Post by Teddy Bear on Apr 9, 2009 22:16:15 GMT
;D ;D ;D
Paxman's American move flops as BBC chiefs axe the U.S. version of Newsnight
By Niall Firth
With his acerbic style and withering put-downs, Jeremy Paxman was expected to be a sure-fire hit in America.
But the fearsome Newsnight presenter's attempt to transfer his success across the Atlantic has come unstuck after the BBC pulled a US version of Newsnight off air.
Last year, BBC Worldwide launched a much-hyped, Paxman-anchored US version of the popular show and gave it pride of place in their schedule on Friday nights.
But after a series of poor ratings the corporation first downgraded the show to Thursday nights, before axing it altogether following the US elections.
A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "This was always an experiment, Jeremy did not consider it the launch of a US career.
"The ratings were not as high as we'd hoped for and difficult decisions had to be made."
Ahead of the show's launch the BBC had been optimistic that Paxman's particular style would transfer easily to the US.
BBC America president, Garth Ancier, had even hoped the Newsnight presenter could emulate the success of American Idol judge Simon Cowell, who's combatative approach has endeared him to US viewers.
'Jeremy Paxman is the sort of person that Americans will just eat up,' Mr Ancier had told the FT.
Variety reported that the US version of Newsnight could end up being called Paxman. 'BBC banks on brash Brit as next US hit,' its headline claimed.
The US edition of Newsnight had contained a package of highlights held together with fresh links recorded by Paxman and his co-presenters.
'Ratings were steady, but not big enough to reinvest in it,' a BBC America spokeswoman said.
Newsnight's US edition was actually pulled in November, after the US elections, but nobody noticed it had gone until the BBC admitted it this week.
BBC America already airs a popular twice-nightly international news programme produced in the US, World News America, fronted by Matt Frei.
It showcased The Office and Life on Mars, which were then both bought and remade for US audiences.
BBC World News - the 24-hour news channel - will continue to air the weekly edition of Newsnight.
By Niall Firth
With his acerbic style and withering put-downs, Jeremy Paxman was expected to be a sure-fire hit in America.
But the fearsome Newsnight presenter's attempt to transfer his success across the Atlantic has come unstuck after the BBC pulled a US version of Newsnight off air.
Last year, BBC Worldwide launched a much-hyped, Paxman-anchored US version of the popular show and gave it pride of place in their schedule on Friday nights.
But after a series of poor ratings the corporation first downgraded the show to Thursday nights, before axing it altogether following the US elections.
A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "This was always an experiment, Jeremy did not consider it the launch of a US career.
"The ratings were not as high as we'd hoped for and difficult decisions had to be made."
Ahead of the show's launch the BBC had been optimistic that Paxman's particular style would transfer easily to the US.
BBC America president, Garth Ancier, had even hoped the Newsnight presenter could emulate the success of American Idol judge Simon Cowell, who's combatative approach has endeared him to US viewers.
'Jeremy Paxman is the sort of person that Americans will just eat up,' Mr Ancier had told the FT.
Variety reported that the US version of Newsnight could end up being called Paxman. 'BBC banks on brash Brit as next US hit,' its headline claimed.
The US edition of Newsnight had contained a package of highlights held together with fresh links recorded by Paxman and his co-presenters.
'Ratings were steady, but not big enough to reinvest in it,' a BBC America spokeswoman said.
Newsnight's US edition was actually pulled in November, after the US elections, but nobody noticed it had gone until the BBC admitted it this week.
BBC America already airs a popular twice-nightly international news programme produced in the US, World News America, fronted by Matt Frei.
It showcased The Office and Life on Mars, which were then both bought and remade for US audiences.
BBC World News - the 24-hour news channel - will continue to air the weekly edition of Newsnight.
