Buzzr

Buzzr
Type Upcoming digital broadcast television network
(game shows)
Country United States
Availability Nationwide via OTA digital television (covering 37% of the U.S.)[1]
Founded January 20, 2015
Slogan Let's play
Parent
Key people
  • Ron Garfield (EVP/GM)
  • Mark Deetjen (vice president of programming and operations)[2]
Launch date
 June 1, 2015 (expected launch)[2]
Former names
 Buzzr TV
Picture format
 480i (SDTV)
Affiliates List of pending affiliates
Official website
 http://www.buzzrplay.com

Buzzr is an upcoming American digital multicast television network that is owned by FremantleMedia North America, a unit of the FremantleMedia subsidiary of RTL Group. The network will source its programming from the extensive library of classic game shows owned by FremantleMedia.[3][4][5] The network marks Fremantle's first entry into broadcasting.[2]

History

The Buzzr brand was first used by Fremantle for a YouTube channel created and produced by its digital content studio Tiny Riot! launch in Fall 2014. The Buzzr YouTube channel features classic clips, and short-form adaptations of its game show properties (such as Family Feud and Password), with internet celebrities as contestants, primarily aimed towards millennials.[6][4]

On January 20, 2015, FremantleMedia announced that it would launch Buzzr TV, a digital multicast network that will serve as an extension of the brand; the network, which announced Fox Television Stations as its charter station group, would feature a lineup of classic game shows from the company's programming library.[7][8] Thom Beers, CEO of FremantleMedia North America, stated his interest in launching a network centered around its game show content after he joined the company in 2012, calling such a project a "top priority" for Fremantle as a way to help monetize the value of its library. The company intended to focus Buzzr toward older adults, with Beers citing that the "old-format game shows are really, really hard [for the younger viewership that the Buzzr YouTube channel targets] to watch."[4] The Buzzr television network is expected to launch on June 1, 2015.[2][9]

Programming

FremantleMedia's library of game shows, spanning 154 series and an estimated 40,000 extant episodes overall, will serve as Buzzr's core programming.[10] The network's initial lineup – spanning series produced from the 1950s to the 2000s – is expected to include such programs as To Tell The Truth, Password, Family Feud (encompassing all episodes dating up to John O'Hurley's tenure as host), Let’s Make a Deal (from Monty Hall's runs as host), Match Game, Beat The Clock, What's My Line?, Blockbusters and Card Sharks;[5][4][3] The Price Is Right may also be included as part of the network's schedule.[1]

Affiliates

As of April 2015, Buzzr has pending affiliation agreements with television stations in 17 media markets encompassing 11 states and the District of Columbia, covering 40% of media markets in the United States.[11]

Fox Television Stations was announced as the network's initial affiliate group, with plans to launch Buzzr on 12 Fox owned-and-operated stations (including a satellite station of Orlando O&O WOFL, whose sister station WRBW serves as that market's affiliate) and five MyNetworkTV owned-and-operated stations – giving Buzzr affiliates in nine of the 10 largest and 14 of the 20 largest U.S. television markets (including markets such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas–Fort Worth), with an initial reach of 37% of U.S. television homes.[7][3][1] In five markets (New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas–Fort Worth, Orlando and Phoenix) where Fox maintained existing affiliation deals with that network, Buzzr will be carried on subchannels currently affiliated with Bounce TV, which through a March 2014 renewal agreement with Univision Communications, will move its affiliations in those markets to Univision-owned stations.[12]

Debmar-Mercury (which serves as the distribution partner for the current syndicated run of the Fremantle-produced Family Feud) was hired by Fremantle Media to handle responsibility for the recruitment of affiliates through agreements with other broadcasting companies.[3][5][1][13] The network hopes to expand its charter affiliate footprint to reach markets covering 50 million U.S. households with at least one television set.[4]

List of pending affiliates

City of license/market Station[3][14] Virtual
channel		 Owner Anticipated
Affiliation date		 Notes
Phoenix KUTP 45.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Los Angeles KCOP-TV 13.2 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4] Replaces Bounce TV
Washington WTTG 5.2 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Orlando WRBW 65.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4] Replaces Bounce TV
Gainesville WOGX 51.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Tampa-St. Petersburg WTVT 13.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Atlanta WAGA-TV 5.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Chicago WFLD 32.2 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Detroit WJBK 2.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Minneapolis-St. Paul KMSP-TV 9.4 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Secaucus-New York City WWOR-TV 9.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4] Replaces Bounce TV
Philadelphia WTXF-TV 29.4 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Rock Hill/Charlotte WMYT-TV 55.2 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Austin KTBC 7.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]
Dallas-Fort Worth KDFI 27.3 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4] Replaces Bounce TV
Houston KRIV 26.2 Fox Television Stations June 1, 2015 [4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Alex Ben Block (January 20, 2015). "Fox TV Stations to Air Classic Game Shows From Buzzr TV's Massive Library". The Hollywood Reporter (Guggenheim Digital Media). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Joanna Padovano (April 14, 2015). "FremantleMedia North America Hires for BUZZR Channel". World Screen. WSN Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Fox O&Os Game For Latest Diginet: Buzzr TV". TVNewsCheck (NewsCheck Media). January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 Todd Spangler (February 10, 2015). "FremantleMedia Hits on ‘Buzzr’ YouTube Channel with Classic Game Show Reboots". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Fox TV Stations Bolsters Game Show Content With Buzzr TV". Deadline.com (Penske Business Media). January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ Albiniak, Paige (January 20, 2015). "Fox TV Stations Acquire BUZZR TV, New Multicast Net from FremantleMedia North America". Broadcasting and Cable (NewBay Media). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wayne Friedman (January 20, 2015). "Buzzr TV Joins TV Diginet Race". MediaPost (MediaPost Communications). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ Cynthia Littleton (January 20, 2015). "Fox Stations to Launch Game Show Digital Channel From FremantleMedia". Variety (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ Clive Whittingham (April 14, 2015). "Fremantle builds up Buzzr team". C21 Media. C21 Media Limited.
  10. ↑ Megan Daley (January 20, 2015). "Fox Television Stations gets rights to classic game show library Buzzr TV". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc.). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Stations for Network - Buzzr TV". RabbitEars. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ Jon Lafayette (March 4, 2014). "Exclusive: Bounce TV Extends Univision Deal". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  13. ↑ Paige Albiniak (January 20, 2015). "Fox TV Stations Acquire BUZZR TV, New Multicast Net from FremantleMedia North America". Broadcasting & Cable (NewBay Media). Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Stations for Network - Buzzr TV". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved February 13, 2015.

External links