Logo

‘5th Grader,’ ‘10’ Mulled for Syndie

Dec 16, 2007  •  Post A Comment

The resurgence of game shows on network television has now spread to syndication.
With “Deal or No Deal” set to go this fall, studios are contemplating syndicating other prime-time hits including “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and “Power of 10” for debut on stations in 2009.
Game shows are the second-least-expensive genre to produce for syndication, behind only court shows.
Enhancing their appeal to syndicators is that an entire season of shows can be produced in a matter of two or three months. However, that doesn’t necessarily spell success: Neither of the two syndicated game shows that debuted this season has broken out as a hit, with “Merv Griffin’s Crosswords” hovering just below a 1.0 rating for distributor Program Partners and Twentieth Television’s “Temptation” faring worse, averaging just a 0.5 score this season.
“The main reason we’re seeing a resurgence is because of the popularity of games for television, which is pushing a renaissance in syndication,” said Bill Carroll, VP and director of programming for Katz Media. “As a rule of thumb, success on the network seems to help in terms of establishing a show, and helps to make it successful. Stations look at that and realize that if a show comes off a successful run on the network, odds are greater in its favor.”
Multiple sources confirmed that Mark Burnett Productions has been exploring a daytime version of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and has met with distributor Twentieth Television to discuss reproducing Fox’s hit game show for syndication. A Twentieth representative would not comment.
For Fox, “5th Grader” provides a best-case scenario for a network: a hit that’s simple and inexpensive to produce, yet translates to other cultures, airing in more than 50 territories worldwide. The series is distributed internationally by Mark Burnett Productions International.
Sony Pictures Television, meanwhile, has been working on taking CBS’ hit game show “Power of 10” to daytime as well. “Power” host Drew Carey is not expected to participate in the syndicated version of the series, due to his commitments as the new host of “The Price Is Right,” according to company insiders.
A Sony rep did not return requests for comment.
With “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” continuing to rule the roost in national household ratings, former prime-time player “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” making a strong run and “Family Feud” a solid, steady player, analysts say the return to game shows is a natural step for program development.
“We’ve had little success in terms of talk shows in recent years, and I think we’re hitting a max in court shows that can be sustained by stations, so now distributors are going back to a genre that was for many years the staple of daytime television,” Mr. Carroll said. “It’s relatively inexpensive to produce, and the timing is right to lay down the groundwork for 2009, especially if ‘Deal’ proves to be a hit.”
Executives said neither of the current season’s new syndicated game shows brought to market the pre-branding needed to make a program a hit.
That won’t be the case in 2008. “Deal” will join Debmar-Mercury’s pre-branded “Trivial Pursuit: America Plays” as new series from the genre on station lineups. The show will have strong financial and marketing support from Hasbro, maker of the “Trivial Pursuit” board game. Mark L. Walberg is on deck to host.
“‘Trivial Pursuit’ represents an incredible opportunity to leverage a brand that is extremely popular with multiple generations and combine it with interactive elements to bring a new and exciting concept to the game show genre,” said Mort Marcus, co-president of Debmar-Mercury, upon announcing the series.
“In partnering with Hasbro, we have every intention of taking this worldwide brand and making this the best possible show for television,” said Ira Bernstein, Debmar-Mercury co-president. “Other new game shows we’ve seen in recent years have cut budgets, and that is clearly reflected when you watch the show.
However, we have a contractual commitment with Hasbro that not only requires both of us to promote the show, but to put the dollars into the look and feel of the series that will add to the richness of the program.”
11:25 a.m. Dec. 18: Updated seventh paragraph

16 Comments

  1. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  2. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  3. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  4. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  5. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  6. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  7. I had a strong feeling that Trivial Pursuit was going to be revived. I am so happy that its going to be revive and I (my self)was already planning to revive alot of gameshows and future making and creating gameshows in the future. It would be my goal in the future even with being a gameshow host and gameshow announcer in the future even though I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I hope to hear from one of u about this. Thanks

  8. I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional?

  9. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  10. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

  11. Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

  12. Could you tell me just how do you create such comment system like on this website?

  13. I love the way you write and also the theme on your blog. Did you code this yourself or was it done by a professional? I’m very very impressed.

  14. Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel 🙂

  15. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.. 🙂

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)