or


[01/08/08 - 03:27 PM]
NBC Offers Owned and Affiliated Stations Second Run of Early Episodes of New Hit Series 'American Gladiators' for Non-Primetime Weekends of January 19-20, January 26-27 and February 2-3
"This unique partnership with our owned and affiliated stations gives us a great post-premiere window to increase the sampling for this tremendous new hit series," said NBC topper Ben Silverman.

[via press release from NBC]

NBC OFFERS OWNED AND AFFILIATED STATIONS SECOND RUN OF EARLY EPISODES OF NEW HIT SERIES 'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' FOR NON-PRIMETIME WEEKENDS OF JANUARY 19-20, JANUARY 26-27 AND FEBRUARY 2-3

NBC OFFERS OWNED AND AFFILIATED STATIONS SECOND RUN OF EARLY EPISODES OF NEW HIT SERIES 'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' FOR NON-PRIMETIME WEEKENDS OF JANUARY 19-20, JANUARY 26-27 AND FEBRUARY 2-3

Rare Move Provides Stations with Network Programming and Increases New Series' Audience Sampling

BURBANK - January 8, 2008 - In an unprecedented move, NBC is offering its owned and affiliated stations a second run of the first three episodes of the new hit series "American Gladiators" for non-primetime broadcast on the weekends of January 19-20, January 26-27 and February 2-3 -- thereby providing the stations with an enhanced sampling opportunity with network programming for viewers in other dayparts. The announcement was made by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

The idea for the re-purposed broadcasts came from the recent NBC Affiliate Board meeting. Viewers are urged to check local listings for exact re-broadcast times in their areas.

"This unique partnership with our owned and affiliated stations gives us a great post-premiere window to increase the sampling for this tremendous new hit series," said Silverman. "Plus, it may often air in the same time period as the syndicated series did when it became a smash series years ago."

"We're extremely excited by the response to 'American Gladiators,'" said John Wallace, President of the NBC Local Media Division. "By adding the show to our weekend afternoon lineup, we can expose the program to a new audience and benefit from the local ad opportunities. It's a win-win for all involved."

"American Gladiators" premiered in its regular day and time Monday, January 7 (8-9 p.m. ET). The series debuted Sunday, January 6 with this season's highest adult 18-49 rating for any new-series premiere on any network and NBC's top new-series premiere since "Heroes" launched in September 2006. The debut of "American Gladiators" (5.9 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall in preliminary fast affiliate-based Nielsen results) scored NBC's highest non-sports rating in the Sunday 9-11 p.m. ET time period in nearly three years (since January 16, 2005). It's NBC's highest-rated new unscripted premiere in 18-49 since "The Apprentice" on January 8, 2004 (9.1).

Hulk Hogan ("Hogan Knows Best") and Laila Ali ("Dancing with the Stars") host "American Gladiators," the iconic competition series, which returned with a fresh modern reinvention for the 21st century. Using splashy twists including special effects, water skills and the latest technology, the classic games have been upgraded with even higher thrills, impact, energy and spectacle.

Celebrating the everyday, true American heroes -- weekend warriors who excel and take pride in their physical fitness -- 24 contenders will go up against the show's Gladiators, charismatic and eclectic warriors -- in the ultimate David & Goliath battle. As in MGM's traditional "American Gladiators" franchise, everyday amateur athletes compete against the Gladiators in contests of physical strength and endurance. The series includes such classic events as Joust, The Wall, Hang Tough and the Eliminator along with two brand-new events, Earthquake and Hit & Run. The 12 new Gladiators (six men and six women) are action-adventure stars ready to take down the everyday challengers with hard knocks and explosive attitudes.

The 24 male and female contenders will compete in three rounds of challenges where the final man and woman left standing will win a $100,000 top prize and will become Gladiators next season. All contenders have a unique story to tell and a compelling reason why they need to win. These unsung heroes combine brawn and heart in their effort to be worthy competitors, winning over the audience and turning them against the villainous Gladiators.

Each episode will feature two male and two female contenders competing against each other for points, all while the incredible Gladiators are lurking. Every competition will be unique, but all will end with a strenuous obstacle course known as the "Eliminator," the winners of which will be named as that episode's champions and will have the chance to move on in the competition.

The first six episodes of the series will be the preliminaries, which will cut the competition down to 12 contenders. The two slowest male "Eliminator" times and two slowest female "Eliminator" times will be dropped, leading the "final eight" contenders onto the semifinals. The four male and four female winners will be broken down further to compete in two semifinal episodes. The two winning male and female contenders from the semifinal rounds will compete head-to-head to determine who will be the male and female champions.

"American Gladiators" is produced by MGM Television (the original producers of the show) and Reveille (NBC's "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," "Nashville Star," "Ugly Betty"). Reveille's Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens and David A. Hurwitz ("Fear Factor") are the executive producers.





  [january 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN GLADIATORS (NBC)
· APPRENTICE, THE (NBC)
· BIGGEST LOSER, THE (USA)
· DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
· FEAR FACTOR (MTV)
· HEROES (NBC)
· HOGAN KNOWS BEST (VH1)
· NASHVILLE STAR (NBC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· UGLY BETTY (ABC)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.