If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

CBS wins battle for Draw Something TV show - report

New show will pit celebrities against Draw Something users for cash prizes

CBS has won a bidding war to produce a pilot based on Zynga's recently acquired mobile hit, Draw Something.

According to a report in Variety, the pilot is being co-developed by Sony Pictures Television, Ryan Seacrest Productions and Embassy Row. The format will pit celebrities against everyday users in drawing challenges for cash prizes.

Zynga's $180 million acquisition of Draw Something developer OMGPop was widely criticised for being over-priced, and, in the time since the deal, Draw Something has lost millions of monthly and daily active users.

This has coincided with a decline of investor confidence in Zynga: the social giant's stock price has collapsed in recent weeks, prompting the NASDAQ to halt short-selling of its shares.

Like Zynga's recent merchandising deal with Hasbro, the Draw Something TV show is evidence of the company seeking alternate revenue streams in a period where its core business is faltering.

To read Rob Fahey's appraisal of Zynga's decline, follow this link.

Related topics
Author
Matthew Handrahan avatar

Matthew Handrahan

Editor-in-Chief

Matthew Handrahan joined GamesIndustry in 2011, bringing long-form feature-writing experience to the team as well as a deep understanding of the video game development business. He previously spent more than five years at award-winning magazine gamesTM.