NBC UNIVERSAL DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION AND ENDEMOL USA BRING HIT GAME SHOW “DEAL OR NO DEAL” TO NATIONAL SYNDICATION

Howie Mandel To Host Monday-Friday Version Starting Fall 2008

Syndicated Version Sold To NBC O and O’s, CBS, Scripps, Allbritton, Sinclair and More in Top Markets

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA-October 8, 2007 - NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution is bringing NBC's and Endemol USA's hit game show "Deal or No Deal" to national syndication starting in fall 2008, it was announced today by Barry Wallach, President, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and David Goldberg, President, Endemol USA.

Howie Mandel, who will continue to host NBC's hit primetime run of the game show, is set to host the new half-hour version being sold to local stations for Monday-through-Friday broadcasts. This syndicated version will include all key elements that made NBC's primetime version a breakout hit, with Mandel as host, the Banker, models, contestants risking big money and the same award-winning production team.

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution sales executives have already sold the show to the NBC Universal stations in the nation's top markets including WNBC-TV New York, KNBC-TV Los Angeles and WMAQ-TV in Chicago, WCAU-TV Philadelphia, KNTV-TV San Francisco and others, as well as to stations from CBS, Allbritton, Scripps, Sinclair and more in top markets.

"'Deal or No Deal' is a fun and entertaining game for families to watch together at home and root for their favorite contestants," says Wallach. "It's win all or lose all, as contestants have a chance to change their lives forever in a matter of minutes. 'Deal' is a ratings success because it's emotional, aspirational and most importantly, every moment counts. We are proud to bring this proven product to the marketplace with all key elements intact, giving stations a great opportunity to lift their lineups to new ratings heights."

"We are thrilled to continue our already successful partnership with NBC Universal and Howie Mandel with this new version of 'Deal or No Deal'," says Goldberg. "The half-hour version of 'Deal' has been an extraordinary hit around the globe and with Howie and our same production team at the helm, this new daily syndicated version will continue to work with American audiences for years to come."

"My wife could not be more thrilled to have me out of the house and at work Monday thru Friday," said Mandel

"Deal or No Deal" was NBC's most watched program of the 2006-2007 TV season, averaging 15 million viewers per telecast, continuously building on its lead in for stations across the country, according to Nielsen Media Research. The series was also NBC.com's biggest draw as well last season, attracting nearly 20% of all visitors to the network's website. When it debuted on NBC in 2005, as a primetime Monday-Friday strip, "Deal or No Deal" attracted nearly 46 million viewers in its first week.

After its breakout debut in Holland in 2002, "Deal or No Deal" became a worldwide phenomenon and the format has since aired in more than 80 countries, including the U.S. It has also successfully aired as a Monday-through-Friday strip in more than 30 countries globally, including the U.K., France, Germany and Spain.

Hosted by Mandel, "Deal or No Deal" is an exciting and addictive hit game show where contestants play and deal for cash prizes in a high-energy contest of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. During each episode, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant is confronted with 22 sealed briefcases full of varying amounts of cash. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one--his or hers to keep, if they chose--until it's unsealed at game's end.

 

Source: NBC Press Release

 

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