Game Show Network - Programming - Acquired Programming

Acquired Programming

GSN's re-run programming comes primarily from two sources: FremantleMedia and GSN parent company Sony.

Before Liberty Media purchased 50% of the network, GSN had unlimited access to the game shows owned by Sony Pictures subsidiary Columbia TriStar Television. Once Liberty purchased their stake in the venture, Sony began charging licensing fees for their shows, despite their half-ownership of the network.

From Fremantle, the network licenses Match Game (currently only the 1973-82 versions; the 1990-91 version aired on the network in the past), Family Feud (all except the 1999-2002 version hosted by Louie Anderson, NBC's 2008 "Celebrity" version hosted by Al Roker and the 2009-2010 John O'Hurley season with the short-lived return of the "Bullseye" round), Password (all versions), and Card Sharks (all except 2001–2002 syndicated). Until March 2009, GSN licensed the entire Mark Goodson-Bill Todman library. During two weeks in December 2009, GSN picked up the rights to I've Got a Secret again for a limited return.

In the network's infancy, GSN regularly showcased vintage Goodson-Todman game and panel shows from the 1950s and 1960s, many of which were either originally broadcast or only preserved in black-and-white – such as What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth, Beat the Clock, and others. These classic shows made up much of the channel's lineup at the outset, but have been gradually cut back in prominence since the late 1990s. On October 1, 2006, only What's My Line? had a regular spot on the schedule, late Sunday/early Monday at 3:00 AM Eastern; it was followed by a selection from various 1950s-1970s Goodson-Todman shows, usually another panel game. On December 31, GSN reinstated the Black and White Overnight to 7 days a week from 3:00-4:00 AM, showcasing What's My Line? and I've Got a Secret in the block; other shows, including Choose Up Sides, The Name's the Same, and the Bud Collyer-hosted primetime version of To Tell the Truth have been featured, with the latter currently airing following What's My Line?. GSN cancelled Black and White Overnight, effective March 31, 2009. In December 2010, What's My Line? and I've Got a Secret returned to GSN for 2 weeks only from December 13 to December 30.

GSN, in addition to its Goodson-Todman library, features shows from other companies:

• NBCUniversal Television Distribution: Twenty-One (2000), Weakest Link, Dog Eat Dog, Deal or No Deal (both network and syndicated), 1 vs. 100 (original version; a 2010 revival is a GSN Original), and Minute to Win It
• 20th Television: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Network version)
• CBS Television Distribution: Hollywood Squares (Bergeron version only in conjunction with Sony Pictures Television)

GSN also airs, or has aired, the Sony Pictures Television library programming from the following examples:

• Barris Industries/The Guber-Peters Entertainment Company: The Newlywed Game, The Dating Game, The Gong Show (except the Gary Owens version), 3's a Crowd, and Quiz Kids Challenge.
• Barry & Enright Productions (except the pre-scandal owned by NBCUniversal Television and those owned in partnership by StudioCanal and CBS Television Distribution): Tic-Tac-Dough (1978-1986 syndicated), The Joker's Wild (1972-1986 versions), Break the Bank (1976-1977 versions), and Bumper Stumpers.
• Merv Griffin Enterprises: Headline Chasers, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune (for Wheel, exceptions are the Benirschke and Goen versions).
• Stewart Tele Enterprises (excepting the 1970s Jackpot!, The $50,000 Pyramid, shows owned by CBS Television Distribution, and the 1991 The $100,000 Pyramid (jointly owned by CTD and StudioCanal)): Jackpot!, Pass the Buck, Go, Chain Reaction, and the surviving Pyramid incarnations.
• Columbia Pictures Television: Dealer's Choice, The Diamond Head Game, and The Fun Factory (all were produced by Fishman-Freer Productions), and Celebrity Charades (produced by Fein-Schwartz Productions).
• 2waytraffic: That's the Question
• Columbia TriStar Television/Sony Pictures Television: Pyramid (Osmond), Russian Roulette, new incarnations and new series co-produced by Sony-owned Embassy Row, and post-1994 episodes of Wheel and Jeopardy!.

In October 2003, GSN acquired the re-run rights to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, both the network and syndicated versions) and have added more episodes since, including the Super Millionaire spin-off from 2004. Among the most well-known classic game shows previously aired regularly on the network are The Price Is Right, The Joker's Wild, Tattletales, Hollywood Squares, The Dating Game, Love Connection, Let's Make a Deal and many others.