Fremantle launching game show digital channel

[TLEberle]

I think most of us knew what Jaimal meant...

If it means Dale asks fewer silly questions is that so bad?

[PYLdude]

I think most of us knew what Jaimal meant...

If it means Dale asks fewer silly questions is that so bad?

I think the approach was a misfire is all. I would rather not see sarcasm wasted on something that didn't need it.

My opinion, YMMV.

[dale_grass]

I think the approach was a misfire is all.

It was a misfire.  I meant to poke fun but it came out too clunky.  I'll blame the late hour.

[jimlangefan]

I think the approach was a misfire is all.

It was a misfire.  I meant to poke fun but it came out too clunky.  I'll blame the late hour.

But was it necessary in the first place?  A question was asked and I had the info to answer.  I don't think I did anything to warrant that unless I missed something.

[dale_grass]

But was it necessary in the first place? I don't think I did anything to warrant that unless I missed something.

Poking fun is never necessary. 

I don't think I did anything to warrant that unless I missed something.

I have no problem with you or what you said, just that the first sentence was technically wrong and the second was written with an ambiguous pronoun that sounded funny when taken in tandem with the first sentence.

[jimlangefan]

I'll give you that.

[Tony Peters]

I could be mistaken, but I was under the impression that FremantleMedia owns, among the Carruthers properties, only Press Your Luck and that the rest are held by co-producer Warner Bros. TV (not that the other Carruthers titles are, as obscure as they are, likely to be exploited now or in the future).

As for the subchannel itself: even if a Huntsville station picks it up, it's highly-unlikely-to-impossible that I'll ever get to see it, due to the house location's RF reception problems (in a valley, with a tree-covered hill between us and the towers on Monte Sano; CW affil WHDF has its tower in a different, less-obscured location), the lack of a working antenna, the lack of cable on our street, and Dish (likely for capacity reasons) not carrying subchannels at all.  Oh well...

[urbanpreppie05]

 Wow, way to think real positive. 

[TimK2003]

I know it probably won't happen, but I love it if Fremantle were to add a new version of Password (using the current Jimmy Fallon motif) to their diginet lineup, but use the original rules, be a little more serious on the game play and have slightly more modest cash payouts.  NBC and Fremantle could cross-promote their late night show and Buzzr properties respectively (although with Fox O&Os as part of the initial startup stations carrying the subchannel, that may not fly to well). 

I'm sure NBC has a few favors they owe to Fremantle in exchange for the use of their Password property on Fallon's shows over the years.

[Thunder]

You can take the word "probably" out of that sentence and still be correct.

[snowpeck]

Here's a new article on the project: http://www.tvinsider.com/article/212/retro-game-shows-find-a-new-network-home

Some relevant passages:

The only costs to FremantleMedia are residual paychecks for the game shows’ hosts and the fees to convert the episodes to digital.  “Since we own all the product, the cost of programming is next to nothing,” says Thom Beers, CEO of FremantleMedia North America. “It’s a beautiful model. We only have one competitor [GSN]. That’s not a bad place to be.”

GSN licenses roughly 1,500 episodes from FremantleMedia, which leaves the rest for Buzzr. “Why not monetize it all?” Beers says. At launch, shows will include Family Feud with former hosts Richard Dawson, Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn and John O’Hurley; Let’s Make a Deal with Monty Hall, and episodes of To Tell the Truth, Password, Match Game, Beat the Clock, What’s My Line and Card Sharks. FremantleMedia may also program reality shows with a competition element. But don’t expect to see old episodes of American Idol on the channel; clearing the music on that show would be too expensive.

In order to introduce a younger generation to some of these titles, FremantleMedia will also produce online versions of games such as Password, featuring YouTube talent. Those episodes might later become an on-air Buzzr programming block. “We walk in with a very clear programming strategy,” Beers says of Buzzr’s 100% game lineup.

[BrandonFG]

I love and hate this part...

In order to introduce a younger generation to some of these titles, FremantleMedia will also produce online versions of games such as Password, featuring YouTube talent. Those episodes might later become an on-air Buzzr programming block. “We walk in with a very clear programming strategy,” Beers says of Buzzr’s 100% game lineup.

Love the idea of introducing younger viewers to older shows. Hate the way they're going about doing so (see Youtube episodes for reference). That said, I'd love to see a daytime block of original shows, or even an hour-long show that has contestants playing a variety of classic shows (similar to Game Show Marathon or Sabado Gigante), but minus the 70s kitsch. Air it from, say, from 10-11 or 12...would be a nice alternative, esp. if Fremantle revives anything else for syndication but some markets don't clear the show (e.g. Celebrity Name Game).

/Longshot, but would love for the obscure Canadian LMAD to make it into the mix

[clemon79]

If they're smart, they offer a Roku channel (or other online feed) for people who aren't in the Fox O&O markets.

/pleasebesmartpleasebesmartpleasebesmartpleasebesmart

[cmjb13]

I love and hate this part...

In order to introduce a younger generation to some of these titles, FremantleMedia will also produce online versions of games such as Password, featuring YouTube talent. Those episodes might later become an on-air Buzzr programming block. “We walk in with a very clear programming strategy,” Beers says of Buzzr’s 100% game lineup.

Love the idea of introducing younger viewers to older shows. Hate the way they're going about doing so (see Youtube episodes for reference). That said, I'd love to see a daytime block of original shows, or even an hour-long show that has contestants playing a variety of classic shows (similar to Game Show Marathon or Sabado Gigante), but minus the 70s kitsch. Air it from, say, from 10-11 or 12...would be a nice alternative, esp. if Fremantle revives anything else for syndication but some markets don't clear the show (e.g. Celebrity Name Game).

/Longshot, but would love for the obscure Canadian LMAD to make it into the mix

Excluding one of the biggest titles in their library (Price) makes me think they aren't going to bother at all or are trying to figure out which episodes they can and cannot air.

[BrandonFG]

I wouldn't be surprised if they at least start off with the Carey episodes, since they now have seven years and change to work with. I'm sure they could still find enough Barker episodes without furs, should they decide to do so.

Hard to believe it's been 15 years...