Avago
Encyclopedia
Avago was a gaming television channel in the United Kingdom
and Republic of Ireland
. It was launched on 4 July 2002.
Avago also played Big Shuffle, a live card-turning game in which viewers bet on whether the next card turned would be higher or lower than the current one.
No actual skill (or activity) was required to "play" Avago Balls. Players bought "cards" via their Sky remote handsets, and watched as the system checked them automatically against the balls that had been drawn. Claiming a win was done automatically too.
One major innovation was that each player's cards were superimposed onto the broadcast picture by software running in their Sky set-top box (the box had to remain connected to Avago by phone during play; this link was used to download the cards' numbers and patterns). This gave a much stronger illusion of actually participating in game of skill
rather than a lottery
.
Avago Balls was a revised version of the game that was played when the channel first launched. In the original version (called "Avago – The Biggest Numbers Game In Town") each game continued until someone had filled the required pattern of squares (like traditional Bingo). This resulted in relatively few winners, and long games (sometimes 30 balls or more on large patterns).
In the revised ("Avago Balls") version, each game was a fixed length of 15 balls. Anyone who matched at least one square was deemed a "winner", and those who had matched the most squares (typically 5 or more) had their names displayed and read out by the presenters.
Gala TV launched in October 2006. It was planned for the channel to also launch on Virgin Media/NTL however today Gala only broadcasts on Sky, Freesat and Online. The only presenter from Avago to move to Gala was Liv Kennard.
, Charlotte Gane, Lawrie Jordan. The. host of the biggest prize giveaways was Colin Murnane.
The presenters there to the final curtain were Marc Raphael, James Seager, Jodie McMullen
, Steve Walls, Sylvia Viosna , & Freya Berry and Paul Metcalfe
A not comprehensive list of presenters:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It was launched on 4 July 2002.
Games
There were numerous games you could play on Avago, by pressing the red button on the Sky remote. The main game was Avago Balls, a live bingo game. Other games included Spin 2 Win and Trackside. The official Avago website game's descriptions:- Avago Balls "Our live, interactive, presenter – led show makes Avago Balls truly unique. Play along with the presenter through your TV and watch your numbers make you a winner."
- Roulette "Just like the real thing. Load up our Roulette game and stake your bets on the classic Roulette board."
- Spin 2 Win "Play Spin to Win, our Roulette style game. Just put your chips on the table and see which number comes up. There's a new spin every minute, 24/7, so you never miss out. Check this out!"
- Avago Instants "Just select Play for Real within the Avago Balls game. Choose the ‘Instants’ option. Get a card, change it if you don't like it and we'll do the rest! Cards cost £1. Come and join the fun – get involved with Instants today! Where else can you win instant money with each game?"
- Super Bingo Keno "Choose your lucky card in this classic Bingo Keno game and place your stake.When the balls are drawn from the machine, the more you match, the more you win!"
- Cash Keno "A classic Keno game with the added turbo feature. Simply select up to 15 numbers from a grid of 1 to 80 and let the 20 balls drawn decide your win. The more you match, the more your win!"
- Trackside "Trackside is our racing game, running all day and all night. It's all the fun of a real day at the races, and we can now offer a fuller choice of bets; Win Bets; Reverse Forecasts; Tricasts and Combination Tricasts. If that's double Dutch to you, just follow our simple instructions once inside the game."
Avago also played Big Shuffle, a live card-turning game in which viewers bet on whether the next card turned would be higher or lower than the current one.
Avago Balls
Avago Balls was the main game on the channel, it was a live show that broadcast on the channel for ten hours every day. It worked in a similar way to bingo with presenters pulling the balls and players buying electronic playing cards. The interactivity was empasised with text messages being read while the balls were being pulled, a daily poll on a topical issue voted via the Sky remote again while playing and special prizes such as a weekly draw.No actual skill (or activity) was required to "play" Avago Balls. Players bought "cards" via their Sky remote handsets, and watched as the system checked them automatically against the balls that had been drawn. Claiming a win was done automatically too.
One major innovation was that each player's cards were superimposed onto the broadcast picture by software running in their Sky set-top box (the box had to remain connected to Avago by phone during play; this link was used to download the cards' numbers and patterns). This gave a much stronger illusion of actually participating in game of skill
Game of skill
A game of skill is a game where the outcome is determined mainly by mental and/or physical skill, rather than by pure chance.One benefit of games of skill is that they are a means of exploring one's own capabilities. Games encourage the player to look at, understand, and experience things...
rather than a lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
.
Avago Balls was a revised version of the game that was played when the channel first launched. In the original version (called "Avago – The Biggest Numbers Game In Town") each game continued until someone had filled the required pattern of squares (like traditional Bingo). This resulted in relatively few winners, and long games (sometimes 30 balls or more on large patterns).
In the revised ("Avago Balls") version, each game was a fixed length of 15 balls. Anyone who matched at least one square was deemed a "winner", and those who had matched the most squares (typically 5 or more) had their names displayed and read out by the presenters.
Avago with Gala
On 22 December 2005, Yoomedia announced the sale of Avago to the gambling operator Gala Coral. The deal was said to be worth £5.1m in a move which would see the channel rebrand as Gala Bingo in the 3rd quarter of 2006.Gala TV launched in October 2006. It was planned for the channel to also launch on Virgin Media/NTL however today Gala only broadcasts on Sky, Freesat and Online. The only presenter from Avago to move to Gala was Liv Kennard.
Presenters
The longest lasting presenters were Mark Pell, Jemish PatelJemish Patel
Jemish "Jem" Patel is a former host of live quiz show BIG Game TV!.-Early career:He approached the BBC in 1993, while still at school, and had a role in filming a documentary on young homelessness in London...
, Charlotte Gane, Lawrie Jordan. The. host of the biggest prize giveaways was Colin Murnane.
The presenters there to the final curtain were Marc Raphael, James Seager, Jodie McMullen
Jodie McMullen
Jodie McMullen is a former Miss Australia in 1996. During the international beauty pageant, she did not make the top 10 but won the Miss Congeniality award...
, Steve Walls, Sylvia Viosna , & Freya Berry and Paul Metcalfe
A not comprehensive list of presenters:
- Gina Akers
- Caroline Artus
- Carolyn Ashton
- Freya Berry
- Louise Brady
- Georgina BurnettGeorgina BurnettGeorgina Burnett is a London based television presenter, producer and life coach. Currently Georgina anchors the golf show The Back 9 on Eurosport online and Golfbug TV. She also presents and life coaches on Healthzone TV, NHS 24/7 TV and ITN On. Georgina's business profiles can be seen on CNBC...
- Zo Christien
- Elle DibleElle DibleElle Dible is an English television presenter who recently presented Pop the Q on TMF and Quiznation TV. She has also been a finalist in the 2004 FHM High Street Honeys...
- Alan Ennis
- Beverley FrenchBeverley FrenchBeverley "Bev" French is a British model and television presenter. She was the former presenter of The Mint on ITV Play. She has also presented The Great Big British Quiz and Rovers Return Quiz....
- Charlotte Gane
- Lawrie Jordan
- Liv Kennard
- Nigel May
- Jodie McMullenJodie McMullenJodie McMullen is a former Miss Australia in 1996. During the international beauty pageant, she did not make the top 10 but won the Miss Congeniality award...
- Stevie Morgan
- Colin Murnane
- Jemish PatelJemish PatelJemish "Jem" Patel is a former host of live quiz show BIG Game TV!.-Early career:He approached the BBC in 1993, while still at school, and had a role in filming a documentary on young homelessness in London...
- Georgina Palmer
- Melissa PeacheyMelissa PeacheyMelissa "Mel" Peachey is a British television personality, most notable for hosting PlayMania on GSN and Quiznation in the United Kingdom.-Early career:Born in London, she started out as an assistant for a London television network...
- Mark Pell
- Cat Porter
- Mark Raphael
- Mark Ryes
- Sonya Saul
- Justine van Buren
- Syrita Spearring
- Sylvia Viosna
- Steve Walls
- Paul Metcalfe