Endemol USA and NBC Expand "Deal or No Deal" Experience to Include King.com Game

At-home viewers of Endemol USA's hit show "Deal or No Deal" on NBC often find themselves shouting encouragement at the contestant facing the "Deal or No Deal" decision out of excitement and an eagerness to play the game themselves. Now viewers can control their own destinies and get in on the excitement any time they want by playing the skill game version of King.com's "Deal or No Deal" at NBC.com. The new game offering is part of a week-long "Deal or No Deal" event kicking off today at NBC and NBC.com. Tonight's season premiere features the chance for contestants to win $6M. Viewers have a chance to win $1M by playing the "Deal or No Deal Lucky Case Game."

With this expansion of "Deal or No Deal," Endemol USA's Digital Media Group continues to innovate one of today's hottest trends -- evolving popular TV shows into additional mobile and Internet properties. Television fans are eager to go beyond a normal television experience and actively participate in such extensions as shown with the success of "Deal or No Deal's Lucky Case Game."

"Lucky Case" at NBC.com doubled the network's Web site traffic and propelled NBC to the number one network site in May according to Hitwise, which monitors Internet usage.(1) The game, which is only available online when the show is airing, gives at-home viewers the chance to compete for $10,000 by sending a text message with the winning case number. Now, NBC.com will offer fans another fun game to play anytime with King.com's "Deal or No Deal" skill game. Players have the option to play at www.nbc.com for free or can register at www.king.com to compete against others for cash prizes.

Endemol USA's Jon Vlassopulos, vice president, Digital Media, Business Development and Strategic Planning, commented, "We're always looking for new, groundbreaking ways for fans to access their favorite Endemol USA shows. Adding King.com's skill game to NBC.com makes the site the clear destination of choice for enthusiastic fans who enjoy interacting with the show above and beyond watching it on TV. By offering 'Deal or No Deal' on multiple platforms fans can enjoy the game anytime, anywhere."

Game Features

The expansion of King.com's "Deal or No Deal" to NBC.com includes features such as a new user interface and enhanced graphics to make the game even more realistic for at-home players.

The skill game tests a player's agility and memory. Similar to the television show, the "Deal or No Deal" skill game features 26 briefcases with each translating to cash amounts ranging from $.01 to $1,000,000. After receiving a briefcase, players must continue to open additional briefcases in an attempt to clear away the low value prizes so they end up with a single high value prize.

However, only very skillful players will be able to walk away with a high score: Briefcases often contain fake values, or remain open for only a few seconds and then the chance to clear a low value prize is gone. After each round, players can either continue to clear prizes and raise their score, or they can accept the banker's deal to retain their current score and end the game there. If a player walks away with the highest value in a given tournament, that player will win the jackpot.

About King.com

Launched in 2004, King.com is the world's largest skill-gaming site, boasting more than 40 different games and more than 1.3 million games played every day. King.com's tournament-style games, unique content, and promotions allow players of all skill levels to compete for entertainment and possible monetary gain. Exclusive King.com partners include Yahoo! (US and Europe), AOL (Europe), Lycos (Europe), MSN UK, T-Online and RTL.de. King.com has licensed television properties including "Big Brother" (UK), "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" (Germany), and "Deal or No Deal" (US, UK and Germany).

About Endemol USA

Endemol USA has established itself as one of the leading suppliers of non-scripted programming in the U.S. The company's current hits include "Deal or No Deal," "Big Brother," and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Today, Endemol USA draws on a library of more than 500 formats, 400 program series and 25,000 hours of broadcast television in 26 nations worldwide. In addition, the company develops original formats for the U.S. and international markets. Endemol USA also produces extensive content and editorial services to support online and wireless platforms.

About "Deal or No Deal"

Hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, "Deal or No Deal" is an exciting game of taking risks and playing the odds. Based on the successful format from Endemol that has aired in over 35 countries, "Deal or No Deal" debuted in Holland in 2002 and became an international television sensation. The show is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Scott St. John.

(1) USA Today, "'Deal' ends successful season with $5M prize" June 4, 2006

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