history

History of Deal and no Deal

Holland, 2001. A new game show, Miljoenenjacht, hits Dutch TV screens and is an instant hit. Invented by Dick de Rijk and hosted by Linda de Mol, sister of Endemol founder, John de Mol, it involves a studio audience of 500, a knock-out quiz, and a play-off to win a cash prize hidden in one of 26 suitcases. Will the winning contestant walk away with the jackpot? Will they accept a deal for a lesser amount from an anonymous banker? Or will they have to settle for a measly 1 euro?

A mix of knowledge, skill and chance – Miljoenenjacht had audiences gripped from the start. And word quickly spread about this TV sensation – soon the game was off to Australian TV, where it first became known as Deal or No Deal. The quiz element was dropped, and in came 26 glamourous models to present the suitcases. The rules are simple - a lone contestant has to select a case containing anything from 50c to $200,000. Then the cases are opened one-by-one, with the contestant hoping to reveal and eliminate small amounts. Tension comes in the shape of an insidious banker, who offers the contestant cash amounts in exchange for their case. Will the player choose to deal with the banker? Or tell him they’re sticking with their case, no deal.

Again it was a hit with viewers and DOND soon shot across the globe. It’s now produced in almost 60 countries, with almost another 20 similar versions, across six continents. And it’s the most flexible game show ever. It can be played in hour- or 90-minute long primetime slots, or work as shorter, daily shows. In some countries, the glitz, models, 26 suitcases and questions are replaced by regular contestants, with 22 boxes. Sometimes the banker is shown in silhouette, or he’s a mysterious voice at the end of a phone. Sometimes it’s the host that offers deals. The winning contestant can be helped by family and friends in some countries, or he could be out on his own. But wherever, and whatever way, you watch Deal or No Deal, the tension, the excitement, the drama and surprises are always the same.

“The secret to the success of the show,” says DOND creator Dick de Rijk, “lies in the well-balanced combination of both mathematical elements, such a gambling, and psychological elements, such as intuition. This unique game structure seems to appeal to everyone, whether it’s presented as a giant prime time show or as a stripped daily edition, like in France or Italy.”

DOND has broken records for viewing figures and prize money giveaways, as well as scooping awards all over the world. The UK version even won the coveted Rose D’Or, the international TV ‘oscar’, for best game show in 2006.

“It does not surprise me that the UK show received the award,’ said Dick de Rijk. “The whole team was so passionate and determined to make it a success”

Awards aside, it’s viewers who made the show a success. Dozens of fan sites are dedicated to DOND – and viewers at home can take part in the action with cash and prizes up for grabs.

So popular is DOND that some countries can’t get enough of it. In Holland and Greece, for instance, there’s two shows – a stripped down daily version, resembling the UK format, and a weekend primetime show with all the pizzazz of the US show. And across the world, countries employ their own tactics and twists to appeal to local audiences. In this, DOND is unique. From special editions, such as Australia’s Biggest Winners or Conflict of the Couples, and celebrity versions in Argentina, to awareness-raising campaign shows for breast cancer and heart disease in the US, DOND has proved just how flexible it can be.

One thing though that is consistent around the world – it’s the contestants that make the Deal or No Deal such a success. Win or lose, it’s the players who are the stars and keep audiences tuning in again and again. Some are reckless, some intuitive, some just plain lucky, but everyone has a different method and a different story. With such large sums of money at stake, DOND can be a life-changing experience. And that’s why more and more countries are producing their own shows and the contestant applications keep on rolling in.