Video: ‘Deal or No Deal’s’ Scott St. John

Prime-Time Game Expands to Syndication

By Chris Pursell

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and Endemol USA will attempt to translate “Deal or No Deal’s” prime time success into daytime with what some analysts are calling the highest-profile rookie show of the syndication season.

The syndicated version will feature all the key elements of the prime-time series, including the models, the Banker, the set and Howie Mandel as host. Behind the scenes, essentially the same team from Endemol USA, led by executive producer Scott St. John, will run the show.

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has told stations the top prize for the Monday-Friday game show will be doubled from original expectations to $500,000.

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“This was sold with the top prize being $250,000, but we decided the game would be better with the bigger prize money,” said Barry Wallach, president of NBCU Domestic Television Distribution. “There’s more excitement, and we decided to bite the bullet and give away more money.”

Viewers can expect contestants to choose between 22 cases as they work their way toward the top prize, instead of the 26 in the prime-time show this fall. In addition, the series will host 22 potential contestants holding the cases every week. The famed “Deal” models will help open the cases as the contestants get selected to play.

In every episode, one contestant will be selected by the “Deal Wheel,” which spins a ball to decide which of the 22 will play that day.

“With 22 real people able to play on any given day, viewers will get to know them throughout the week,” Mr. Wallach explained. “This will allow Howie to interact with them all and bring his humor to the show, even as he moves them through the program at a faster pace. He absolutely loves this format, because he finds the energy level to be intense.”

In addition, the company is adding a digital element to the syndicated “Deal,” giving away $10,000 online every week to viewers who register through their local affiliate.

“Stations are thrilled with this, as it’s a huge Web driver for them,” Mr. Wallach said. “In prime time, ‘Deal or No Deal’s’ Lucky Case became one of the most popular online games, and we are now able to bring that element to our daytime series as well.”

The series, which is cleared in more than 98% of the country, launches Sept. 8.

Click here to learn more about the full slate of syndicated shows for this fall.