Endemol Shine North America Revives Original ‘Deal Or No Deal’ After Island Departure
EXCLUSIVE: A reboot of the original Deal or No Deal is currently in development in the United States.
Deal or No Deal Island, which aired for two seasons on NBC, combined elements from the original game with physical challenges reminiscent of Survivor. However, producers from Banijay Americas are now shifting focus to a more traditional studio format, aiming to attract budget-conscious networks and streaming platforms seeking familiar game show properties.
The original Deal or No Deal premiered on NBC in December 2005, hosted by Howie Mandel. The series enjoyed a successful four-season run from 2005 to 2010 and returned for a fifth season in 2018. Additionally, the show’s format transitioned into syndication, producing over 300 half-hour episodes beginning in 2008.
In 2018, CNBC unveiled a version of the show featuring Mandel as host, which continued until August 2019.
In the original format, contestants selected from 26 briefcases, each containing cash prizes ranging from one penny to one million dollars. Players eliminated six cases, with the amounts removed from play, before receiving an offer from “The Banker.” This led to the choice of accepting a “deal” or going with “no deal,” culminating in a final offer once two cases remained. If the contestant rejected this last proposal, they could either keep their selected case or exchange it for another, claiming the cash inside.
Returning to the original format aligns with cost efficiency, as studio-based game shows typically require a lower budget compared to their island counterparts. Classic game shows continue to perform well in ratings; for instance, ABC regularly airs Celebrity Family Feud and revives Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, while CBS is set to bring back Hollywood Squares for a second season in January. Fox is showcasing Celebrity Weakest Link and Name That Tune, and NBC has renewed Password, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, for a third season.
Endemol Shine North America, led by CEO Sharon Levy, also produces popular series such as MasterChef, Lego Masters, and the upcoming Fear Factor: House of Fear, set to premiere on Fox in January.
