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Blockbusters (UK Game Show)
''Blockbusters'' is a British television quiz show based upon an American quiz show of the same name. A solo player and a team of two answer trivia questions, clued up with an initial letter of the answer, to complete a path across or down a game board of hexagons. The programme premiered on 29 August 1983 on ITV and ran for ten series, ending on 19 May 1993. It has since been revived for four additional series, the most recent of which was a comedy version hosted by Dara Ó Briain, which aired on Comedy Central from 21 March to 5 December 2019. Background ''Blockbusters'' was created by Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions and originated as an American series in 1980. The UK version was created after Central Independent Television producer Graham C. Williams spotted the show in 1981 and produced a pilot in 1982. The difference was that instead of adults, who appeared on the American edition, the UK edition was produced for sixth formers. Bob Holness was the original pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quiz Show
A game show (or gameshow) is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment where contestants compete in a game for rewards. The shows are typically directed by a host, who explains the rules of the program as well as commentating and narrating where necessary. The history of the game shows dates back to the late 1930s when both radio and television game shows were broadcast. The genre became popular in the United States in the 1950s, becoming a regular feature of daytime television. On most game shows, contestants answer questions or solve puzzles, and win prizes such as cash, trips and goods and services. History 1930s–1950s Game shows began to appear on radio and television in the late 1930s. The first television game show, ''Spelling Bee'', as well as the first radio game show, '' Information Please'', were both broadcast in 1938; the first major success in the game show genre was '' Dr. I.Q.'', a radio quiz show that began in 1939. ''Truth or Consequences'' was the fir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Granada Studios
Granada Studios was a television studio complex and events venue on Quay Street in Manchester, England, with the facility to broadcast live and recorded television programmes. The studios were the headquarters of Granada Television from 1956 to 2013. After a period of closure, five of the six studio spaces reopened in 2018. The studios are the oldest operating purpose-built television studios in the United Kingdom pre-dating BBC Television Centre by five years. They were previously home to the world's longest-running serial drama, ''Coronation Street'', as well as other long-running shows such as the quiz show '' University Challenge'' and the current affairs documentary series '' World in Action''. As well as being the oldest television studios in the United Kingdom, the studios also held the Beatles' first television performance in 1962 and the first general election debate in 2010. Until 2010, the main building, Granada House, had a red neon "Granada TV" sign on the roof, wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comedy Central (British TV Channel)
Comedy Central is a British pay television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated. This channel is specific to audiences within the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel is aligned with the original US version of the channel. The channel started as The Paramount Channel in 1995, before rebranding as the Paramount Comedy Channel in 1997 and again as Paramount Comedy 1 in 2004 before finally becoming Comedy Central on 6 April 2009. History 1995–1997 The channel was launched as The Paramount Channel on 1 November 1995. The original schedule was a mixture of comedy and drama, including such eclectic offerings as ''Beauty and the Beast'', several Japanese anime productions acquired from Manga Entertainment, and authentic Paramount archive programming such as '' The Magician'', as well as Nickelodeon's '' Ren & Stimpy'', which was shown on Paramount rather than Nickelodeon due to its rather adult nature at times. It originally aired every e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Challenge (TV Channel)
Challenge is a British free-to-air television channel owned by Sky Group's Sky UK subsidiary, themselves owned by American conglomerate Comcast. The channel is dedicated to game shows from the UK, including acquired classic and contemporary shows. Challenge is currently available on terrestrial television and Free ad-supported streaming television, FAST platforms, such as Samsung TV Plus, along with sister channel Sky Mix. An Irish feed has been available since November 2013 on cable and satellite. It later launched on DTT (Saorview) on 1 February 2023; joining sister channel Sky News on the service. History As The Family Channel The Family Channel was a domestic version of the Freeform (TV channel), American cable network of the same name (now known as Freeform), then-owned by U.S. firm ABC Family Worldwide, International Family Entertainment; which was the spin-off of the Christian Broadcasting Network that operated the channel. Prior to its launch, IFE sold a 39% stake in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BBC Two
BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matter, incorporating genres such as comedy, drama and documentaries. BBC Two has a remit "to broadcast highbrow, programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio channels, it is funded by the television licence, and is therefore free of commercial advertising. It is a comparatively well-funded Public broadcasting, public-service channel, regularly attaining a much higher audience share than most public-service channels worldwide. Originally styled BBC2, it was the third British television station to be launched (starting on 21 April 1964), and from 1 July 1967, Europe's first television channel to broadcast regularly in colour. It was envisaged as a home for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sky One
Sky One was a British pay television channel operated and owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). Originally launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, it was Europe's first satellite and non- terrestrial channel. From 31 July 1989, it became Sky One and broadcast exclusively in the United Kingdom and Ireland as British Sky Broadcasting's flagship channel. It existed until 1 September 2021, when it closed down as part of a restructuring with its EPG position taken by Sky Showcase and much of its content library moved to Sky Max. Sky One included some very popular original programmes—such as '' An Idiot Abroad'', '' Brainiac: Science Abuse'', '' The Russell Howard Hour'', '' Battlestar Galactica''—and many imported from North America, including '' 24'' (seasons 3–9, and its spinoff '' Live Another Day''), ''The X-Files'', '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', '' Star Trek: Voyager'', '' Bones'' (seasons 1–6, first half), '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ITV1
ITV1 (formerly known as ITV) is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the British media company ITV plc. It provides the ITV (TV network), Channel 3 public broadcast service across all of the United Kingdom except for the central and northern areas of Scotland where STV (TV channel), STV provides the service. ITV1 as a consistent national channel (with dedicated slots for regional news and other regional programmes) evolved out of the old ITV (TV network), ITV network – a federation of separately owned regional companies which had significantly different local schedules and branding. During the 1990s, the differences between the schedules in each region gradually reduced – partly through the consolidation of ownership and partly through the standardisation in the volume and scheduling of regional programmes. In 2002, a major change of appearance occurred when all ITV regions in En ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thames (production Company)
Thames was a British television production company that was established on 1 January 2012. The name ''Thames'' was revived from Thames Television after being inactive for nearly six years. On 23 November 2011, it was announced that Talkback Thames would split into four separate production companies, which are ''Boundless'', ''Retort'', '' Talkback'' and ''Thames''. On 16 September 2024, it was announced that Thames would be merged with Talkback again to revive Talkback Thames. The merger was completed on 1 January 2025, with all of the company's productions being produced under the Talkback Thames name. Productions *'' 1001 Things You Should Know'' – A Thames Scotland production for Channel 4. *'' All Star Family Fortunes'' – Formerly, a Talkback Thames production for ITV. *'' Bang on the Money'' – A Thames production for ITV. *'' Blankety Blank'' – A Thames production for ITV. *'' Blockbusters'' – A Thames production for Challenge (2012) and later Comedy Central ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reg Grundy Organisation
Reg Grundy Organisation (founded as Reg Grundy Enterprises, later known as both Reg Grundy Productions and Grundy Television and known informally as Grundy's) was an Australian-based multinational mass media company, primarily involved in television as a production company but also in distribution and licensing. Reg Grundy, the company's namesake founded the media enterprise locally in 1959, It branched out internationally in the late 1980s under the banner Grundy World Wide Limited with divisions in Europe, United Kingdom, the United States and Asia The company first produced game shows, then branched into soap operas in 1973. In 1995 Reg Grundy sold the company to Pearson Television, now known as Fremantle, part of the RTL Group (in turn majority owned by Bertelsmann). In 2006, Fremantle merged Grundy Television and Crackerjack Productions to form the localised arm Fremantle Australia. Until 2013, the Grundy name still existed internationally in Germany as Grundy Light ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BBC North
BBC North (Group) is an operational business division of the BBC. It is also a brand that has been used by the BBC to mean: *The large ''BBC North'' region, centred on Manchester, that was active from the late 1920s until 1968 and was based upon one of the four UK regional radio transmission stations. *The ''BBC North'' region, centred on Leeds, that was active between 1968 and 2004 and which was split to form BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, BBC Yorks & Lincs. *The operational department called ''BBC North'' that combined the output of the BBC's northern regions between 1990 and 1996. *The ''BBC North Group'' of major BBC departments that have already moved or are moving from London to MediaCityUK in Greater Manchester from 2011 onwards as part of the ''BBC North Project''. BBC region 1920s–1968 The first ''BBC North'' operation was a large region, based in Manchester and covering the areas now served by BBC North West, BBC North East and Cumbria, BBC Yor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Goodson-Todman Productions
Mark Leo Goodson (January 14, 1915 – December 18, 1992) was an American television producer who specialized in game shows, most frequently with his business partner Bill Todman, with whom he created Goodson-Todman Productions. Early life and early career Goodson was born in Sacramento, California, on January 14, 1915. *a "Born Jan. 14, 1915 in Sacramento, CA." — ¶ 1. His Jewish parents, Abraham Ellis (1875–1954) and Fannie Goodson (1887–1986), emigrated from Russia in the early 1900s. As a child, Goodson acted in amateur theater with the Plaza Stock Company. The family later moved to Hayward, California. Originally intending to become a lawyer, Goodson attended the University of California, Berkeley. He financed his education through scholarships and by working at the Lincoln Fish Market. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1937 with a degree in economics. That year, he began his broadcasting career in San Francisco, working as a disc jockey at radio station KJBS (now KFAX). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ITV Central
ITV Central, previously known as Central Independent Television, Carlton Central, ITV1 for Central England and commonly referred to as simply Central, is the Independent Television franchisee in the English Midlands. It was created following the restructuring of ATV and officially began broadcasting on 1 January 1982. The service is owned and operated by ITV plc under the licensee of ''ITV Broadcasting Limited''. Historically Central made a major contribution to the ITV network schedule – especially in entertainment and drama – but today its main responsibility is the regional news service. History Background During the 1970s ATV, the previous Midlands licence holder, was often criticised for its lack of regional output and character. Although ATV had purpose-built a modern colour production complex in the centre of Birmingham, most of its major productions were recorded at its main studios at Elstree in Hertfordshire, a legacy of the period when the company had also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
