ITV to Launch The Zone Bingo
ITV are due to launch a brand new teleshopping / bingo / game show named (The Zone) on their flagship TV channel ITV1. It is due to air at midnight each day and run for around two hours. The Zone is due to feature a number of different activities including home shopping in conjunction with QVC and games like bingo and roulette.
At present most (past midnight) TV shows aired on ITV1 are simply repeats, so coming up with a new concept like (The Zone) may just be a good idea. ITV recently re-launched a bingo site on the net and this time they decided to go with cashcade (ex owners of Foxy Bingo) to market their bingo wares etc.
The Zone is only really possible due to the relaxation of the laws by Ofcom surrounding these kinds of shows last year. The bigwigs behind ITV plan to run The Zone on a 6 month trial period to see how it goes, lets just hope this one stands the test of time and does not end up in the bingo zin bingo like ITV’s first bingo show – Bingo Night Live.
Although, I have to say the Zone is nothing like what Bingo Night Live was all about and a combination concept should appeal to a number of viewers and not just the bingo elite.
As reported by the guardian – William van Rest, controller of TV shopping and gaming at ITV said, “This is an exciting new development for ITV created by a change in regulatory rules. We are keen to trial a range of opportunities to develop a potentially valuable new revenue stream.”
ITV had a major shake up of their organisation last year, as did many other TV networks. Consumer confidence in TV phone in game shows has been at an all time low over the past few years after a number of phone in scandals hit the headlines. Which is why you now see TV presenters give you a deadline when phoning in on any vote or TV show…………because votes will not be cast after that time, but you may still be charged for the call.
It will be interesting to see just how the viewing public take to the Zone, which will be hitting our TV screens shortly.
