Jim wrote:
How is a game that only a few have the ability to win suppose to bring out the masses?
I tend to agree in most respects with GONE D, Jim--Because Countdown is the most-played game on the network, and more accessible than games like Brainbuster, it makes sense to pick that game for the promotion.
In contrast, I also think that it makes sense to schedule it for the evening. I suspect BT is well aware of the figures on afternoon/evening playership. With $1,000 on the line, this could draw a lot of those afternoon players out to combine with the usual evening crowd, thus bumping up total playership, and maybe getting them to stay for premium games, too. Furthermore, for these people to increase their chances, the possibility of a cash prize might incentivize players to invite others to team up with, which would also increase playership.
I know this is only anecdotal, but if this was indeed the reasoning, it did work for my team. In our 15 years of existence, we have literally never come out to play on a Saturday. Nevertheless, at least ten showed up at the Red Fox Grill on Saturday to try for it. They didn't win, of course, but they did order a bunch of food and drinks while they played; and a few stayed to watch a football game there, ordering more drinks. I suspect they will go again for the next couple of Saturdays, too.