GSN Unveils Its New Programming and Development Slate During Network Upfront Event in New York City
Broadened programming mandate offers advertisers richer brand environments
(New York, NY), March 21, 2012 - At an Upfront presentation this morning at New York City's Sony Club, GSN unveiled its first programming strategy and development slate under new EVP Programming, Amy Introcaso-Davis. In addition to the network's popular studio-based game shows, GSN is broadening its programming and brand promise to incorporate real-life games, giving advertisers the opportunity to integrate their brands into real environments.
Introcaso-Davis, who joined GSN in November 2011, laid out her plan for the network's game-based original programming and development slate, which she divided into three categories: 1) Shiny Floor Game; 2) Real-Life Game; and 3) Iconic Game Reinvented.
"Game has always been a key component of the pop culture landscape," said Introcaso-Davis. "We see an opportunity to expand our brand promise by broadening the definition of television game to include a variety of programming that stays true to our core attributes: the excitement and fun of winning, entertainment for the whole family, and viewer engagement."
"Shiny Floor Game" series are in-studio game formats, featuring new concepts whose overall look, feel and sound design will be innovative and a departure from those typically associated with television game shows. "Real-Life Game" series take place in real-world settings and feature real-life risk and reward, winners and losers, joy and disappointment. "Iconic Game Reinvented" will take beloved franchises and update them with a contemporary sensibility, tone and style.
John Zaccario, GSN's EVP Advertising Sales, commented, "This expansion of our programming strategy is a great benefit to our advertisers. The flexibility and openness of game formats are now coupled with the possibilities of endemic and organic brand placements, as we expand to include real-life games and celebrate the lives of interesting people."
GSN's television and online properties are showing significant growth going into the 2012 Upfront. Between the company's TV and online franchises, more than 100 million people connect with GSN every year:
· As a whole, GSN's programming is averaging double-digit growth vs. the start of the 2011-12 broadcast season:
· +23% for W25-54
· +12% for P25-54
· GSN has become one of the largest online game publishers in the world:
· More than 2 million players will visit a GSN game platform today
· Players on GSN game platforms will play 7 billion games this month
· WorldWinner is the largest skill-games business in the world
· GSN's Facebook app, Games by GSN, is the largest games portal on Facebook
· GSN's online players receive $175 million in prizes per year
· GSN's online properties deliver more entertainment minutes than those of any other broadcast or cable TV network
· GSN's recently launched mobile games app is serving 50,000 players per day
· CPMStar, GSN's games vertical ad network, reaches 70 million UVs per month
GSN's new original programming and development slate follows:
ORIGINAL GREENLIT SERIES:
BEAT THE CHEFS
BEAT THE CHEFS is an hour-long show in which everyday people who love to cook set out to prove that their family recipes are worth prize money and bragging rights, as they pit their homespun talents against those of professional chefs. Each week, the 'everyman' puts his or her best home recipe to the test as they face off against a team of professionals. Regular Joes and culinary masters cook the same dish-from firehouse chili to Grandma's famous chicken and dumplings-but who will do it better? A panel of expert food critics will judge and decide if the amateurs can "beat the chefs." BEAT THE CHEFS is produced by RelativityREAL, with Tom Forman as Executive Producer.
THE NEWLYWED GAME (series pick-up)
GSN's hit show THE NEWLYWED GAME-with host Sherri Shepherd-will return for an all-new sixth season. THE NEWLYWED GAME is GSN's modern installment of the classic series showcasing three newly married couples of wide-ranging backgrounds who face off in a series of question rounds. During each round, a spouse attempts to guess his or her mate's answer to questions about their relationship, ranging from the first time they met to the details of their love life. At the end of each half-hour episode, the couple scoring the most points wins exciting prizes. THE NEWLYWED GAME is produced by Embassy Row in association with Sony Pictures Television, with Michael Davies as Executive Producer.
ORIGINAL SERIES IN DEVELOPMENT:
THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE
With the pilot hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE is a fun, studio-based game show in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Questions will be designed to acknowledge and celebrate the Bible's continuing importance in contemporary life and culture. The contestants will share their compelling back stories and each team will be playing for a worthy faith-based organization in this hour-long show. THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE is produced by RelativityREAL for GSN, with RelativityREAL's Tom Forman and Embassy Row's Michael Davies serving as Executive Producers on the project. Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers. Odyssey Networks is the country's largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that creates understanding among people of different beliefs and perspectives.
$100,000 PYRAMID
One of television's most beloved game-show formats is back with an all-new, half-hour version of the fast-paced word guessing game. The celebrities, the Pyramid game-board, the Winner's Circle: everything viewers know and love about the iconic format is returning in GSN's lively new version. The winner of nine Daytime Emmy(R) Awards during its storied 40-year career, Pyramid holds a special place in the hearts of generations of fans. $100,000 PYRAMID is produced by Embassy Row in association with Sony Pictures Television, with Michael Davies as Executive Producer.
PURE GOLD
From the tombs of King Tut to the Gold Rush of California, nothing says power like gold. Perhaps that's why almost everybody has something made of gold-and why, with the ever-rising price of gold today, an increasing percentage of Americans who own gold have considered selling it. Enter The Gold Guys. Joe and Shane have created a national chain of 14 brick-and-mortar storefronts, where primarily female assayers sit across from potential sellers, sharing the life stories that have brought the customer to this place, hoping to sell the precious valuables they never thought they'd part with. In this half-hour series, some will feel gravely disappointed; others will have their prayers answered beyond their wildest dreams. Real Transactions. Real Emotions. Pure Gold. PURE GOLD is produced by Krasnow Productions, with Stuart Krasnow as Executive Producer. Joe Barns and Carlana Stone will serve as Co-Executive Producers on the project.
THE FAMILY TRADE
At G-Stone Motors, a state-of-the-art GMC and Ford dealership in Middlebury, Vermont, the saying is, "We'll take anything in trade." And they mean it. Founder Gardner Stone will trade you a beautiful new car or truck for anything you've got that he thinks he can sell-pigs, a hot air balloon, coffins, maple syrup, dolls, a shoe collection. But Stone's son Todd and daughter Darcy, who work with him in the business, usually have very different ideas about what makes a good trade, and they have the unenviable task of re-selling whatever their father has bought. Each 30-minute episode will feature the outrageous, hilarious, hotly contested barter stories at G-Stone Motors-with a simmering stew of family drama cooking alongside. THE FAMILY TRADE is produced by Lionsgate, with Eli Frankel as Executive Producer.
I DO, NOW I DON'T
I DO, NOW I DON'T takes place at the intersection where one person's heartbreak meets another's blossoming romance. Josh Opperman and his partner-his fiery, outspoken sister, Mara-run a successful New York City business buying and selling secondhand engagement rings. Of course, each ring comes with a backstory of love gone wrong, and each half-hour episode features a diverse, entertaining, and poignant cross-section of buyers and sellers, whose stories are told as they visit Josh and Mara's headquarters. I DO, NOW I DON'T is produced by eOne Entertainment.
CROWNING GLORY
Pageants are as American as apple pie-and as Klingon as Chech'tluth. CROWNING GLORY explores the incredibly diverse world of alternative pageants that celebrate virtually every type of subculture. From Miss Klingon Empire to Miss Rodeo America, from the Maine Dairy Princess Finals to the Zombie Pin-Up, strange and unique pageants can be found taking place every weekend across the United States. Each 60-minute episode of CROWNING GLORY will focus on three contestants competing in an alternative pageant, following them in the frenetic days leading up to the pageant through the suspense-filled final crowning moment on stage. Were dreams shattered-or did they come true? Crowning Glory is produced by World of Wonder, with Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey and Tom Campbell as Executive Producers.
WAR OF THE ROSE SISTERS
This 30-minute series focuses on Beth and Pam Rose, the eldest of four hard-driving auctioneer sisters who sell millions of dollars worth of jewelry, cars, antiques and art every year. For the buyers and the sellers, it's a game of winning and losing-but for these sisters, it's personal and it's only about winning. In each episode, viewers will watch as the four Rose sisters (and one daughter) battle it out to be number one. With the blink of an eye, the flip of an auction paddle, or the nod of a head, winners and losers are made in a heartbeat. WAR OF THE ROSE SISTERS is produced by Stone & Company, with Scott Stone as Executive Producer.
About GSN
GSN is a multimedia entertainment company that offers original and classic game programming and competitive entertainment via its 75-million subscriber television network and online game sites. GSN's cross-platform content gives game lovers the opportunity to win cash and prizes, whether through GSN's popular TV game shows or through GSN Digital's free casual games, mobile and social games, and cash competitions. GSN is distributed throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos. GSN and its subsidiary, WorldWinner.com, Inc., are owned by DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Entertainment. For further information, visit GSN at www.gsn.com.
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