Fox O&O's game for latest diginet....Buzzzzr

[Mr Tony]

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/82339/fox-oos-game-for-latest-diginet-buzzr-tv

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.

 

[Mr Tony]

Fox markets
http://rabbitears.info/search.php?request=owner_search&owner=Fox+Television+Stations

Basically NY, LA, Chicago, Philly, Dallas, Houston, San Fran, Atlanta, DC, Detroit, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Orlando/Ocala, Austin, Tampa and Charlotte

 

[Mr Tony]

sweet.

Much like Game Show Network when it first began, Buzzr TV will have classic shows like Family Feud, the original Let's Make A Deal, To Tell The Truth, Password, Match Game, Beat The Clock, What's My Line?, Blockbusters, Card Sharks, and more.

 

[Mr Tony]

The Fox Television Station group has acquired the rights to FremantleMedia North America’s (FMNA) new digital channel, BUZZR TV, which showcases FremantleMedia’s library of game show content. The new digital multicast network will launch this summer and air in all 17 of Fox’s markets, including nine out of the country’s top 10 and 14 out of the top 20.

FMNA CEO Thom Beers has made launching this channel, which currently also exists as a YouTube channel, a top priority for the business, according to FMNA.

“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,” said Beers in a statement. “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.”

“BUZZR will be a great addition to our D2 portfolio,” said Frank Cicha, FTS senior VP of programming, in a statement. “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.”

Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury, which brokered the BUZZR TV deal on behalf of FMNA, will conduct meetings between FMNA and other major station groups at NATPE at the Fontainebleau Resort and Spa in Miami Beach this week 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.”

Besides Family Feud, which has experienced a renaissance with Steve Harvey as host, and The Price is Right, which also has been rejuvenated on CBS with Drew Carey at the wheel, FMNA owns more than 40,000 episodes of game shows, including Let’s Make a Deal, To Tell the Truth, Password, Match Game, Beat the Clock, What’s My Line, Blockbusters and Card Sharks.

 

[Mr Tony]

Poor Boston. They are the ONE in the "including nine out of the country’s top 10" that is left out (they USE to be O&O)

 

[boba]

It's a shame with the extensive library that Fox has this is the best they can offer.

 

[Blindowl1234]

Ice we can't ever seem to get these new networks/channels in our neck of the woods or yours. Guess we got to move to the big city lol

 

[Mr Tony]

Ice we can't ever seem to get these new networks/channels in our neck of the woods or yours. Guess we got to move to the big city lol

I wont get it in Duluth as our Fox is owned by Red River Broadcasting. They put money into the radio stations they own...TV not so much (no subchannels and according to a contact there no plans to either)

Thats why I have a Tivo set up at my moms in Minneapolis

 

[king3pj]

I wont get it in Duluth as our Fox is owned by Red River Broadcasting. They put money into the radio stations they own...TV not so much (no subchannels and according to a contact there no plans to either)

Thats why I have a Tivo set up at my moms in Minneapolis

Some of the subchannels are cool but I would actually prefer it if most of the major networks didn't include any. I personally don't watch any of the retro programming I get from countless subchannels and I would prefer that these stations used 100% of their bandwidth on the main network to give us the best picture quality possible. I'm sure people who watch the subchannel programing would strongly disagree with me though.

 

[CK SatGuy]

Guess I have to keep an eye out for channel 2-3 in Detroit.

 

[Mr Tony]

Some of the subchannels are cool but I would actually prefer it if most of the major networks didn't include any. I personally don't watch any of the retro programming I get from countless subchannels and I would prefer that these stations used 100% of their bandwidth on the main network to give us the best picture quality possible. I'm sure people who watch the subchannel programing would strongly disagree with me though.

When you live in a market like I do (Duluth) and you only have 5 RF stations available subchannels are a necessity if a market wants CW &/or My Network
CBS has CW as subchannel (in 480i widescreen)
NBC has My Network as subchannel (in 480i widescreen...wish it would be HD as they show sports on it)
PBS has their subchanels
ABC has MeTV (same folks who own it own the one in Minneapolis too and they have MeTV)
Fox...well they are just cheap bastards (as noted above)

We had a 6th but they went off the air for tower maintenance (well replacement)
http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/duluth-mn-tv-station-goes-silent-temporarily.342206/

 

[Mr Tony]

according to TripinVA he mentioned the Fox stations that have Bounce currently will replace it when the contract runs out
This affects NY, LA, Dallas, Minneapolis, Phoenix & Orlando. Ironically all BUT Minneapolis it will move to the O&O Univision station (Mpls is not O&O)

 

[king3pj]

When you live in a market like I do (Duluth) and you only have 5 RF stations available subchannels are a necessity if a market wants CW &/or My Network
CBS has CW as subchannel (in 480i widescreen)
NBC has My Network as subchannel (in 480i widescreen...wish it would be HD as they show sports on it)
PBS has their subchanels
ABC has MeTV (same folks who own it own the one in Minneapolis too and they have MeTV)
Fox...well they are just cheap bastards (as noted above)

We had a 6th but they went off the air for tower maintenance (well replacement)
http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/duluth-mn-tv-station-goes-silent-temporarily.342206/

I understand. Our Northern Michigan lake cabin is kind of in the middle of nowhere. That part of the state is pretty low population so there are one set of local networks that cover way more territory than their towers can reach. There are repeater towers in several places around the region to fix this problem.

4.1 is NBC at 720p
4.2 is ABC at 720p
45.1 is Fox at 480i widescreen
45.2 is CBS at 1080i

We also get a PBS in HD, SD, and the Create subchannel. We get a good signal on all of these channels but there is nothing else available. No CW, no My Network, no other subchannels. I find it interesting that Fox is the only channel we don't get in HD even though it is the main channel and CBS is the subchannel.

In our cabin's situation subchannels are great because we wouldn't have ABC or CBS without them. At home I live between two much larger markets that I am able to pull in though. ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS, CW, ION, My Network, and a good independent network are all available as the main channel, not a subchannel, from at least one market. Then all of these have at least 1 or 2 more subchannels taking away from the picture quality. Almost all of the subchannels play similar retro tv and movies. If I remember correctly WWJ, CBS out of Detroit, is the only network I receive that doesn't have at least 1 subchannel.

 

[CK SatGuy]

I understand. Our Northern Michigan lake cabin is kind of in the middle of nowhere. That part of the state is pretty low population so there are one set of local networks that cover way more territory than their towers can reach. There are repeater towers in several places around the region to fix this problem.

4.1 is NBC at 720p
4.2 is ABC at 720p
45.1 is Fox at 480i widescreen
45.2 is CBS at 1080i

We also get a PBS in HD, SD, and the Create subchannel. We get a good signal on all of these channels but there is nothing else available. No CW, no My Network, no other subchannels. I find it interesting that Fox is the only channel we don't get in HD even though it is the main channel and CBS is the subchannel.

In our cabin's situation subchannels are great because we wouldn't have ABC or CBS without them. At home I live between two much larger markets that I am able to pull in though. ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS, CW, ION, My Network, and a good independent network are all available as the main channel, not a subchannel, from at least one market. Then all of these have at least 1 or 2 more subchannels taking away from the picture quality. Almost all of the subchannels play similar retro tv and movies. If I remember correctly WWJ, CBS out of Detroit, is the only network I receive that doesn't have at least 1 subchannel.

Well, until that new retro digital channel launches this spring. Then it'll be CW 50 as the only Detroit station (and I think most of the Windsor, Canada stations) without any subchannels.

 

[king3pj]

Well, until that new retro digital channel launches this spring. Then it'll be CW 50 as the only Detroit station (and I think most of the Windsor, Canada stations) without any subchannels.

I forgot about CW 50. These subchannels must be pretty profitable or there wouldn't be so many of them. I find it really surprising that they are though. Outside of this website, I don't know anyone else who regularly watches OTA TV. The subchannels are rarely carried on cable and satellite systems so who is watching them?

Even my friends and family who are cord cutters don't use OTA. They use Hulu Plus to get their network programing even though OTA is readily available in our area and free. When I had people over to watch a Lions game they were shocked when they found out they were watching OTA TV through a Tivo. It's like they are expecting some crappy old analog broadcast and didn't know they could use good equipment with a nice guide and DVR.

 

[Blindowl1234]

We actually have a CBS which I think is 1080p and its sub is a CW that's 720p.....All the rest of the locals have the main HD channel and it's subs are 480

 

[CK SatGuy]

We actually have a CBS which I think is 1080p and its sub is a CW that's 720p.....All the rest of the locals have the main HD channel and it's subs are 480

Can I take a guess based on your location? Is it WKRC? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKRC-TV

 

[Mr Tony]

I understand. Our Northern Michigan lake cabin is kind of in the middle of nowhere. That part of the state is pretty low population so there are one set of local networks that cover way more territory than their towers can reach. There are repeater towers in several places around the region to fix this problem.

4.1 is NBC at 720p
4.2 is ABC at 720p
45.1 is Fox at 480i widescreen
45.2 is CBS at 1080i

Looks like 4 added Grit (since Sincalir owns it) and its on 4-3

 

[king3pj]

Looks like 4 added Grit (since Sincalir owns it) and its on 4-3

I haven't been up there since late September or early October. We turn off the water and close the place up for the winter. 4-3 either wasn't available last time I was there or it just wasn't showing on our TV because it was added after I scanned for channels.

I sure hope they didn't bump ABC or NBC from 720p down to 480i to add Grit. That would not be a good trade off in my opinion.

 

[Mr Tony]

I haven't been up there since late September or early October. We turn off the water and close the place up for the winter. 4-3 either wasn't available last time I was there or it just wasn't showing on our TV because it was added after I scanned for channels.

It was added January 1

I sure hope they didn't bump ABC or NBC from 720p down to 480i to add Grit. That would not be a good trade off in my opinion.

nope. You can run 2 HD and a SD with no issues. Lots of smaller markets do it. Couple examples
-Fargo, ND has NBC on -1 (in 1080i), CBS HD -2 (720p), and MeTV in 480i. In Western ND replace CBS with FOX
-Sherman, TX/Ada OK runs all 6 nets on 2 stations (4 in HD)..CBS -1, My -2 (SD), FOX -3 and NBC -1, CW -2 (SD), ABC -3
-Lincoln, NE runs same setup as Fargo except flip NBC & CBS