Buzzr

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Buzzr
Type Digital broadcast television network
(game shows)
Country United States
Availability Nationwide via OTA digital television (covering 60% of the U.S.)[1]
Founded January 20, 2015; 19 months ago (2015-01-20)
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; 15 months ago (2015-06-01)[2]
Picture format
 480i (SDTV)
Affiliates List of affiliates
Official website
 www.buzzrplay.com

Buzzr (stylized as BUZZR) is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by FremantleMedia North America, a unit of the FremantleMedia subsidiary of RTL Group. The Buzzr TV subchannel is seen in 53 U.S. television markets. The network is also available nationwide on free-to-air C-band satellite via Galaxy 19 in the DVB-S2 format. The network is sourcing its programming from the extensive library of classic game shows owned by FremantleMedia, some of which were once part of the Game Show Network's (GSN) programming lineup.[3][4][5] The network marks Fremantle's first entry into North American broadcasting;[2] however, parent company RTL operates numerous TV channels in Europe.

History[edit]

The Buzzr brand was first used by Fremantle for a YouTube channel created and produced by its digital content studio Tiny Riot, which debuted in late 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.[4][6][7]

On January 20, 2015, FremantleMedia announced that it would launch Buzzr TV, a digital multicast network that would serve as an extension of the brand; the network, with the Fox Television Stations as its charter station group. Buzzr TV features classic game shows from the company's programming library.[8][9][10]Thom Beers, former CEO of FremantleMedia North America, stated his interest in launching a network centered on 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 debuted on June 1, 2015, with the launch preceded by a preview reel outlining its initial programming that aired in an eight-hour continuous loop, starting at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The network formally launched that evening at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time with the 1963 pilot episode of Let's Make a Deal as the first show to be broadcast.[2][11][12][13]

In February 2016, Fremantle was sued by Codename Enterprises, a New York-based web development firm, for trademark infringement, dilution, and unfair competition, as it has done business under the name "Buzzr" since 2009. The suit argued that Fremantle's use of the brand on its YouTube channel had associated it with objectionable content, and alleged that Fremantle had displaced its own YouTube channel URL to point towards it.[14]

In 2016, to celebrate the upcoming 75th year of the genre,[15] the network plans to create a story arc of the game show with new episodes of favorable classics, along with additional promotions and special marathons all year long.

Programming[edit]

FremantleMedia's library of game shows, spanning 154 series and an estimated 40,000 episodes overall, serves as Buzzr's core programming.[16] The network's initial lineup – with series produced from the 1950s to 2000 – includes such programs as To Tell the Truth, Password, Family Feud (encompassing episodes beginning with Richard Dawson as host and dating up to John O'Hurley's tenure), Let's Make a Deal (from Monty Hall's runs as host), What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, Beat the Clock, Card Sharks, and Match Game.[3][4][5] The Price Is Right may also eventually be included as part of the network's schedule.[17]

Current programming[edit]


Affiliates[edit]

As of February 2016, Buzzr has current subchannel affiliation agreements with television stations in 53 media markets encompassing 26 states and the District of Columbia, covering over 60% of media markets in the United States.[18]

Fox Television Stations was announced as the network's initial affiliate group, airing 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. Buzzr has affiliates in all 10 of the largest and 15 of the 20 largest U.S. television markets (including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston-Manchester and Dallas–Fort Worth), with an initial reach of 37% of U.S. television homes.[3][8][17] In four of the network's launch markets (New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Phoenix), Buzzr is affiliated with stations whose subchannels the network occupies were previously affiliated with Bounce TV; as a result of a March 2014 agreement with Univision Communications, Bounce TV moved its affiliations in those markets to Univision-owned stations in late May 2015, shortly before Buzzr launched.[19]

Debmar-Mercury (which serves as the distribution partner for the current syndicated run of the Fremantle-produced Family Feud) was hired by FremantleMedia to handle responsibility for the recruitment of affiliates through agreements with other broadcasting companies.[3][5][17][20] 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]

In September 2016, Yes TV, a small Canadian television system with stations in Ontario and Alberta, will begin airing a Buzzr-branded programming block of classic game shows called "BUZZR After Hours" overnight weeknights from 1:00 to 4:00 a.m. local time.[21]

List of current affiliates[edit]

City of license/market Station[3][22] Virtual
channel		 Owner Notes

Alabama[edit]
Birmingham WUOA-LD 46.2 DTV America
Montgomery WDSF-LD 19.2 Replaced Dr. TV

Arizona[edit]
Phoenix KUTP 45.3 Fox Television Stations

Arkansas[edit]
Fayetteville KAJL-LD 16.4 DTV America

California[edit]
Bakersfield KCBT-LD 34.8 Cocola Broadcasting Launch date TBD
Los Angeles KCOP-TV 13.2 Fox Television Stations Replaced Bounce TV
Oakland-San Francisco KTVU 2.4
Reedley-Fresno KVBC-LP 13.7 Cocola Broadcasting
Sacramento KSAO-LD 49.3

Colorado[edit]
Denver KSBS-CD 3.3 Denver Digital Television, LLC
Sterling KCDO-TV 3.3 Newsweb Corporation Replaced HSN

District of Columbia[edit]
Washington WTTG 5.2 Fox Television Stations

Florida[edit]
Fort Myers WGPS-LP 22.4 DTV America
Jacksonville-Live Oak WKBJ-LD 20.1
Orlando WRBW 65.4 Fox Television Stations
Tampa-St. Petersburg WTVT 13.3
West Palm Beach WXOD-LD 33.1 DTV America

Georgia[edit]
Atlanta WAGA-TV 5.3 Fox Television Stations

Idaho[edit]
Boise KKJB 39.4 Cocola Broadcasting

Illinois-Indiana[edit]
Chicago-Gary WPWR-TV 50.4 Fox Television Stations

Kansas[edit]
Kansas City KCKS-LD 25.1 Heartland Broadcasting, LLC.
Louisburg KMJC-LD
Topeka WROB-LD
Wichita KGPT-CD 26.9 Great Plains TV

Kentucky[edit]
Bowling Green WCZU-LD 39.2 DTV America

Massachusetts[edit]
Boston WLVI-TV 56.2 Sunbeam Television Replaced ZUUS Country

Michigan[edit]
Detroit WJBK 2.3 Fox Television Stations
Cadillac WMNN 26.6 Freelancer Television Broadcasting

Minnesota[edit]
Minneapolis-St. Paul KMSP-TV 9.4 Fox Television Stations Replaced Bounce TV

Missouri[edit]
Joplin-Pittsburg KPJO-LP 49.4 DTV America
Kansas City KCMJ-CD 25.1 Replaced BounceTV
St. Louis KBGU-LP 33.1 Replaced MundoMax

Nevada[edit]
Las Vegas KGNG-LD 47.2 King Kong Broadcasting Replaced Mi Casa.
MBCD took over temporarily
in late July 2016 before it
moved to 47.9 in early
August.

New Jersey/New York[edit]
Secaucus-New York City WWOR-TV 9.3 Fox Television Stations Replaced Bounce TV
Albany WYBN-LD 14.1 Cable Ad Net New York Inc. Replaced Youtoo America
Buffalo WBXZ-LP 56.7 Steven Ritchie

New Mexico[edit]
Albuquerque KRTN-LD 33.3 Ramar Communications

North Dakota[edit]
Valley City-Fargo KRDK-TV 4.10 Major Market Broadcasting

Ohio[edit]
Cincinnati WOTH-CD 20.3 Block Broadcasting Replaced Antenna TV
Cleveland-Canton WEKA-LD 41.3 DTV America
Columbus-Marion WOCB-CD 39.2 Cen. Ohio Assoc. of Christian Broadcasters

Pennsylvania[edit]
Philadelphia WTXF-TV 29.4 Fox Television Stations
State College-Johnstown WHVL-LP 29.2 Channel Communications, LLC Replaced YouToo America

South Carolina/North Carolina[edit]
Fayetteville/Raleigh WIRP-LD 27.2 DTV America
Rock Hill/Charlotte WMYT-TV 55.2 Fox Television Stations

Tennessee[edit]
White House/Nashville WKUW-LD 40.1 DTV America Replacing Dr. TV

Texas[edit]
Amarillo KLKW-LD 22.4 DTV America
Austin KTBC 7.3 Fox Television Stations
College Station/Bryan KZCZ-LD 34.5 DTV America
Dallas-Fort Worth KDFI 27.3 Fox Television Stations Replaced Bounce TV
Lubbock KMYL-LD 14.3 Ramar Communications
Houston KTXH 20.4 Fox Television Stations
Tyler KPKN-LD 33.1 DTV America

Wisconsin[edit]
Milwaukee WTSJ-LP 38.2 DTV America

List of former affiliates[edit]

City of license/market Station Virtual
channel		 Owner Dates of affiliation Notes

Utah[edit]
Ogden-Salt Lake City KUCW 30.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group July 3, 2015 - September 2, 2016 Replaced ZUUS Country in 2015
Replaced by Escape in 2016

References[edit]

  1. ^ TVNewsCheck (January 20, 2016). "Six Months In, Diginet Buzzr Ups Its Reach". Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  2. ^ a b c d Padovano, Joanna (April 14, 2015). "FremantleMedia North America Hires for Buzzr Channel". World Screen. WSN Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2015. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "Fox O&Os Game For Latest Diginet: Buzzr TV". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Spangler, Todd (February 10, 2015). "FremantleMedia Hits on 'Buzzr' YouTube Channel with Classic Game Show Reboots". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2015. 
  5. ^ a b c "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. ^ Todd Spangler (February 23, 2016). "FremantleMedia Sued Over 'Buzzr' Game-Show TV Network Name". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 24, 2016. 
  8. ^ a b Wayne Friedman (January 20, 2015). "Buzzr TV Joins TV Diginet Race". MediaPost. MediaPost Communications. Retrieved January 23, 2015. 
  9. ^ Cynthia Littleton (January 20, 2015). "Fox Stations to Launch Game Show Digital Channel From FremantleMedia". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 23, 2015. 
  10. ^ Michael Schneider. "Retro Game Shows Find a New Network Home". tvinsider. tvinsider.com. Retrieved January 27, 2015. 
  11. ^ Clive Whittingham (April 14, 2015). "Fremantle builds up Buzzr team". C21 Media. C21 Media Limited. 
  12. ^ "Monty Hall makes 'Deal' for classic games". USA Today. Gannett Company. June 1, 2015. 
  13. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 1, 2015). "New Digital Multicast Network Buzr Launches Today, June 1, 2015". TV by the Numbers (Press release). Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
  14. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 24, 2016). "FremantleMedia Sued Over 'Buzzr' Game Show TV Network Name". Variety. Retrieved February 24, 2016. 
  15. ^ Celebrating 75 Years of the TV Game Show
  16. ^ 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. 
  17. ^ a b c 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. 
  18. ^ "Stations for Network - Buzzr TV". RabbitEars. Retrieved February 13, 2015. 
  19. ^ Jon Lafayette (March 4, 2014). "Exclusive: Bounce TV Extends Univision Deal". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved March 4, 2014. 
  20. ^ 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. 
  21. ^ Yes TV (Crossroads Christian Communications) (June 16, 2016). "yesTV Announces Fall Lineup (press release)". Retrieved August 25, 2016. 
  22. ^ "Stations for Network - Buzzr TV". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved February 13, 2015. 

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buzzr&oldid=739486541"