"DEAL OR NO DEAL" TO PREMIERE IN NATIONAL SYNDICATION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th
All-New Half-Hour Episodes To Air Five Days A Week, Hosted By Howie Mandel And Sold In Over 97% of U.S.; Contestants Can Win Up to $500,000 Each Weekday
New Interactive Elements To Launch With Syndicated Series Including $10,000 Weekly Prize
Los Angeles, CA--July 21, 2008--NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and Endemol USA's all new, half-hour episodes of "Deal or No Deal" will debut in national syndication on Monday, September 8th 2008.
Hosted by Howie Mandel, who will continue to host NBC's primetime version of "Deal or No Deal," now entering its fourth season, the new syndicated edition has been sold in over 97% of the U.S. for its first season in syndication.
The new syndicated version features all the key elements of the hit primetime series, including models, contestants taking big risks and having the chance to win a life-changing amount of money, the Banker, Mandel as host and the same award-winning production team from Endemol USA and Executive Producer Scott St. John.
The show will also have a number of new interactive elements, including the opportunity for viewers to win $10,000 online and/or via a toll-free number each week. When the show launches on September 8, viewers will be able to play a weekly $10,000 game on participating "Deal or No Deal" local affiliate websites, by registering via an 800 number or by logging on to the Deal or No Deal Club website (URL coming soon).
Right now, fans can log on to DealorNoDealTV.com for information on how to become a contestant on the show, exclusive video clips and more. This new webiste will also feature behind-the-scenes videos, model photo galleries, blogs from Howie, as well as beauty and fitness tips from the show's models.
"We are excited to be launching 'Deal or No Deal' in national syndication this fall," says NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution President Barry Wallach. "Not only will we be giving away millions of dollars this season on-air, but our new companion website will offer viewers a chance to win $10,000 each week. 'Deal or No Deal's' website has been one of the most successful in TV history and we are thrilled to bring this huge traffic generator to our affiliated stations in syndication."
"We are very proud of the success of 'Deal or No Deal' and are excited about the show going into syndication," said Rob Smith, Senior Vice President Programming Endemol USA. "'Deal or No Deal' has become a cultural phenomenon and we look forward to bringing it to viewers five days a week this fall."
"My wife could not be more thrilled to have me out of the house and at work Monday thru Friday," said Mandel. "I am having a blast doing the syndicated version of 'Deal or No Deal' and love playing the game with contestants from all over the country on a daily basis."
Each weekday, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a wheel is spun and a lucky contestant is chosen to play the game and confronted with 22 sealed briefcases full of varying amounts of cash -- ranging from a measly penny to the top prize of $500,000. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one - his or hers to keep, if they choose -- until its unsealing at game's end.
The risk element kicks in when the player must then instinctively eliminate the remaining 21 cases -- which are opened and the amount of cash inside revealed. The pressure mounts in each round, after a pre-determined number of cases are opened, the participant is tempted by a mysterious entity known only as "the Banker," to accept an offer of cash in exchange for what might be contained in the contestant's chosen briefcase -- prompting Mandel to ask the all-important question -- Deal or No Deal?
As each case is opened, the likelihood of the player having a valuable cash amount in his or her own case decreases or increases. Viewers will see if truly fortune favors the bold. The contestant knows that as long as the larger cash prizes haven't been opened, the Banker's offers will only get higher. And if the conflicted contestant accidentally opens a case with a bigger cash value -- the Banker's offer could suddenly evaporate.
"Deal or No Deal" was NBC's most watched entertainment program of the 2007-2008 TV season, averaging more than 11 million viewers per telecast, while continuously building on its lead-in for stations across the country, according to Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, "Deal or No Deal" delivered more than 132 million unique viewers this season-second only to "American Idol."
Based on the successful format from Endemol that has aired in more than 50 countries, "Deal or No Deal" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding and distributed in national syndication by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. David Goldberg is the President of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Scott St. John.
About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution:
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television within the U.S. and Canada. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.
Current and upcoming first-run strip syndicated programming at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution includes Deal or No Deal, Access Hollywood, The Jerry Springer Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Maury and The Steve Wilkos Show. Current first-run weekly syndicated programming includes The Chris Matthews Show, The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo, Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk and the off-network distribution of Heroes, The Office, House, Monk, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and much more.
About Endemol USA:
Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The company produces the break-out hits "Deal or No Deal," "1 VS 100," "Fear Factor," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" "Wipeout" and "Big Brother." Endemol USA is a division of Endemol Holding, a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 21 countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Endemol Entertainment is a subsidiary of the Consortium, a conglomerate formed by Mediacinco Cartera S.A., Cyrte Found II B.V., and GS Capital Partners VI Fund.
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