Editing Game Show Network (section)

===1994–2004: As "Game Show Network"===
On May 7, 1992, [[Sony Pictures|Sony Pictures Entertainment]] joined forces with the [[Gemstar-TV Guide International|United Video Satellite Group]] to launch the Game Show Channel, which was set to begin in 1993.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Sony Pictures Television Launches Game Show Network's 'Common Knowledge' On Fox Stations This August |publisher=Sony Pictures Entertainment |url=https://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2020/0727 |date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=2023-07-12}}</ref> The announcement of the channel was made by SPE president Mel Harris.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/04/business/the-media-business-sony-venture-to-start-game-show-channel.html| title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Sony Venture to Start Game Show Channel| first=Geraldine| last=Fabricant| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=May 7, 1992| access-date=July 12, 2023| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On December 2, 1992, Sony Pictures Entertainment made a deal to acquire the Barry & Enright game show library, and in a separate deal, struck a 10-year licensing agreement for the rights to the [[Mark Goodson]] game show library of more than 20,000 episodes including among others, ''[[What's My Line?]]'', ''[[Family Feud]]'', and ''[[To Tell the Truth]]''. Upon the deal, Sony said it would sell an equity stake in the network to Mark Goodson Productions, including the production of new original series by [[Jonathan Goodson|Jonathan Goodson Productions]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/1992/tv/news/sony-makes-a-deal-for-gameshow-libraries-101753/| title=Sony makes a deal for gameshow libraries| first=Jennifer| last=Pendleton| magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=December 7, 1992| access-date=July 12, 2023}}</ref> Both deals were completed on December 7, 1992, eleven days before Mark Goodson's death.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13539468.html| title=Sony Pictures' secret: Goodson's price is right. (Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.'s licensing deal with Mark Goodson Productions)| first=Kim| last=Mitchell| magazine=[[Multichannel News]]| date=December 7, 1992| access-date=July 12, 2023| archive-date=June 11, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611025717/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13539468.html| url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 6, 1994, Mark Goodson Productions pulled out of the venture.<ref>{{cite news |title=COMPANY TOWN ANNEX |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-27-fi-20432-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=July 27, 1994 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> GSN's launch time was intended to be at 10:00 p.m. ET, but at the time, it was pushed back to 7:00 p.m. ET.

Game Show Network launched at 7:00 p.m. on December 1, 1994.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://corp.gsn.com/corporate-info| title=GSN Corporate| website=GSN| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309104932/http://corp.gsn.com/corporate-info| archive-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> The first aired game show to be on GSN was ''[[What's My Line?]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.facebook.com/gsn/posts/10153235986710227?comment_id=48314711&offset=0&total_comments=36|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140707103213/https://www.facebook.com/gsn/posts/10153235986710227?comment_id=48314711&offset=0&total_comments=36| url-status=dead| archive-date=July 7, 2014| website=Facebook| title=GSN Official| date=August 29, 2013| access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> By the launch date, the network had secured rights to over 40,000 episodes from the libraries of several game show production companies and corporate parent Sony. The initial lineup was exclusively acquired programming such as ''[[Match Game]]'', ''[[Family Feud]]'', ''[[The Newlywed Game]]'', ''[[Jeopardy!]]'', and ''[[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]''. Over time, Game Show Network acquired the rights to ''[[The Price Is Right]]'', ''[[The $10,000 Pyramid]]'', ''[[Let's Make a Deal]]'', ''[[Hollywood Squares]]'', ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' and other libraries, putting them on the schedule at various times throughout the network's history. The network eventually began producing original game shows such as ''[[Lingo (American game show)|Lingo]]'', ''Burt Luddin's Love Buffet'', ''[[Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck|Whammy!]]'', ''[[Inquizition]]'', and ''[[The Gong Show#Later incarnations|Extreme Gong]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nedeff |first=Adam |date=April 1, 2014 |title=This Day in Game Show History - 365 Commemorations and Celebrations, Vol. 4: October Through December |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJmeDwAAQBAJ&dq=game+show+network+history&pg=PT296|publisher=BearManor Media |page=December 1, 1994 - Game Show Network Launches |isbn=978-1-5939-3572-6}}</ref> '''''Faux Pause''''' is an American television program that aired in 1998 on Game Show Network. Co-hosted by Mary Gallagher and Sean Donnellan, ''Pause'' consisted of jokes and skits done while watching certain episodes of [[game show]]s, in a similar fashion to ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''.

In 2001, a massive change in both leadership and programming at the network took place when [[Liberty Media]] acquired a 50% stake. Both president Michael Fleming and vice president Jake Tauber departed, and former [[Freeform (TV channel)|ABC Family/Fox Family Channel]] president [[Rich Cronin (executive)|Rich Cronin]] was hired to head the network.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Umstead| first1=R. Thomas| title=Game Show Lands Cronin| url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/game-show-lands-cronin-132113| access-date=February 16, 2022| magazine=[[Multichannel News]]| date=May 6, 2001}}</ref>