Michael Fleming will become a returning contestant to cable's game scene this
week.
Almost eight years after turning on Game Show Network as founder and
president, and one year after leaving the latter role, Fleming will resurface as
chairman of interactive-game provider Buzztime Entertainment Inc.
Buzztime -- a subsidiary of interactive-TV programmer NTN Communications Inc.
-- launched its first project two months ago, Buzztime Trivia Channel, on
several cable systems owned by Susquehanna Communications.
Early reaction to the service from both Susquehanna management and
subscribers has been positive, Fleming said.
'Everyone agrees that interactive games are an essential no-brainer,' he
added. 'But no one has put a suitable enterprise together to make it so. This
company has as good a chance as anybody to make it happen. That's why, after
thinking about a variety of things to do after leaving Game Show Network, I'm
here.'
Fleming left GSN last spring after Sony sold one-half of its ownership
position to Liberty Media Corp. Liberty then brought in former Nick at Nite and
Fox Family Channel president Rich Cronin to head the service.
Given its set-top and content participation in Cablevision Systems Corp.'s
interactive-TV rollout in the New York metro area, Fleming didn't discount
working with Sony again.
'If there's a relationship to be crafted that benefits both of us, we'll make
something work with them,' he said.
