Quiz Call

Infobox British television
show_name = Quiz Call


caption =
original version = 9Live (Germany)
format = Live,
studio and phone-in quiz show
runtime =
creator = 9Live
country = United Kingdom
starring = Various Presenters
network = Quiz Call, Five,
Five US and Fiver
first_aired = 2005
last_aired = Present
num_episodes =
producer = Ostrich Media
(owned by iTouch)

"Quiz Call" is a late night/early morning phone-in quiz TV show, produced by Ostrich Media (owned by iTouch) for Five, Five US and Fiver.

Over 50 tracks of original soundtrack music for the show were composed and produced by Derek Gibbons for [http://www.sound-track.com Derek Gibbons NewMedia Limited.]

History

Launch

"Quiz Call" was launched as a standalone participation television channel in August 2005 on the Freeview and NTL platforms, and launched on the Sky Digital platform shortly afterwords.

The show encourages viewers to enter by calling a premium-rate telephone number or for free via their website. At the time of launch, the call cost was £0.60 from a BT Landline but increased to £0.75 in the summer of 2006. All calls are charged whether the caller gets through to the studio or not.

On 22 April, 2006, the channel made its début on analogue terrestrial television when it aired overnight on Five.

In June 2006, "Quiz Call" had a slight revamp. They replaced half of the original set with a purple and gold themed set. This set was used mainly as their set for use when broadcasting on Five. The graphics also changed at this time.

On 6 August 2006 Quiz Call gave viewers a unique opportunity to win a brand new car. Callers who got through to the studio had their name put into a bowl and at the end of the broadcast the person who was selected was called back live on air to answer a question. The car was won by Tracy from Newquay.

On 1 September, 2006, "Quiz Call" celebrated its first birthday with a 41 Hour Marathon Live Broadcast giving viewers the chance to play for a of £100,000 by guessing a 4-digit combination.

On a number of occasions in 2008 Quiz Call has switched from Channel 5 to Five US because of a live sport being shown on Five. The cash amounts decreased enormously from sometimes the highest cash amount being £2,000 and then dropped to £500.

ale

On 19 October, 2006, Channel 4 announced they would be selling Ostrich Media and announced the sale of Ostrich Media to iTouch Media on 3 November, 2006. [ [http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1938956,00.html MediaGuardian ("free subscription required")] ] The sale included the "Quiz Call" channel, its slots on NTL and digital satellite, as well as the company's back room technology including its customer relations management capability.

The deal did not however, include the slot on Freeview, and since 15 November, 2006 Channel 4 used the space to broadcast Film4+1, and subsequently Channel 4+1.

The loss of the slot on Freeview had reduced the broadcasting hours from 12:00 - 03:00 to 19:00 - 01:00. During this time, the channel maintained a position Freeview as it was shown on Ftn, between 22:00 and 01:00. This carriage ended on 1 January, 2007.

ky Channel Slot Closure

"Quiz Call" withdrew from the Sky EPG on 1 January, 2007. Viewers were at first greeted by a caption stating "Quiz Call will be back in mid-January" this was then replaced by a test card with the "Quiz Call" logo and information stating that "The service has now ceased", which in turn was replaced by a black screen.

how format

A grid or table of money amounts is shown on screen. Behind each amount lies an answer to the main question. The main question is normally given in a clue word with associated answer. For example - Question, what word follows BLACK. A possible 12 answers are available with numerous outcomes but only the answers on the grid/table are correct. The host will accept calls at random intervals to answer the question and ask for their answer, if it corresponds to an answer on the grid/table they will win a cash prize shown that is available.

Various situations will happen during the show as to how much is available such as double money (or more), extra answers and jackpot amounts. In which time the presenter, as well as answering calls, will encourage new callers to attempt the quiz.

Controversy

On 24 September, 2006, "Quiz Call" admitted to "The Sunday Times" manipulating games by blocking callers from taking part for periods of up to 40 minutes. Under headlines of "“naked profiteering”", "Quiz Call" said that on these occasions, it charged thousands of callers a standard 75p premium line fee — knowing that it would give them no chance to answer the prize question. In the Culture, Media and Sport committee held on 28 November, 2006 representatives from "Quiz Call" admitted that one instance of people being put on hold did occur and that the producer responsible no longer works for Ostrich Media.Sherwin, Adam [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2477142,00.html MPs condemn phone-in game shows as tantamount to fraud] Published by "The Sunday Times" on November 28, 2006. Accessed December 2, 2006.]

"Quiz Call", which once offered a £100,000 jackpot, admitted that the show’s producer was responsible for deciding how long callers had to wait to enter the games. It admitted that "Quiz Call" had been caught out cutting corners, in using its own staff to pose as prize winners, clutching 3-foot cheques in an on-air promotion, though there was no suggestion that any employees had been playing or winning the games.Swinford, Steven. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2372445,00.html TV quiz sets callers a costly question] . Published by "The Sunday Times" on September 24, 2006. Accessed December 2, 2006.]

The BBC Radio 4 programme "You and Yours" broadcast a segment on "Quiz Call" on 10 October, 2006, who were contacted by listeners who had been barred by the channel. One listener contacted the programme to say that they were blocked by the channel after winning a number of cash prizes using the free web entry option. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/01/2006_41_tue.shtml Quiz channel bans] by the BBC for the BBC Radio 4 programme "You and Yours", broadcast October 10, 2006, retrieved October 10, 2006]

"Quiz Call" was removed from TV screens as part of Five's review into all its premium rate phone calling quiz programmes in March 2007, it returned on the evening of 30 March, 2007. As of 2008, it is the only participation TV show of its kind left on British TV.

Cost to enter

Landlines now cost £1 per entry, which is not a guarantee for entry to the show (About 300 entries per minute with 2 answers per min approx). Mobiles cost considerably more. A low cost entry is available through the website which uses a standard rate 0845 number instead.

Quiz Call presenters

Current Presenters

Presenters who currently host "Quiz Call" include:

*Liz Fuller
*Chris Hopkins
*Kait Borsay
*Keith Price
*Chris Park

Past Presenters

*Kay Little
*Vicky Letch
*James Callow
*Derek Gibbons
*Zö Christien
*Nikki Cowan
*Suzanne Cowie
*Alan Ennis
*Ruth Frances
*Lawrie Jordan
*Paul Hendy
*Steve Hyland
*Alex Kramer
*Carol Machin
*Sean Macintosh
*Charlie McArdle
*Abi Pethullis
*Cat Porter
*Craig Rowe
*Mike Mason
*Lottie Mayor
*Carmel Thomas
*Kirsty Duffy
*Gemma Scott
*Liz Summers
*Mark Rumble

References

External links

* [http://www.quizcall.co.uk "Quiz Call"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qki_pJ_c6Gg Clip showing examples of "Quiz Call" solutions] (YouTube)