All Stories FeedNew weeknight quiz for SBS
A new weeknight quiz show is coming back to television.
Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Australia production company will produce a new game show for SBS based on the French format Des chiffres et des lettres (Letters and Numbers).
The original is one of the longest-running quiz shows in the world, where it has been running since the 1960s. The UK version, Countdown, was the very first show ever broadcast on Channel Four in the UK in 1982 and is still on air.
“The Letters and Numbers format is a global sensation with local versions in France, the UK, South Africa, Israel and Mexico just to name a few,” SBS’s Director of Television and Online Content, Matt Campbell said.
“While there are subtle differences in each local version of the show, two contestants face numerical challenges and word games and even duel to become the return champion.
“The only prize the contestants win is the glory of being the carry-over champ. There are no million dollar prizes in this contest. Although in the UK they do win a specially-commissioned tea pot.”
Wikipedia notes the show is based on two skills: “numeracy rounds and letters rounds. In the television version, there are also “duels”. These are speed problems for which only the first player to provide the correct answer receives points. Both contestants may receive points in solving the other problems.”
SBS has greenlit 100 episodes of the as yet unnamed series to begin from June.
- Previous post: Airdate: Big Love
- Next post: Change of weather for Denyer? No thanks.
does Rockwiz have prizes for its contestants?
How do we apply to go on the show?
Good on you SBS-now only if 9 could come up a weeknights quiz show.
@ABCKid – you obviously need to do more French language lessons.
The clue(s) are Sombre Prince and Boef (in English, that would be Dark Prince and Beef).
The contestants then have a bunch of letters – an anagram of sorts.
The answer (in English) Beelzebub (a Prince of Darkness – ie, Hell) and Zebu, the domestic cattle of South Africa, but also a genus raised in the UK and Europe.
Think of the ratings !
sounds great, I love countdown. The timeslot will prove if its a hit or miss – if 6pm or 7.30pm I can’t see it being a ratings winner. Countdown only gives you 30 secs to make a word so if its the same format i would have to record it and press pause anyway to give me a bit more time.
No prizes on Spicks and Specks or The Einstein Factor. Hasn’t stop us enjoying them.
Great, I love Countdown. Who will be in the hosting chair making the lame jokes and puns?
Why are some people so rude about by the no-prizes concept? Not everyone is just grabby, you know. Plenty of successful precedents. Plus if they had announced expensive prizes, people would be whinging about a taxpayer-funded broadcaster wasting money.
So many people doing the Numberwang joke before me
Oh… My… Goodness… A game show that requires contestants to actually use their brains? Sounds like it’ll be over my head, though. At least it’s filling the massive vacuum left by the axing of ‘Temptation.’
I’ll give a go, but if it’s on at 7pm I’ll be watching ABC news.
No prizes – soooo SBS, cheap! Why bother.
I hope it’s on at 5:30 to take away viewers from deal and millionaire! I’ll be watching!
wtf is that clip about.. :S
Is this shine’s first show?
A “global sensation” which Australia has managed to avoid for forty years; meaning … ? And, in keeping with the SBS spirit, perhaps they should call it “Des chiffres et des lettres”, why not? And then the ABC could produce Numberwang as a time-slot competitor – hosted by Mick Molloy !
Will it be on at 6:00pm, … or maybe 7:00pm with SBS shifting their news to 6:00pm.
What’s this about Numberwang coming? zOMG
Rotate the board!!
what’s the point of playing if you don’t get prizes??
Simple and addictive show. But yes – call it Numberwang and it will be a surefire hit!
Why don’t we have a local version of “That’s Numberwang”?
I hope they are not doing it just to copy the commercial networks who have gameshows before the news.
Please call it “Numberwang”
ooh, this is exciting, me and my nana used to watch ‘countdown’ every afternoon after school when I was a kid growing up in the UK! its funny when they spell out rude words in the letters round : )
Good to see a quiz show coming to FTA.
How exciting, innovative and distinctive – really supporting the local industry. I’m sure Elisabeth Murdoch could do with the format fee paid by Australian taxpayers.
no prize…. hmmmm
Good to see SBS give this show the greenlight. Looks like a good quiz-show. Now, only if Temptation would return on Nine, i would be more happy