NATPE 2015: DIGINETS
Fox O&Os Game For Latest Diginet: Buzzr TV
The new multicast network from FremantleMedia North America and Debmar-Mercury will feature iconic game shows. It’s set for a summer launch.
By Staff
TVNewsCheck, January 20, 2015 7:31 AM EST
Fox Television Stations has acquired rights to new multicast network Buzzr TV from FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) and Debmar-Mercury.

Buzzr TV will showcase FremantleMedia’s library of game show content in all 17 Fox O&O markets, including nine out of the top 10, and 14 out of the top 20 DMAs.

Thom Beers, CEO of FremantleMedia North America, has made launching this channel a top priority, he said. “FremantleMedia has consistently been the leader in the game show space, with long-running and more-popular-than-ever titles such as Family Feud and The Price is Right. When I joined the company two years ago, it became instantly clear that there was a huge opportunity for us to not only be a producer in the space, but also a programmer.

“We are thrilled to have Fox, one of the nation’s largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, as our launch partner on Buzzr TV. Jack Abernethy and Frank Cicha’s enthusiasm for both the channel and our product was clear from the get-go, and we look forward to bringing this beloved genre to viewers across the country,” Beers added.

Frank Cicha, SVP of programming for Fox Television Stations, said: “Buzzr will be a great addition to our D2 portfolio. The possibilities to have fun creatively, and to make it fun for the viewer, are endless. And in a D2 landscape this competitive, the ability to control your own product is a big plus. FremantleMedia can certainly do that.”

Debmar-Mercury, which brokered the Buzzr TV deal on behalf of FMNA, will conduct meetings with FMNA and other major station groups at NATPE to expand the multicast network’s footprint.

“There is nothing else like Buzzr TV,” said Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury. “It will be the only game show network operating in the digital multicast universe, providing stations with a highly marketable asset. We believe the depth of the FremantleMedia library will allow the network to secure its future, offering viewers a proven, quality and unique alternative to other digital channels.”

FremantleMedia is the owner of a game show library with more than 40,000 episodes of game shows of yesterday and today. Iconic titles that will be featured when the channel launches include Family Feud, featuring hosts Richard Dawson, Ray Combs, Louis Anderson, Richard Karn and John O’Hurley; Let’s Make a Deal, featuring host Monty Hall; as well as famed titles To Tell the Truth, Password, Match Game, Beat the Clock, What’s My Line, Blockbusters and Card Sharks.

I'm curious to know if they're going to be broadcasting Barker episodes of TPIR or just re-runs of Carey TPIR episodes...?

I understand there's a lot of red tape involved with getting clearance for the Barker-era episodes, including but not limited to:

*He (Barker) won't clear his appearance in any episodes in which Fur is given away as a prize, as he has since become a huge animal rights activist.

*He (Barker) won't clear his appearance in any episodes that former TPIR model Holly Hallstrom appear in, as he doesn't want her to get any royalty checks (due to the falling out they had with the lawsuits).

I'm curious to know if they're going to be broadcasting Barker episodes of TPIR or just re-runs of Carey TPIR episodes...?

I understand there's a lot of red tape involved with getting clearance for the Barker-era episodes, including but not limited to:

*He (Barker) won't clear his appearance in any episodes in which Fur is given away as a prize, as he has since become a huge animal rights activist.

*He (Barker) won't clear his appearance in any episodes that former TPIR model Holly Hallstrom appear in, as he doesn't want her to get any royalty checks (due to the falling out they had with the lawsuits).

Unfortunately, they almost certainly won't show any episodes with fur, but as far as episodes with Holly go, I know that many Holly episodes were shown on Game Show Network, so that's questionable either way.

For the fur episodes, why cant they just show the episodes and just delete the parts with fur?

I can do without the Family Feud episodes hosted by Louie Anderson thank you very much. I can't stand him. I just won't watch those ones.

Ed.

I dont think those are even on anymore. Its just Steve Harvey. I mean he does a tremendous job but there were other host besides him.

I just hope Cleveland gets this station...

Hope it happens in TN as well as hopefully they can get the rights to Jack Barry and Chuck Barris library and buy them out from Sony. You can only hope!

So anymore news on this classic gameshow channel?

Wonder how long before the classics trickle away in favor of in-house produced garbage....

I for one hope that where I live, this station will be part of the package. GSN used to be awesome, with such a variety. Now it's 15 hours of Steve Harvey's Family Feud, some episodes of Baggage at 2am, and "Let's Ask America" at 3am. It's nice that they have Press Your Luck, Eubanks' Card Sharks and Jim Perry's $ale of the Century, but the other shows have been on forever. I know Match Game is very popular, but they've been airing Match Game since they still were called Game Show Network.

Honestly, I like Harvey's Feud. He's a good host. I do agree about giving some more airings to classic game shows. The mother load for me if they aired old Price Is Rights. I mean I would that, plus Classic Concentration and the Pyramids. Not the 25,000 that airs now but even older Pyramids. Wasnt an older one called the 10,000 Pyramid?

Also, they cut dump Baggage for all I care.

Wasnt an older one called the 10,000 Pyramid?

It was: in fact, The $10,000 Pyramid from 1973 was the first Pyramid.

Would love to see the network get to. Get the Sony library from GSN as really GSN is nothing but gone to the dogs. Would love to see them get the Chuck Barris collection and other game show libraries as wonder how much Free Mantle would pay for it?

I know it seems like they're only running Family Feud episodes with Steve Harvey anymore. But I know I recently saw a couple of rerun episodes when John O'Hurley was the host. I liked him on that show.

Ed.