DudeWithAFeud (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Richard27182 (talk | contribs) Consistency in use of quotation marks. Also WP:NPOV |
||
Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
The Psychic Friends Network was launched in 1991, with an infomercial, and a circuit breaker, that took the calls and forwarded them to the "psychics" who were working at home. This technology allowed the customers to build personal relationships with individual "psychics".<ref>{{cite web|last=Surowiecki|first=James|title=What Psychic Friends Failed to Foresee|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2641/|publisher=Slate|accessdate=14 July 2011}}</ref> Presented in [[talk show]]-like format and hosted by [[singer]] [[Dionne Warwick]] and [[psychic]] Linda Georgian, each installment featured a [[Premium-rate telephone number#North America|1-900 number]] for viewers to call to consult a psychic at the rate of [[U.S. dollar|$]]3.99 per [[minute]]. The program also featured reenactments of callers' stories and appearances by daytime [[soap opera]] stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/27/entertainment/et-braxton27|title=But there’s more!|last=Braxton|first=Greg |date=2004-09-27|publisher=''The L.A. Times''|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> |
The Psychic Friends Network was launched in 1991, with an infomercial, and a circuit breaker, that took the calls and forwarded them to the "psychics" who were working at home. This technology allowed the customers to build personal relationships with individual "psychics".<ref>{{cite web|last=Surowiecki|first=James|title=What Psychic Friends Failed to Foresee|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2641/|publisher=Slate|accessdate=14 July 2011}}</ref> Presented in [[talk show]]-like format and hosted by [[singer]] [[Dionne Warwick]] and "[[psychic]]" Linda Georgian, each installment featured a [[Premium-rate telephone number#North America|1-900 number]] for viewers to call to consult a psychic at the rate of [[U.S. dollar|$]]3.99 per [[minute]]. The program also featured reenactments of callers' stories and appearances by daytime [[soap opera]] stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/27/entertainment/et-braxton27|title=But there’s more!|last=Braxton|first=Greg |date=2004-09-27|publisher=''The L.A. Times''|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> |
||
The infomercials became the most popular to date, and [[Parody|parodies]] and imitators soon followed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-10-24-infomercial-timeline_x.htm|title=Infomercial history highlights|date=2004-10-24|publisher=usatoday.com|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> The parent company, Inphomation, took in profits of over $100 million within the first few years of the Network's operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/1998/02/16/story2.html|title=Lawsuits forecast Lasky's troubles|last=Harrison |first=David |coauthors=De Marco, Donna|date=1998-02-13|publisher=''Baltimore Business Journal''|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> From 1992-1997, the Psychic Friends Network infomercials were named top infomercial of the year by the Jordan-Whitney [[Greensheet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_/ai_18354527|title=Psychic pals predict wealth and prosperity|last=Dean|first=Mensah |date=1996-06-10|publisher=''Insight on the News''|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> The company declared bankruptcy in 1998 due to poor business decisions and spiraling competition.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patalon|first=William|title=Psychic Friends firm goes bankrupt Lasky's Inphomation Communication files for Chapter 11|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-02-05/business/1998036093_1_psychic-friends-infomercial-bankruptcy|publisher=''Baltimore Sun''|accessdate=14 July 2011}}</ref> In 2001, the bankruptcy trustees for the Psychic Friends Network sued [[MCI WorldCom]] Network Services Inc for mismanagement of billing and collections and won a judgement of $4.1 million in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last=Atkinson|first=Bill|title=MCI settles claim of psychic network|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2004-11-20/business/0411200152_1_psychic-friends-mci-sweeney|publisher=Baltimore Sun|accessdate=14 July 2011}}</ref> |
The infomercials became the most popular to date, and [[Parody|parodies]] and imitators soon followed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-10-24-infomercial-timeline_x.htm|title=Infomercial history highlights|date=2004-10-24|publisher=usatoday.com|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> The parent company, Inphomation, took in profits of over $100 million within the first few years of the Network's operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/1998/02/16/story2.html|title=Lawsuits forecast Lasky's troubles|last=Harrison |first=David |coauthors=De Marco, Donna|date=1998-02-13|publisher=''Baltimore Business Journal''|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> From 1992-1997, the Psychic Friends Network infomercials were named top infomercial of the year by the Jordan-Whitney [[Greensheet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_/ai_18354527|title=Psychic pals predict wealth and prosperity|last=Dean|first=Mensah |date=1996-06-10|publisher=''Insight on the News''|accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> The company declared bankruptcy in 1998 due to poor business decisions and spiraling competition.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patalon|first=William|title=Psychic Friends firm goes bankrupt Lasky's Inphomation Communication files for Chapter 11|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-02-05/business/1998036093_1_psychic-friends-infomercial-bankruptcy|publisher=''Baltimore Sun''|accessdate=14 July 2011}}</ref> In 2001, the bankruptcy trustees for the Psychic Friends Network sued [[MCI WorldCom]] Network Services Inc for mismanagement of billing and collections and won a judgement of $4.1 million in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last=Atkinson|first=Bill|title=MCI settles claim of psychic network|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2004-11-20/business/0411200152_1_psychic-friends-mci-sweeney|publisher=Baltimore Sun|accessdate=14 July 2011}}</ref> |
Revision as of 07:29, 10 July 2015
Available in | English |
---|---|
URL | www |
The Psychic Friends Network was a telephone psychic service operating in the United States in the 1990s. The company's infomercials were aired frequently on late night television and in 2012 launched a website.
History
The Psychic Friends Network was launched in 1991, with an infomercial, and a circuit breaker, that took the calls and forwarded them to the "psychics" who were working at home. This technology allowed the customers to build personal relationships with individual "psychics".[1] Presented in talk show-like format and hosted by singer Dionne Warwick and "psychic" Linda Georgian, each installment featured a 1-900 number for viewers to call to consult a psychic at the rate of $3.99 per minute. The program also featured reenactments of callers' stories and appearances by daytime soap opera stars.[2]
The infomercials became the most popular to date, and parodies and imitators soon followed.[3] The parent company, Inphomation, took in profits of over $100 million within the first few years of the Network's operation.[4] From 1992-1997, the Psychic Friends Network infomercials were named top infomercial of the year by the Jordan-Whitney Greensheet.[5] The company declared bankruptcy in 1998 due to poor business decisions and spiraling competition.[6] In 2001, the bankruptcy trustees for the Psychic Friends Network sued MCI WorldCom Network Services Inc for mismanagement of billing and collections and won a judgement of $4.1 million in 2004.[7]
Michael Lasky re-purchased the assets of the company, including the trademark. PFN later re-launched online, this time starring Vivica A. Fox as the new celebrity host, replacing Warwick.[8]
References
- ^ Surowiecki, James. "What Psychic Friends Failed to Foresee". Slate. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ Braxton, Greg (2004-09-27). "But there's more!". The L.A. Times. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Infomercial history highlights". usatoday.com. 2004-10-24. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ Harrison, David (1998-02-13). "Lawsuits forecast Lasky's troubles". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dean, Mensah (1996-06-10). "Psychic pals predict wealth and prosperity". Insight on the News. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Patalon, William. "Psychic Friends firm goes bankrupt Lasky's Inphomation Communication files for Chapter 11". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Atkinson, Bill. "MCI settles claim of psychic network". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Vivica A Fox Is Not A Psychic Friend". PerezHilton.com. 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2013-11-22.