GSN ratings for 2nd quarter

[--Richard]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111796802...yId=14&cs=1

Look at the bottom, where it talks about networks that plunged double-digits in primetime ratings.

[Jimmy Owen]

[quote name=\'--Richard\' post=\'156654\' date=\'Jul 4 2007, 11:28 AM\']
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111796802...yId=14&cs=1

Look at the bottom, where it talks about networks that plunged double-digits in primetime ratings.
[/quote]


Well, a lot of cable providers have made it more difficult to find GSN, so it may not totally be a programming problem.  GSN may be a channel people don't see a need for which to pay extra.

[CaseyAbell]

This is no surprise, considering the miserable household numbers that CableWorld posted for GSN in April and May. I assume June was pretty awful, too.

Basically, GSN decided to take the plunge and drop Millionaire from prime time. The show had been eroding, and the network decided that it had to be rested sooner or later. I'm sure they figured on some damage to the prime time numbers as a result, and they figured right.

GSN just hasn't produced a reliable audience generator to keep the numbers up. The poker show does okay in demos, but nothing else looks to be working well in prime time. Regis (or Meredith, if they could do a deal) might return to 8:00 PM sooner than expected, especially if Without Prejudice and Grand Slam don't work.

[Jimmy Owen]

If the only bright spot is the casino show, why not just do that?  Leave the prime time game shows to the over-the-air nets and CNBC.  Long-form casino shows are the answer.

[CaseyAbell]

In fact, I don't see why the blackjack show shouldn't get a prime time slot somewhere. What's to lose at this point? All card games all prime time would probably p.o. the traditional game show audience too much. See the 2004 experiment with reality shows, which rapidly wore out their welcome.

The quickest fix might be back-to-back Meredith Millionaire at 8:00 PM. I don't know that she would pull the kind of numbers Regis generated for years, but it's worth a shot. Now if the syndicators would just go along with my bright idea...

[Jimmy Owen]

The traditional game show fan could be served with the GSN daytime schedule.  Devote prime time to non-traditional, yet compatible programs.  Millionaire does not flow into Poker.  It's almost a complete opposite audience.  Build a prime time schedule without any geriatric appeal, and you're on the way to success.

[Joe Mello]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'156712\' date=\'Jul 5 2007, 12:44 PM\']Millionaire does not flow into Poker.
[/quote]And what, pray tell, does flow into Poker?  Surely someone who's enjoyed GSN's poker shows as much as you would know.

See, the problem is with building the non-traditional yet compatible programming for prime time is that they've tried to do that and it hasn't worked, and the programming that probably would work would either a) cost too much or b) is owned by NBC, who's running it into the ground themselves.

[Jimmy Owen]

By flowing I mean traditional game shows, then a compatible game-casino hybrid like a Card Sharks or Lingo then into the hard-core casino stuff.  Q&A, then casino is a stretch.  You don't need to know who I.M. Pei or Hannibal is to play poker.

Maybe try a GSN/GSN at Nite rebrand so that it's a different channel at night. Game shows day/Casino game shows at night.  Young demos are what is desired.  The only drawback is that there are already alternatives for the young male demo in prime (NBA on TNT, wrestling on USA, Spike, ESPN and its various permutations.)