Reality on Bravo

Fantasy Network Programmers Vie For $100,000 Grand Prize

LOS ANGELES – If you’ve cursed the TV gods that canceled your favorite show, argued heatedly about network scheduling decisions and secretly speculated that you could do a better job than the networks’ programmers, here’s your chance to prove it. Bravo’s www.TelevisionWithoutPity.com – the premiere internet destination for the discerning TV junkie – introduces www.TVBigshot.com, an online season-long game that allows users to play ‘network executive’ by creating their own fantasy network lineups and awarding the individual with the most points a $100,000 grand prize. (Log on to www.TVBigshot.com for more information.) The announcement was made today by Jason Klarman, Bravo’s Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, at the Television Critics Association.

TVBigshot – born out of Bravo Digital’s successful Fall Season DeathWatch, which also returns this year – will launch this September in conjunction with the new fall television season. The game will allow players to create, name and program their own fantasy television networks using both new fall shows and returning series from the five broadcast networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and CW). Anyone can play and it’s free.

Starting with a budget of $300 million virtual dollars, each player must purchase shows for their daily primetime lineup. The user-created networks will earn points based on the success of their chosen rosters and will compete against each other for the top spot. At the end of the 2007-08 season, the player whose network has accumulated the most points – based on actual ratings for the programs, ratings growth, and “buzz” measured by press coverage and awards garnered – will win the $100,000 grand prize.

“Viewers root for their favorite shows just like their favorite sports teams,” said Klarman. “TVBigshot gives them the chance to channel that passion and take on their friends and the network executives.”

Like the real television world, the game can change at any time. Points are lost when a show declines in ratings, or worse, gets cancelled. Players have the power to call the shots, making executive decisions to sell shows in order to purchase others.
TVBigshot will offer special monthly showdowns throughout the television season for secondary prizes, allowing new players to join in the competition at any time.

www.TelevisionWithoutPity.com, a premiere internet destination for the discerning television “junkie,” became Bravo’s most recent addition to its portfolio of linked digital assets and broadband properties that includes www.BravoTV.com and the TRIO suite of channels: www.BrilliantButCancelled.com, www.OUTzoneTV.com and www.getTRIO.com. TelevisionWithoutPity provides witty no-holds-barred episode recaps and fan forums for television’s most popular drama and reality shows.

www.TelevisionWithoutPity.com has penetrated the pop culture television obsessed audience, drawing the devoted attention of viewers and Hollywood producers alike.