International versions of Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune has had a number of versions in different countries:
Australia
Main articles: Wheel of Fortune (Australian game show) and Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune has had a long history in Australia, with the original version premiering in 1981 and ceasing production in 2006. The half-hour episodes were usually brodacast at 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. The original version was hosted by several people with Ernie Sigley, John Burgess, Tony Barber, Rob Elliott, Steve Oemecke and Larry Emdur each taking up the position during the 25 year lifespan of the original version.
After the original version was axed by the Seven Network, their arch rival, the Nine Network brought the rights to the show and developed a revived version known as Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, with the title living up to the shows' premise that $1,000,000 can be won in one night. This version premiered on May 26 2008 and is hosted by Tim Campbell.
Belgium
The Wheel Of Fortune (or 'Het Rad Van Fortuin' in Dutch) was aired by VTM from 1989-1997 (presented by Walter Capiau from 1989-1994 and by Bart Kaell from 1994-1997) and from 2004 until the end of August 2006. (presented by Luc Appermont)
Brazil
Brazil had two versions of Wheel of Fortune. The first was Roletrando, aired in end of 80's and beginning of 90's. Later returned with the name Roda a Roda, in 2003 until February 2007. The host was the brazilian TV legend Silvio Santos
Canada
While the United States version of the program has aired continually, in syndication, on various English-language television stations in Canada (with the show moving to CBC Television in September 2008 [1]), the TQS network aired a French-Canadian edition of the show from 1989 to 1992. Entitled La Roue chanceuse, the show was hosted by Donald Lautrec and Lyne Sarrazin.[2]
Unlike with Jeopardy!, Canadians are disqualified from appearing as contestants on, or participating in contests put on by, Wheel of Fortune in the US.
Chile
La Rueda de la Fortuna was broadcast by Canal 13 in 1979 and hosted by Rodolfo Torrealba.
Denmark
In Denmark Lykkehjulet was aired on TV 2 from 1988 to 2001. The hosts were Michael Meyerheim (1988), Bengt Burg (1989-1996), Keld Heick (1996-1997), Bengt Burg (again) (1997-2000), and Lars Herlow (2000-2001).
France
There have been two versions. The first ran in the early 1990s, and in August 2006, a revival has been made, hosted by Christophe Dechavanne and Victoria Silvstedt.
Germany
There have been three Glücksrad versions in Germany: 1988-1998 on Sat.1 (hosted by Frederic Meisner and Peter Bond), 1998-2002 on Kabel 1 (Peter Bond replaced by Thomas Ohrner), 2002-2004 on 9 Live.
Hungary
The Szerencsekerék (Wheel of Fortune) was a very popular daily game show which was aired by TV2 between 1998 and 2002. The host was András Vízy.
Italy
In Italy, the show is called La Ruota della Fortuna and has recently returned to the airwaves, hosted by Enrico Papi and Victoria Silvstedt. It airs on Italia 1. From end of 80s to 2003 it was broadcast first by Canale 5, then by Rete 4.
Israel
The show aired in Israel from 1993 through 2000, and was among the prominent shows of the newly-founded commercial television channel. It is closely associated with its host, Erez Tal, who would later star in other television game shows.
Malaysia
The program was shown on Astro Ria and repeated on TV3 with one week delay until 2002, the Malaysian version of the show was called Roda Impian. Production of the show began in 1996, and since that time it has become one of the most famous game shows in the country. It was hosted by Halim Othman from 1996 to 2002 and Hani Mohsin from 2002 until he died of a heart attack in 2006. No new episodes have been aired since the death of Mohsin, and it is currently unknown when or if the show will return.
Netherlands
The Dutch version is called 'Het rad van fortuin', as in Belgium, and it was broadcast by RTL 4 from 1989-1998 and hosted by Hans van der Togt.
New Zealand
The New Zealand version of Wheel of Fortune started in February 1991 originally screening on TV2 at 5:30pm. The show was hosted by Phillip Leishman with Lana Coc-Kroft as the model who turned around the letters. The original car was a 1991 model Ford Capri. The show aired on various time slots and switched between TV1 and TV2, at the shows peak it aired on TV1 at 7:00pm a time slot previously used to screen Sale of the Century but moved off this slot in 1995 when TV1 extended their news to a one hour show followed by Holmes. The show was axed in 1996 after it had been moved to 6pm on TV2 as the show could not compete with the 6pm news shows on TV ONE and TV3.
Wheel of Fortune returned to New Zealand screens weeknights at 5.30pm on TV ONE from Monday April 14th 2008. Jason Gunn and Sonia Gray host the show.
Norway
This version is titled Lykkehjulet and airs on TV3.
Philippines
Wheel of Fortune in the Philippines started on May 21,1984 by OTVC. Johnny da Roa was chosen to host the show with TV Host-Singer Donna Ocampo turning the letters. Da Roa left the show to treat his cancer in 2006 and Ocampo hosted the show with Eva Valdez in 2006 and Adel Romualdez in 2007-present. It is almost as same as the American syndicated version. On May 19, 2008, the show will celebrate its 25th season with more exciting and bigger prizes. It was announced that Johnny da Roa will return on June or July in 2008 after his recovery and Adel's resignation from the Wheel to seek attention in Kamag-anak, Deal or No Deal as a model. It became one of the most successful television franchise in the Philippines while its run for almost 25 years.
Actor Rustom Padilla hosted the Philippine edition of the show on the Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC) during its short run from 2001-2002. It was part of ABC's response to the popularity of IBC 13's version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and The Weakest Link.
ABS-CBN has (obtained a licensed for and) created a new Wheel of Fortune for 2008. The new host is actress Kris Aquino.
Poland
The first version ran in the 1992s. Today Actor Krzysztof Tyniec and Marta Lewandowska hosts the current Polish edition of Wheel of Fortune, which is called Koło Fortuny. It is shown from 2007 to today on TVP2. Wojciech Pijanowski was first host, with assistant Magda Masny. It is one of the few versions to use green as its third podium color instead of blue, emphazing a red-yellow-green pattern.
Romania
The show was broadcast in Romania by Pro TV, starting in 1997, under the name Roata Norocului and it was hosted by actor Mihai Călin.
Russia
Russia's version of Wheel of Fortune, called Pole Chudes (Russian: По́ле Чуде́с) began in 1990, now hosted by Leonid Yakubovich.
Singapore
MediaCorp TV Channel 5 produced Singapore's version of Wheel of Fortune in 2002. Eunice Olsen, who is Miss Singapore Universe 2000, was a co-host. DJ Bernard Lim was the main host.
Spain
During all of the 1990s the Spanish version of the show was broadcasted as La Ruleta de la Fortuna, first on Antena 3 and then by Telecinco. It returned to Antena 3 in 2006 as part of the "Nostalgia phase" that hit the channel that year. IN its revival, the show was renamed to La Ruleta de la Suerte. The revived format has since become one of the channel's most successful programmes for the TV season 2006/2007 scoring shares of 25%+ on a daily basis. Originally the show aired in an hour-long block but in view of its success, Antena 3TV decided to extend episodes to 90 minutes with the inclusion of new games within the show. La Ruleta de la Suerte airs weekdays between 1230h and 14h.
Presenters of La Ruleta de la Fortuna Mayra Gómez Kemp (1990) Antena 3TV Ramón García (1990) Antena 3TV Irma Soriano (1990-1991) Antena 3TV Bigote Arrocet with Mabel Lozano (1991-1992)Antena 3TV Belén Rueda …. Herself (1992)Antena 3TV Fernando Esteso (1993) TeleCinco Jesús Vázquez …. (1993-1994) TeleCinco Andoni Ferreño …. (1994-1995) TeleCinco Goyo González …. 1995-1996)TeleCinco Carlos Lozano …. (1996-1997)TeleCinco Diana Fernández ….(1996-1997)TeleCinco Jorge Fernandez (2006 - ) Antena 3TV (Now as Ruleta de la Suerte)
United Kingdom
Main article: Wheel of Fortune (UK game show)
United States
Other countries
Some other countries that air "Wheel of Fortune", and the titles used, include Indonesia (Roda Impian), Vietnam (Chiếc nón kỳ diệu), Ecuador (La Rueda de la Fortuna, for Ecuavisa), Italy (La Ruota Della Fortuna), Turkey (Çarkıfelek), Poland (Koło Fortuny), Denmark (Lykkehjulet), Hungary (Szerencsekerék), and Argentina (aired live twice a day under the names Tiempo Límite FAN (Time Limit Fan) and Tiempo Límite ATP (TV-G Time Limit).
SoapNet's website (specifically, the part where they discuss Soap Stars on Wheel of Fortune week) reveals that versions have also aired in the Czech Republic, Estonia, India, Latvia and Mexico. see in you tube "la rueda de la fortuna televisa México" 1995
*The American version airs in Canada, but Canadians are not eligible to be contestants and cannot participate in any of its contests, such as SPIN ID.
See also
Past broadcasts
Other countries that have had the show include Croatia (Kolo Sreće), Colombia, Finland, South Korea, Slovenia (Kolo sreče), Greece, Slovakia, Panama in a 2001 weekly prime time version called "La Rueda de la Fortuna" broadcasted in TVN, and Sweden (where it was called Lyckohjulet and was aired on TV3).
References
- ^ "Canadian Press: "Hockey soap opera, immigration police drama on CBC's winter schedule"". Canadian Press, via jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ "Roue chanceuse, La (1986-1992)". Emissions.ca. Retrieved 2007-02-22. Richard Therrien (2006-08-25). "Les 20 Ans de TQS; De hauts en bas". Le Soleil. Retrieved 2007-02-22. "Australian Game Show Homepage". Retrieved 2007-02-22. "Saison 1986-1987". TQS.ca. Retrieved 2007-02-22.