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National Bingo Night (Australian game show)
Encyclopedia
National Bingo Night was an Australian game show
, based on the American game show of the same name
, which premiered on the Seven Network
on 21 October 2007. The show was hosted by former Home and Away
star Tim Campbell with former Girlband
member Renee Bargh
acting as the number caller. Tanveer Ahmed
acted as the "commissioner", who refereed the playing studio audience. The show was axed after six weeks.
Home viewers could collect pre-printed game cards from newspapers and the internet, and check the winning status of those cards by watching the program or checking the website after the show finished. Winning cards could be redeemed for a $100 cash prize and were also eligible to enter a weekly draw for $10,000.
The show was pre-recorded, and the winning numbers pre-determined by the producers. A small set of winning cards was put into circulation. As a result, the game was not a true game of bingo, but rather a lottery, as emphasised in the game's terms and conditions.
The solo contestant played for a substantial major prize (such as a Jeep Grand Cherokee
, a holiday package or $50,000 cash), while members of the studio audience competed for a lesser cash prize of $5,000. Three special prize balls also gave the contestant the chance to win up to an additional $10,000 if drawn.
Contestants could only use certain drawn balls to put towards their game, determined by correctly guessing whether the next number is either red or black, odd or even or higher or lower than the previously drawn number, depending on the game. Some of the games were easier to win than others. For example, Time Flies requires a total of 365 to complete as opposed to Bingo 500 requiring a total of 500, while Around the World could be potentially won in no more than 9 straight correct guesses (providing no audience member declares bingo).
. This game has only been played once and was replaced by Win the VIN. The player had to guess whether the next ball is higher or lower than the last ball drawn out. The player's first guess is higher or lower than their age.
of their new Jeep
.
On 13 November 2007 the Nine Network
's A Current Affair said that the show was rigged and the numbers could be easily predicted. It was revealed that the show is actually pre-recorded, and that the play-at-home bingo cards are purposely generated such that most - if not all - players will have cards that are "one away" from a complete winning combination, thus giving players the hope of having the winning card for most of the televised event. This analysis was performed by examining a large number of bingo cards, and seeing that all games shared a common subset of numbers. Disclaimers on the bottom of the play-at-home cards specifically stated that they were not legally considered bingo cards, indicative that the numbers were constructed following the taping. A Current Affair also showed footage about how the ball that came down the tube was not the ball that got picked up by Renee.
Then, on the following day, 14 November 2007, A Current Affair aired an exposé
on the show, where a woman claimed she won $100 through the home viewer competition. After completing the claim form on Channel 7's website, and a longer than expected delay receiving her prize, she contacted Channel 7 where they told her that she never registered to claim her prize.
The day after the final, Tanveer Ahmed appeared on Channel 7
's Today Tonight
to defend the rigging claims. The story ended with Ahmed, in a reference to the show's catchphrase, saying:
On 18 March 2008 the hosts of Seven's Sunrise
were ambushed by protesters chanting and carrying placards that claimed "Channel 7 doesn't pay", a reference to the non-payment of winnings to winning National Bingo Night audience members and home viewers, live on air. Host David Koch blamed the incident on A Current Affair, a theory that was lent credence when the same protesters appeared on that night's episode of the program. Both Koch and co-host Melissa Doyle
have promised to look into the allegations, but later simply read a prepared statement from Seven Network Management.
There also was controversy in how players can be one away. In episode 4, red card, after the first four numbers were called containing 3 Os and a G, a studio audience player was one away. Another case was in episode 5, red card, after the first seven balls were called out containing 3 Bs, 2 Gs and 2 Os, two studio audience players were one away. (This is possible, as the middle "N" is a free space; BNGO is possible, with only the I-ball being needed.)
In episode 5, white card, one person was one away after six balls were called out (4 Is and 2 Gs, a plausible situation); the next ball called out was N41 – and another six audience members were one away. In these cases, there was no possible way of being one away from Bingo.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, based on the American game show of the same name
National Bingo Night
National Bingo Night is an American game show hosted by Ed Sanders which premiered on ABC on May 18, 2007 with a six-episode order. Sanders is known for his work on another ABC show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition...
, which premiered on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
on 21 October 2007. The show was hosted by former Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
star Tim Campbell with former Girlband
Girlband (Australian band)
Girlband was an Australian pop group formed in 2006. There were four members, Renee Armstrong, Renee Bargh, Jess Smith and Patrice Tipoki.-Biography:...
member Renee Bargh
Renee Bargh
Renee Bargh is an Australian celebrity and TV presenter, who is best known as a host of Channel [V] Australia. She is currently the weekend co-host and correspondent for Extra.- Early life :Renee was born in Southport, Queensland...
acting as the number caller. Tanveer Ahmed
Tanveer Ahmed (comedian)
Tanveer Ahmed is an Bangladeshi-Australian comedian, journalist, television personality and a doctor working as a psychiatrist.-Biography:Ahmed was born in Bangladesh but was raised in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia...
acted as the "commissioner", who refereed the playing studio audience. The show was axed after six weeks.
Overview
National Bingo Night was marketed as an interactive experience for both the studio audience and viewers at home. Members of the studio audience attempted to win a game of bingo while competing against a solo studio contestant. Each episode consisted of three games represented by red, white and blue bingo cards.Home viewers could collect pre-printed game cards from newspapers and the internet, and check the winning status of those cards by watching the program or checking the website after the show finished. Winning cards could be redeemed for a $100 cash prize and were also eligible to enter a weekly draw for $10,000.
The show was pre-recorded, and the winning numbers pre-determined by the producers. A small set of winning cards was put into circulation. As a result, the game was not a true game of bingo, but rather a lottery, as emphasised in the game's terms and conditions.
Games
In each game, the solo contestant competed in a minigame that also served to unveil the numbers being called for the game. He or she then tried to complete the minigame and outlast the audience before they could declare bingo. If they were successful, they won the major prize; if an audience member beat them to it, they walked away with nothing.The solo contestant played for a substantial major prize (such as a Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
, a holiday package or $50,000 cash), while members of the studio audience competed for a lesser cash prize of $5,000. Three special prize balls also gave the contestant the chance to win up to an additional $10,000 if drawn.
Contestants could only use certain drawn balls to put towards their game, determined by correctly guessing whether the next number is either red or black, odd or even or higher or lower than the previously drawn number, depending on the game. Some of the games were easier to win than others. For example, Time Flies requires a total of 365 to complete as opposed to Bingo 500 requiring a total of 500, while Around the World could be potentially won in no more than 9 straight correct guesses (providing no audience member declares bingo).
Bingo 500
This game involved contestants aiming to have all their bingo balls add up to 500. In this game, the contestant guessed whether the next ball is higher or lower than the last ball drawn out. The player's first guess was higher or lower than their age.Showroom Challenge
This game involved contestants trying to have all the numbers on the bingo balls pulled out appear on the price of their new JeepJeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
. This game has only been played once and was replaced by Win the VIN. The player had to guess whether the next ball is higher or lower than the last ball drawn out. The player's first guess is higher or lower than their age.
Bingo Gold Card
This game involves contestants trying to match the numbers that appear on a Bingo Gold Card.Win the VIN
This game involved contestants trying to have all the numbers on the bingo balls pulled out appear on the VINVehicle identification number
A Vehicle Identification Number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. VINs were first used in 1954...
of their new Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
.
Time Flies
This game involved players trying to make, like Bingo 500, all the numbers on the bingo balls pulled out add up to 365. In this game, the player guessed whether the next ball is black or red.Around the World
This game involved the contestant trying to make 9 correct guesses to win $50,000 worth of travel.Money Bags
This game involved the contestant trying to have all numbers on the bingo balls drawn to appear on the serial number of their hundred-dollar note.Controversy
National Bingo Night achieved a degree of controversy concerning how the game was played and the allegations that the network has not paid winnings claimed by home viewers and audience members.On 13 November 2007 the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's A Current Affair said that the show was rigged and the numbers could be easily predicted. It was revealed that the show is actually pre-recorded, and that the play-at-home bingo cards are purposely generated such that most - if not all - players will have cards that are "one away" from a complete winning combination, thus giving players the hope of having the winning card for most of the televised event. This analysis was performed by examining a large number of bingo cards, and seeing that all games shared a common subset of numbers. Disclaimers on the bottom of the play-at-home cards specifically stated that they were not legally considered bingo cards, indicative that the numbers were constructed following the taping. A Current Affair also showed footage about how the ball that came down the tube was not the ball that got picked up by Renee.
Then, on the following day, 14 November 2007, A Current Affair aired an exposé
Expose
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:-Technology:* Exposé , a window management tool for Mac OS X** Exposé clone, computer software which mimics the Mac OS X feature-Music:...
on the show, where a woman claimed she won $100 through the home viewer competition. After completing the claim form on Channel 7's website, and a longer than expected delay receiving her prize, she contacted Channel 7 where they told her that she never registered to claim her prize.
The day after the final, Tanveer Ahmed appeared on Channel 7
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
's Today Tonight
Today Tonight
Today Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
to defend the rigging claims. The story ended with Ahmed, in a reference to the show's catchphrase, saying:
On 18 March 2008 the hosts of Seven's Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
were ambushed by protesters chanting and carrying placards that claimed "Channel 7 doesn't pay", a reference to the non-payment of winnings to winning National Bingo Night audience members and home viewers, live on air. Host David Koch blamed the incident on A Current Affair, a theory that was lent credence when the same protesters appeared on that night's episode of the program. Both Koch and co-host Melissa Doyle
Melissa Doyle
Melissa Jane Doyle is an Australian television personality.Doyle is currently co-host of the Seven Network's Sunrise, The Zoo and Where Are They Now.-Early career:...
have promised to look into the allegations, but later simply read a prepared statement from Seven Network Management.
There also was controversy in how players can be one away. In episode 4, red card, after the first four numbers were called containing 3 Os and a G, a studio audience player was one away. Another case was in episode 5, red card, after the first seven balls were called out containing 3 Bs, 2 Gs and 2 Os, two studio audience players were one away. (This is possible, as the middle "N" is a free space; BNGO is possible, with only the I-ball being needed.)
In episode 5, white card, one person was one away after six balls were called out (4 Is and 2 Gs, a plausible situation); the next ball called out was N41 – and another six audience members were one away. In these cases, there was no possible way of being one away from Bingo.