Game Shows - Let's Split the Prize
How about a game show that allows home viewers to "invest" in the contestant, so that everyone can get a piece of the pie. The viewer would call a hotline provided by the show and pay a fee with their credit card. The more people that call in prior to the show, the higher the "viewer pot" is, which can be shown somewhere on the screen during the game. If the contestant wins, you would win a portion of the "viewer pot". This would make watching the gameshow more interesting since the outcome effects you rather than just some random stranger on TV, therefore being a sure ratings grabber.