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sir_quirky_k (

sir_quirky_k) wrote,
@ 2007-08-09 19:35:00

Further to the last thread of conversation...
...one more step to the end of Noel's Gambling Party.

'Moderate consumer harm' presumably is in the context of what Noel does...

While Channel 4 insist it was iTouch at fault and they reported the issue themselves, that sounds almost identical to the LTL scandal on the show immediately afterwards, in which they appeared to be complicit in the scandal for a long time. Dare I suggest this has been timed while the show is - deservedly - fading fast, so that the show can be pulled quickly?

Seeing (for the quarter-of-a-millionth time) the show erroneously described as a quiz... has reminded me. If ITV bought the format, but instead of copying Channel 4's interpretation choose instead to copy Miljoenenjacht... that would be a 90-minute show to fill in a few weeknights as desired (probably in short, weekly runs as per Talpa/Tien's use of the format) from 8pm to 9:30pm, leaving an hour-long show at 9:30 to link neatly into the news instead of having overblown 90-minute dramas or 30-minute disposable programming at 10pm...

...used sparingly, ITV could probably afford to offer more than a million. (Going back to an earlier thread, there.) PokerFace was on around £1.3m for a seven-hour series; that budget implies an expected £250,000 or so per 90-minute episode of Deal as affordable, notwithstanding the problem of insuring against maybe ten times that. The pilot version from the failed colonies had a prize tree topping out at $100k/$200k/$300k/$400k/$500k/$750k/$1m/$2.5m - the last seven of these are the top seven on the version that did make it to air - and perhaps that without 400k might work in sterling.

Let's face it, it would be better than The Big Call, or anything else they've tried come to think of it. On the strict condition Noel didn't go with the format, of course; Antan Dec would be the obvious choice, but I can't help thinking this might not fit the Saturday Knight. Tarrant's the other obvious choice, but that's because of his work on another show he's tied to... Davina McCall wouldn't be a bad choice, she'd certainly be the closest to Linda de Mol I can think of.

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daweaver
2007-08-09 08:31 pm UTC (link)

'Moderate consumer harm' presumably is in the context of what Noel does...

Severe harm is the sort of blatant deception that GWR's done, spinning out a contest by selecting answers they knew to be wrong.

While Channel 4 insist it was iTouch at fault and they reported the issue themselves

I think the more damaging point is the other one, ICSTIS has ruled that the pretence that people can win 20 grand when there's only 2000 on offer is slightly misleading. It's easy to work around, opening the prize box at the start of the show, but it's another spot on the record.

Dare I suggest this has been timed while the show is - deservedly - fading fast, so that the show can be pulled quickly?

You see conspiracy theory, I prefer to see cockup. IIRC, Deal is contracted for about six more months. Unless their hand is forced, Channel 4 won't break their contract, and I suspect would keep the show on air at least through the spring. After that, they need a replacement of at least equal value. Even without the 0898 income, the advertising breaks in Deal are very profitable, and I would suspect that's enough to make the show more profitable than Come Dine With Me.

If ITV bought the format, but instead of copying Channel 4's interpretation choose instead to copy Miljoenenjacht... that would be a 90-minute show to fill in a few weeknights as desired (probably in short, weekly runs as per Talpa/Tien's use of the format) from 8pm to 9:30pm, leaving an hour-long show at 9:30 to link neatly into the news instead of having overblown 90-minute dramas or 30-minute disposable programming at 10pm.

My gut feeling: non-football Tuesday nights during the autumn. There are about nine of those, in prime advertising season, and a booked 90-minute show allows four internal breaks plus two terminals.

used sparingly, ITV could probably afford to offer more than a million. PokerFace was on around £1.3m for a seven-hour series; that budget implies an expected £250,000 or so per 90-minute episode of Deal as affordable, notwithstanding the problem of insuring against maybe ten times that.

Roughly speaking, I'd be looking to multiply through by 8, and perhaps weight the new boxes towards the bottom end, so that the top prize became 2 million quid, and the average prize tended towards £125,000. Remember, the current version has converged at around £16,500 per episode.

Let's face it, it would be better than The Big Call, or anything else they've tried come to think of it.

Certainly anything this side of Millionaire.

On the strict condition Noel didn't go with the format, of course

It's interesting to recall how Noel has let his other major engagements drag on for too long - he gave up on Swap Shop only when he secured Late Late Breakfast, gave up on that only when it became inevitable, and pushed Roadshow / House Party (effectively, the same show running for eleven years) at least two years past its laugh-by date. Previous form suggests that he'll have to be dragged away from DOND by force.

Antan Dec would be the obvious choice, but I can't help thinking this might not fit the Saturday Knight. Tarrant's the other obvious choice, but that's because of his work on another show he's tied to... Davina McCall wouldn't be a bad choice, she'd certainly be the closest to Linda de Mol I can think of.

On the grounds that we're looking for someone who is capable of handling a live show, but won't overpower the contestants with their force of personality... Kate Thornton.

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sir_quirky_k
2007-08-09 08:53 pm UTC (link)

Very good point on Noel's history, and on how DoND is still likely to be profitable sans LTL. Another element: merchandising, for which I assume both Endemol and Channel 4 get a cut of the profits. Of course, the rights to possibly the world's most popular unscripted format right now can't come cheap, so that probably swamps the merchandising income.

Even so, Channel 4 would still need to find another show that could reliably get... 2.5m viewers on average? At the least, they'd need to win the timeslot regularly.

I did know that there were more severe 0898gate situations that made this look moderate, but couldn't resist a(nother) dig at Noel.

Thornton on DoND? She'd be the safe option. She's certainly not the most exciting of hosts, but that's a strength on this format, where it is imperative that the host is non-interventionist.

Tuesday nights? That'd work; no EastEnders to live with at 8pm (though Holby's a tough target, it's at least a manageable one, and there's the chance of an hour-long Emmerdale lead-in from time to time - possibly for use before episode one?), potential two-week gaps meaning no chance of saturation, key advertising period as you said...

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