family Channel nothing more than CBN under new ownership?

Well it was the same ownership but a change of name. When Fox bought it it became Fox Family and then when ABC bought it it became ABC Family. Those two G-T shows were placed into syndication in the early 80s, so the deal was made with the syndicator rather than G-T itself. When FAM started "The Games on FAM" it was sort of a dry run of what "The Game Channel" would have looked like. By that time the Goodson shows were tied up with what became GSN.