112,767 Canadians apply to be on Deal or No Deal

NEWS RELEASE

GLOBAL TELEVISION

************************
A Global Television Canadian primetime exclusive - Deal or No Deal contestant applications top the 100,000 mark

Fans tackle TV's toughest entry form for a chance at one million dollars

Nationwide rush to midnight November 17 deadline hits online and on the street

TORONTO, November 21- 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 to 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," said Barbara Williams, senior vice president of programming and production, CanWest MediaWorks.

"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," Williams said.

"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," she said.

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. and executive producer of Deal or No Deal Canada.

"I guarantee our homegrown contestants will amuse, entertain and make audiences proud," Brunton said.

"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 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 8 p.m. ET/PT beginning December 4 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 globaltv.com on deadline day from last-minute-loving Canadians)

17,713 - hard copy applications sent via Canada Post

1,500 - 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 number 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 to 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 number 1 answers to application form questions, "What would you do with a million dollars?" (pay off mortgage) and "Dream vacation spot?" (Disney World)

************************
More SooToday.com entertainment headlines