How do I play "TV Big Shot?"
First, see our "How to Play" rundown. But here's an even more abbreviated version. It's like Fantasy Football, only instead of choosing players from various teams, you're choosing TV shows from the big five networks. Basically, what you do is choose the TV shows you think are going to do best this season, earn points if you're correct, and monitor how YOUR shows are doing in comparison to other shows. If a show is cancelled and you've chosen it, well, you're out of luck. But say you've chosen a show that doesn't look like it'll do well at all, and it becomes the break-out smash hit of the year (it happened with "Ugly Betty" last year) — well, bully for you, you chose wisely!
Can I play "TV Big Shot" even if I don't join from the beginning?
Yes! TV Big Shot has a series of monthly showdowns that mean you can win valuable prizes (like a video iPod). If you have the highest points total in the monthly showdown — you win! The grand prize is won by the person with the largest number of points over the entire game — so play early and play often!
What Shows are Eligible for Play?
For a complete list, go here. But here's a quick guide. As long as a show is a comedy, drama, cartoon, reality show, or gameshow, and it is regularly scheduled to air in primetime (which is Monday thru Saturday from 8-11pm and Sunday from 7pm-11pm) and it's on one of the big five broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, or THE CW) — it's in the game. Cable shows, news programs, sports — those are all for another time.
How do I add or get rid of a show?
On your profile page, you can add or get rid of a show by using the "Buy" and "Dump" buttons on your profile page. Shows with a button that says "Notify" are shows that cannot be bought until one week before their premiere. Click "Notify" and you'll receive an email update once the show is capable of being purchased.
How often can I buy or dump shows?
You can add or remove a show from your lineup at any time. Be careful, though. Every time you sell a show, you lose one million dollars. Also keep in mind that all changes to your lineup take effect in the week following the transaction and make your choices by Sunday at 11:59pm for it to count for the upcoming week.
What is a show "status?"
It's sometimes tricky to determine how a network defines a show that is or is not on the air. So we've broken it down this way:
Active: This means that the show is still on the air. It has a regularly scheduled time slot. You can buy or sell these shows at any time.
Hiatus: This is a show that is currently not on the air, but the broadcast network has given a date for it's return. Shows with a status of "Hiatus" can be sold at any time, but you can only buy them once they become active again (which is one week before they are to return to air.)
Limbo: This is a show that the broadcast network has pulled off the air, and the network has not given a date for it's return. Even if they "promise" to return it to air, until there is a date, the show remains in limbo. Shows in limbo cannot be bought or sold until they are moved back to "Hiatus" or "Active" and any money you have used to purchase them is frozen.
Cancelled: This is a show that has been officially cancelled. The network has no plans to show it ever again. Any money you have used to purchase the show, you lose.
What is the difference between "points" and "my budget?"
Think of it this way — the points are what you want. The budget is what you need. The player with the highest number of points is going to win the game. Your budget is just there to help you keep track of how many shows you can buy or sell. When you dump a show, the current value of that show, minus one million dollars, is added back into your budget and can be used to buy more shows.
How do I earn points?
You earn points based on the ratings (based on Neilsen Household 'HH' ratings) performance of the shows in your current lineup. The higher the ratings are for your shows, the more points are added to your score. Your score also rises when your shows receive the "Fantasy Points" outlined below.
How are the points calculated?
Points are calculated by multiplying regularly scheduled episode's Nielsen Household rating by 10. For example, a show that earns a Neilsen HH rating of 5.1 will earn 51 points for anyone who currently has that show in their Big Shot Network lineup.
Additionally, here is a breakdown of "Fantasy Points" you can earn:
Top Five: If an airing of a show or multiple shows in your lineup ranks in the top 5 highest rated (Neilsen HH) shows for a given week, your Big Shot Network will receive an additional 5 points for each of those airings.
Timeslot winner: If an airing of a show or multiple shows in your lineup is the highest rated among shows in play during a particular timeslot (say, 9pm-10pm Mondays) — you receive five points per show.
Magazine Cover: If any actor or actress from your show appears on any one of a few specific magazine covers (see below) — you receive 20 points per magazine.
Ratings Growth: For every tenth of a ratings (Neilsen HH) point that a show in your lineup does better than the previous original (not re-run) episode, you get five points. This also works for premieres, and can result in a major burst of points for your Big Shot Network if a show in your lineup has a blockbuster premiere.
What magazine does my show have to appear on to get points?
Show talent must appear on the subscription copy of TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, People, US Weekly, Time, or Newsweek.
How are the show's costs determined?
For shows that are returning to air ("Ugly Betty," "Heroes," "Cops") we took the average Household rating from last year for each show, rounded it off to the nearest decimal point and multiplied it by ten million. (Thus, if a show scored at 1.789 average last year, it costs 18 million dollars.) For shows that are new this season, we took the average of all new shows from a particular network and averaged them together to determine how much a new show on that particular network is worth.
Will I still get points if my show is in re-runs?
Yes. As long as your show runs in it's regularly scheduled timeslot for premieres, you still receive points based on how well the show did for the night.
Who is eligible to play?
For that information, see the complete rules. But basically, you have to be a US Citizen and 18 years old. Also, you can't work or have a family member who works for NBC Universal, Bravo, or General Electric. (We're still playing, we just can't win.)