Most popular TV game show

The world's most popular game show is Wheel of Fortune  (ABC, USA), which is currently seen in 204 US television markets as well as in 54 overseas markets with an estimated 100 million viewers a week.  

Who Wants to be a Millionaire is also extremely popular, with the show's format being licensed to 103 countries as of January 2004, including Kenya, Kazakhstan, China and Colombia.

Created by Merv Griffin, the show first aired in the US on January 6, 1975 and made its syndication debut in 1983, with the 3,000th nationally syndicated episode aired during the 1998-9 season.

Pat Sajrk has hosted the American Wheel of Fortune  since December 1981, when it was a daytime network game show. 

Co-host Vanna White, who joined a year later, wears over 200 different outfits on the show each year and is said to have covered 354 miles whilst turning and walking to touch letters during the past 18 years.

Since its 1983 syndication launch, the American show has awarded over $112 million (£70 million) in cash and prizes, averaging in excess of $7 million (£4.3 million) per year.
Produced by Columbia TriStar Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, it is distributed worldwide by King World Productions, Inc.