Syndie Millionaire Renewed

By Paige Albiniak
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

Having just enjoyed a revival on prime time, Buena Vista Television has renewed Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for a third season in syndication.

"With remarkable double-digit growth in key markets and a steady climb across the board, Millionaire has shown that it has real staying power," said Janice Marinelli, president of Buena Vista Television.

Comparing November 2003 to the prior year, Millionaire improved its household ratings by 32%, hitting a 4.2 during the February sweeps. The show, recast as Super Millionaire, reappeared on ABC's prime time during February sweeps with a successful five-episode run.

Super Millionaire will return to ABC for a similar stretch during May sweeps. Millionaire is hosted by The View's Meredith Vieira and produced by Valleycrest Productions. Michael Davies, Paul Smith and Leigh Hampton are executive producers.

Paige Albiniak
Paige Albiniak

Contributing editor Paige Albiniak has been covering the business of television for more than 25 years. She is a longtime contributor to Next TV, Broadcasting + Cable and Multichannel News. She concurrently serves as editorial director for The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences (G.E.M.A.). She has written for such publications as TVNewsCheck, The New York Post, Variety, CBS Watch and more. Albiniak was B+C’s Los Angeles bureau chief from September 2002 to 2004, and an associate editor covering Congress and lobbying for the magazine in Washington, D.C., from January 1997 - September 2002.