“Do you want to ask the audience?”, “How about a 50/50 option?” or “Is that your final answer?” – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the show whose host keeps asking questions like these. “Who wants to be a millionaire?” is one of the world’s most successful quiz shows. It has run for 12 years and airs in more than 100 countries. Conceived by British radio producer David Briggs (51), “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” was first broadcast in the UK by private television station ITV in 1998.
Rose d’Or Award in 1999
In 1999, the show won a Rose d’Or Award, which according to Briggs created a significant competitive advantage. In the first three years, the British sold licenses in 51 countries. Today, the show is broadcast around the world earning top ratings everywhere. Chris Tarrant, who has hosted “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” since the show first hit the airwaves in England, attracts up to 18 million viewers per episode. The German version with Günther Jauch, which first aired in 1999 on Germany’s RTL station, attracts up to 10 million viewers each time. The Swiss edition of “Who wants to be a millionaire?”, hosted by René Rindlisbacher, drew an average of 300,000 viewers on Switzerland’s private station TV 3 before it closed in 2001.
A real television studio at the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne
People can find out why this game is so fascinating at this year’s Rose d’Or Festival. On Sunday, 19 September, Chris Tarrant, host of the British original, will be presenting “Who wants to be a millionaire” at the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne. A studio will be set up according to the show’s original set specifications in the hotel’s “Zeugheer Saal”. From the music to the lighting, everything will be exactly the same as during a recording for television. A number of international television celebrities will be playing alongside Chris Tarrant. Three rounds are planned. Of course, there will also be an opportunity to win money, albeit not quite a million. For each round, the jackpot will be worth 50,000 Swiss Francs donated by a benefactor. The total prize money from the three rounds will go to the MyHandycap foundation, which supports handicapped people. Tickets for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” are available at www.ticketcorner.com starting today.
Advance ticket sales start today
Advance ticket sales also start for all other public events of the Rose d’Or Festival today: the performance of the soundtrack to the epic film “Lord of the Rings” featuring the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra on 20 September (tickets: www.kkl-luzern.ch), the “Comedy Night” on 21 September (tickets: www.ticketcorner.com) and the grand Awards Ceremony on 22 September, where the Rose d’Or Awards 2010 will be presented (Tickets: www.kkl-luzern.ch).
Further information is available at www.rosedor.ch
Rose d’Or – Festival and Prize
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important annual events in the international television industry. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has been held in Lucerne since 2004. With over 40 countries taking part, the Rose d’Or attracts leading television makers, producers and production companies, and executives from independent and public service broadcasters. Since its creation, it has been a networking platform for the onscreen entertainment community, and a meeting place to discuss ideas and formats. The festival culminates in a Gala Awards Ceremony, at which prestigious Golden Roses for the best television entertainment programmes of the year are awarded. Throughout its 50 year history, the festival’s goal has been to reward originality, quality and creativity in entertainment programming, and to encourage excellence in television and new media.