[quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' date=\'Feb 28 2005, 01:23 PM\']These questions goes out to those who have some involvement with local quiz shows in any way (Mr. Ottinger, I am looking at you!).[/quote]
So THAT'S the creepy, paranoid feeling I had!
This is all personal experience, and your mileage will definitely vary.
(1) WKAR (our local PBS affiliate) decided they wanted to put on a quiz program. They had done one in the 70s, and in the late 80s, they decided to revive it. So the idea originated at the station. I certainly didn't pitch them the idea, I only pitched myself as their host when I heard they wanted to do it.
(2) Basically, what you want to do is see how your idea meets THEIR needs. It's their station, after all. If you're pitching to a commercial station, even a tiny one, you have to show them that it's financially in their interest to run your show as opposed to reruns of Cheers. So even better than having the coolest game show idea ever is having already lined up SPONSORS who are willing to PAY to put your show on the air. For QuizBusters, the station feels as though we're providing a service to the community by putting the spotlight on a lot of smart local kids. We also have underwriters who pay a great deal of the production costs.
(3) You're kidding, right? The host is just about the least important cog in the wheel as far as production requirements go. Your host might ALSO be a producer, who is actually responsible for all that stuff, but the host is just the guy who smiles and reads the questions. In my personal situation, I'm also one of the producers, but my responsibilities have more to do with the content (writing and editing questions) than with the budget.
(4) On a local, or even a "regional" level (whatever that is), your only market is going to be the broadcast stations in your area. If you're more interested in making the show than you are in selling the show, I suggest you look into what cable access channels exist in your area, and just do the show yourself for the learnign experience. I did several game shows on our cable access channel just for the fun and challenge of getting them on the air. Looking back, it turned out to be the best thing I could have done to learn production skills, and probably was the single thing most responsible for launching me on my so-called "career".
The unfortunate reality that you need to face is that pitching a game show "idea" really isn't how it's done. If you can get your producer friend interested, and if he's got the ear of a station manager or two, then he's going to be the one that does most of the work in getting the show off the ground. You have to show a station more than just an "idea", you have to show a station that you're capable of getting this show made, and that it's worth it to THEM that you make it. It's tough, which is why you don't see a whole lot of local game shows out there.
