A spin-off (or spinoff) is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one, such as a television series based on a pre-existing one, or as a new company formed from a university research group or business incubator. In literature, especially in milieu based popular fictional book series like mysteries, westerns, fantasy, or science fiction the term sub-series is generally used instead of spin-off, but with essentially the same meaning.

Spin-offs as a descriptive term can also include a dissenting faction of a membership organization, a sect of a cult, a denomination of a church. In business, a spin-off is essentially the opposite of a merger. In computing, a spin-off from a software project is often called a fork.

A spinoff-product, is a product deriving elements of design , branding or function from an existing product, but which is itself a new distinct product.

Corporate spinoff

Main article: spin out

The common definition of Spin out is when a division of a company or organization becomes an independent business.

Government spinoff

Civilian goods which are the result of military or governmental research are also known as spinoffs.

Spinoff is the name of NASA's annual premiere publication featuring successfully commercialized NASA technology. For more than 40 years, the NASA Commercial Technology Program has facilitated the transfer of NASA technology to the private sector, benefiting global competition and the economy. The resulting commercialization has contributed to the development of commercial products and services in the fields of health and medicine, industry, consumer goods, transportation, public health, computer technology, and environmental resources. Since 1976, Spinoff has featured between 40 and 50 of these commercial products annually.

Media spinoff

Main article: Spin-off (media)

Media spin off is the process of deriving new radio, video game, or television programs from existing ones.

Research spinoff

A research spinoff is a new company based on the findings of a member or by members of a research group at a university.

The term is also used for concepts or products spun off a research project, for example methods or materials pioneered during the Manhattan Project (spin-off: Commercial Nuclear Power) or during the Space Race (spin-offs: Many, Integrated Circuits and hence most modern electronics, freeze-dried foods, satellites, et-cetera, and et al.).

See also

• Spin
• List of comics spin-offs
• Spiritual sequel

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Spin-Off was a short-lived American game show from 1975 that was based on the dice game Yahtzee and starred Jim Lange, and was originally produced by Nick Nicholson and Roger Muir.

Game play

Two couples, one a returning champion, competed, answering questions to spin a series of five "spinners" and build a Yahtzee-type hand. The spinners had the numbers 1-6 on them.

With each correct answer, each spinner randomly flashed the numbers rapidly and were stopped by pressing a button. The couple could keep the hand shown, or reject some or all of the numbers and earn up to two opportunities to improve the hand (but must gain control with a correct answer). If the couple kept the hand, the opposing couple had one chance to better the hand. The couple with the top hand received one of the following payoffs:

• $50 for a pair
• $75 for 2 pairs
• $100 for three of a kind
• $125 for a straight
• $150 for a full house (three of a kind plus a pair)
• $175 for four of a kind
• $200 plus a bonus prize for five of a kind

The first couple to amass $250 won the game and advanced to the Super Spin-Off bonus round.

Super Spin-Off bonus round

In the Super Spin-Off, the couple had up to three tries to build the best hand possible. Rewards were paid for higher hands:

• One Pair – $250
• Two Pair – $500
• Three of a Kind – $1,000
• Straight – $1,250
• Full House – $1,500
• Four of a Kind – $2,500
• Five of a Kind – $5,000
• 1-2-3-4-5, 5-4-3-2-1, 2-3-4-5-6, or 6-5-4-3-2 - $10,000

Broadcast History

The original but unaired pilot episodes of Spin-Off were actually videotaped at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City on Sunday, April 13, 1975, and its set and stage layout was created by Jim Ryan, who also was responsible for the scenic designs of such other game shows as The $10,000 Pyramid, the summer 1976 version of I've Got A Secret, and Pass The Buck. When CBS decided to place the program on its daytime schedule beginning on Monday, June 16, 1975, episode production of Spin-Off was to be done at CBS Television City in Los Angeles.

Spin-Off, which aired at 10:00am Eastern/9:00am Pacific and had replaced The Joker's Wild, was cancelled after just ten weeks on the air due to low ratings. Host Jim Lange would however return the following Monday with a new game show, Give-n-Take. The existence of the entire run of Spin-Off were once considered lost, until it was announced on some game show fan message forums that all of the master tapes were suddenly discovered intact, along with those from the original CBS network edition of Joker, inside a tape storage room at WCBS-TV sometime during 2000.

External link

• Spin-Off: The Most Underrated Daytime Game Show of 1975 - by David P.Johnson.