Syndicated gossip show dropped after two seasons
As first reported by Broadcasting & Cable, syndicated gossip Page Six TV was canceled Friday after two seasons.
Based on the New York Post’s Page Six gossip column, featured Post reporter Carlos Greer, comedian Bevvy Smith, and Variety reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister. The show was originally hosted by John Fugelsang, but departed early in its run.
Page Six TV has aired at 2 p.m. over Fox-owned WFLD since expanding nationwide in September 2017, where it remains today. The series was tested by several Fox-owned stations in the summer of 2016, though WFLD was not among them.
A secondary run airs in an overnight time slot on WFLD sister station WPWR.
The New York Post is owned by News Corp., the one-time owner of Page Six TV’s Twentieth Television before the company split into two as News Corp. (owner of the Post and Wall Street Journal) and 21st Century Fox, who owned Twentieth; the Fox-owned stations; and the film studio. In December 2017, the television and film properties of 21st Century Fox were sold to The Walt Disney Company, excluding the owned-stations, Fox, Fox News, FS1, and FS2 who form the nucleus now known as Fox Corporation.
Producer Endemol Shine North America opted not to continue the series as a result of Twentieth’s sale to Disney as its option on the series expires in September. Low ratings also played a role in the show’s demise: Page Six TV ranked seventh among entertainment newsmagazines in a field of eight among households. The show on average drew 900,000 viewers a day.
Page Six TV also was impacted by the Fox-owned stations’ decision to poach Warner Bros.’ Extra from NBC-owned stations in several markets, including New York; Los Angeles; and Dallas (Extra moved to WFLD in 2016 after NBC-owned WMAQ declined to renew.) Extra is expected to fill those slots being vacated by Page Six.
The cancellation comes as plans on what happens with Twentieth under Disney is now taking shape. Earlier this week, Debmar-Mercury made a deal with CBS Television Distribution to sell barter advertising time in their syndicated shows including Family Feud, Wendy Williams, and Caught In Providence, replacing Twentieth in the role.
The cancellation leaves Twentieth with two long-running shows left on the bubble: Dish Nation and Divorce Court, both long shots to return given each series’ contracts are up and new owner Disney isn’t in the syndicated court or newsmagazine business. In January, Twentieth canceled Top 30 after a season-and-a-half due to low ratings and anemic time slots. Like Page Six, Top 30 was tested on several Fox-owned stations in 2016 before rolling out in syndication the following year.
Remaining in production for the rest of this television season and through the summer, Page Six TV’s final airing is scheduled for September 13.