ABC halves showings of Millionaire

The show, a hit for ABC in 2000, is now being cut back

The US version of TV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is being cut from four weekly episodes to two.

The ABC network has responded to ratings showing its audience was getting significantly older, which advertisers are usually deemed to find less attractive.

A regular edition of the quiz show will be shown on Mondays, with a "stunt" edition involving celebrities, couples and college students on Thursdays.

ABC entertainment chief Lloyd Braun said the initial showing of so many editions had enabled ABC to buy some time for its development process.

New comedies

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, which was first shown in the UK, was launched in the US last year.

The Disney-owned network has made changes to its schedules on every night of the week except Thursdays and Saturdays, and is cutting its news programming by one hour.

Contrast

The network will also be adding new comedies with Jim Belushi and Jason Alexander to its schedules and moving other shows around.

The changes to Millionaire contrast with the decision of NBC to double the showings of rival British import The Weakest Link to twice a week.

Another British quiz show, Dog Eat Dog, which has a similar premise to Weakest Link, has also recently been sold to the US.