Broadcast history Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (U.S. game show)

1 broadcast history

1.1 abc
1.2 syndication
1.3 gsn

broadcast history
abc

the u.s. version of millionaire launched abc half-hour primetime program on august 16, 1999. when premiered, became first u.s. network game show offer million-dollar top prize contestants. after airing thirteen episodes , reaching audience of 15 million viewers end of show s first week on air, program expanded hour-long format when returned in november. series, of episodes shown day after initial taping, promoted regular status on january 18, 2000 and, @ height of popularity, airing on abc 5 nights week. show popular during original primetime run rival networks created or re-incarnated game shows of own (e.g., greed, twenty one, etc.), importing various game shows of british , australian origin america (such winning lines, weakest link, , s chance of lifetime).

the nighttime version drew in 30 million viewers day 3 times week, unheard-of number in modern network television. in 1999–2000 season, averaged no. 1 in ratings against other television shows, 28,848,000 viewers. in next season (2000–01), 3 nights out of 5 weekly episodes placed in top 10. however, show s ratings began fall during 2000–01 season, @ start of 2001–02 season, ratings fraction of had been 1 year before, , season s end, show no longer ranked among top 20. abc s reliance on show s popularity led network fall former spot nation s watched network.

as abc s overexposure of primetime millionaire led public tire of show, there speculation show not survive beyond 2001–02 season. staff planned on switching format emphasize comedy more game , feature host other philbin, in end, primetime show canceled, final episode airing on june 27, 2002.

syndication

in 2001, millionaire producers began work on half-hour daily syndicated version of show, idea being serve accompaniment network series still in production. abc s cancellation of network millionaire ended idea; however, syndicated millionaire still had enough interest greenlit , bvt sold series local stations 2002–03 season. syndicated series met same fate predecessor, however, due in part worries stemmed decision made 1 of affiliates.

in new york media market, bvt sold syndicated millionaire cbs s flagship station, wcbs-tv. in season had passed, wcbs mid-afternoon schedule included syndicated edition of nbc s weakest link, aired @ 4 pm january 2002 premiere. joining millionaire new syndicated series spinoff of oprah winfrey show hosted dr. phil mcgraw. wcbs picked both series 2002–03, dr. phil serving lead-in syndicated millionaire, plugged time slot weakest link had been occupying.

at mid-season, wcbs announced 2003–04 season had acquired broadcast rights people s court after wnbc, had been airing revived series since 1997 debut, dropped lineup. wcbs announced plans move people s court time slot occupied millionaire , still-airing 4:30 pm local newscast once joined station s lineup in september 2003. led speculation syndicated millionaire not returning second season, , bvt s concerns on losing new york affiliate compounded fact there not many time slots available show in new york outside of undesirable late-night slots syndicators try avoid.

in june 2003, shakeup @ 1 of bvt s corporate siblings provided series opening. abc announced returning 12:30 pm network time slot affiliates in october of year following cancellation of soap opera port charles. abc s flagship, wabc-tv, in need of program fill slot , bvt went them asking if station pick millionaire. wabc agreed , when new season launched fall, station began airing millionaire @ 12:30 pm. millionaire continued air on wabc in afternoon until end of 2014–15 season, when acquired broadcast rights fablife 2015–16 season. make room fablife, afternoon airing of millionaire moved independent station wlny-tv; however, fablife canceled in january 2016, , result, millionaire moved wabc 2016–17 season.

according e-mails released in sony pictures entertainment hack, millionaire narrowly avoided cancellation after 2014–15 season. show s declining ratings prompted dadt demand dramatically reduced licensing fee renewal, spe hesitant accept. series nonetheless renewed 2015–16 season, various cuts show s production budget , return original format (but 14 questions). had show not been renewed, spe have placed show on extended hiatus 3 years, reclaimed full rights show (without innovations , format added in syndicated run, dadt owns intellectual property rights), , shopped revived show network or syndicator. in january 2017, announced millionaire has been renewed through 2018.

gsn

gsn acquired rerun rights u.s. millionaire in august 2003. network aired episodes 3 seasons of original prime-time run; however, additional episodes later added. these included super millionaire spin-off, aired on gsn may 2005 january 2007, , first 2 seasons of syndicated version, began airing on november 10, 2008.