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Category Television - Global Date 11/21/2006 |
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'Deal or No Deal' Contestant Applications Top The 100,000 Mark...
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Fans Tackle TV's Toughest Entry Form For a Chance At One Million Dollars
Nationwide Rush to Midnight Nov. 17 Deadline
Hits Online and On The Street...
Personal Stories, Dreams of Everyday Canadians Come Alive in Application Process
ATTN: Editors - Photos, Sample Application at www.globaltvmedia.com |
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(TORONTO) For over 100,000 Canadians, the chance at a million dollars and a new start wasn't about being a trivia whiz, standing in a lineup, or casting a simple ballot.
For 18 days this fall, (October 31-November 17) Deal or No Deal fans nationwide defined the spirit of this unique broadcast event - revealing their hopes, dreams, and personal stories in what's been called the most challenging contestant application process on record in television.
An astonishing 95,054 online and 17,713 postal applicants tackled the highly buzzed '39 question gauntlet', also known as the Official Deal or No Deal Contestant Application Form. The questions ranging from the silly to the serious clearly got Canadians thinking - not only about the million dollar prize...but also about their lives. From the inspirational to the heartbreaking, and of course, the completely wild-and-crazy, these fans have laid the foundation for this truly homegrown production.
"We couldn't be more delighted with this massive show of support. Fans coast-to-coast engaged wholeheartedly in the application process we planned for them - taking ownership of the Deal or No Deal experience and creating a unique energy that will really set these Canadian episodes apart," said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President of Programming and Production, CanWest MediaWorks. "Along with our producing partners at Insight Productions, we're thrilled to begin the adventure of creating each and every detail of the Deal or No Deal format right here in Canada."
Currently, a special team of 23 Deal or No Deal staffers, dedicated solely to the review of all applications, are preparing to contact a national shortlist of possible contestants for an in-person interview in the days to come.
"I am so excited about Canada’s very own Deal or No Deal," said John Brunton, President, Insight Production Company Ltd./Executive Producer, Deal or No Deal Canada. "I guarantee our homegrown contestants will amuse, entertain and make audiences proud. We can't wait to show Canadians a production of this scale, and translate the excitement into truly compelling television for fans nationwide.”
Production on these five special episodes of Deal or No Deal will take place in Toronto, beginning January 23, 2007. Fans can stay tuned to ET Canada and www.globaltv.com for all the latest information on audience tickets, and updates on casting for the Deal or No Deal models.
Produced expressly for Global Television by Insight Productions and Endemol USA, the five hour-long episodes will be broadcast exclusively in Canada. Airing on Global Television in the Spring of 2007, the special series - led by Host Howie Mandel - will bring all the action of the "Deal or No Deal" experience direct to its most loyal fans, right here at home. Deal or No Deal with Host Howie Mandel airs at a new time - Mondays at 8pm ET/PT beginning December 4th on Global Television.
DEAL OR NO DEAL - BY THE NUMBERS…
112,767 - Total number of Deal or No Deal applicants in Canada.
95,054 - Online submissions - (With over 17,000 of these received at www.globaltv.com on deadline day from last-minute-loving Canadians.)
17,713 - Hard copy applications sent via Canada Post.
1500 - Applications received at a single outlet of Canada Post in downtown Toronto on deadline day alone.
212 - Applicants who wanted to know if their dog could be one of their supporters if chosen…supplying bios and photos of said pooches, no less.
107 - Parcels attached to applications in the mail - including baked goods, briefcases of chocolate loonies, layer cakes in the shape of Howie Mandel's head, hand knitted toques, scarves, socks (for Howie), and various handmade replicas of the signature D.O.N.D briefcase.
39 - Number of questions -all mandatory- on the Deal or No Deal Official Application Form. (Craziest question? We pick #19: “Write a short poem or rap about yourself").
26 - Number of Deal or No Deal Models.
23 - Number of Production staffers tasked solely with reading and reporting on each and every application.
18 - Number of days the Deal or No Deal application process was open (October 31-November 17).
7 - Applicant hometowns that we have never been to, but nonetheless think are cool: Inukjuak, Quebec; Escuminac, New Brunswick; Iqualuit, Nunavut; Bay Bulls, Newfoundland; Kindersley, Saskatchewan; Delbonita, Alberta; Williams Lake, British Columbia.
3 - Average number of hours entrants spent online filling in application.
1 - The #1 answers to application form questions, "What would you do with a million dollars?" (pay off mortgage...) and "Dream vacation spot?" (Disney World).
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The Global Television network is owned by CanWest MediaWorks Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications Corp, (CanWest) (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS and CGS.A, www.globaltv.com). CanWest, an international media company, is Canada's largest media company. In addition to owning Global Television, CanWest is Canada's largest publisher of daily newspapers, and also owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
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, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Fear Factor and Big Brother, as well as 1 vs. 100, which NBC recently picked up for an additional 10 episodes. Endemol USA also produces extensive content and editorial services to support online and wireless platforms. 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 twenty-one countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Endemol Entertainment is a fully owned subsidiary of telecommunications giant Telefónica S.A., one of the largest companies in Spain.
Insight Production Company Ltd. is firmly established as one of Canada's foremost television producers in comedy, variety, drama, music, documentaries and sports. Since 1979, Insight headed up by John Brunton & Barbara Bowlby has become an industry leader in the creative development, financing and production of highly rated television programs in every genre. It has been recognized for its reputation for quality as the recipient of numerous International awards, including 59 Gemini Awards. The company has created thousands of hours of groundbreaking television that continues to be broadcast over major networks worldwide. Recent hits include Canadian Idol, Canada's homegrown version of the hugely successful international format, now entering its fifth season; the JUNO Awards, which plays a key role in the Canadian music industry, and Falcon Beach, a sexy relationship drama series sold in over 30 countries worldwide. Visit Insight at www.insighttv.com..
Media Contacts:
Adrienne Kakoullis
Global Television
Grace Park
Global Television
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