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Library/Series/Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US)
Grade B21 sourcesHIS-01470

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US)

Series · 1999 · Niche

31Editable slideCertificate

Regis Philbin's quiz show averaged 27.9 million viewers across its three weekly slots.

Regis Philbin at the 2000 White House Correspondents Dinner; CC BY-SA 2.0.
John Mathew Smith / Wikimedia Commons
ABC News retrospective on how the Regis Philbin quiz show became a television phenomenon.
ABC News
Video Regis Philbin visits new 'Millionaire' studio for reboot with Jimmy Kimmel
ABC News
ABC Isn't Gonna Party Like It's 1999 With These 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' Ratings
TheWrap

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagion35Breadth50Velocity0LongevityNo data yet31

Numbers

Seed to observed peak
9 months
Aug 16 ’99 to May 3 ’00
Platforms
4
Started on TV
Origin
Seeded
Entertainment

Mechanics

  • Daily ritualPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Dupe economy
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

ABC premiered the quiz show with Regis Philbin, and audiences grew during its summer run. Viewers discussed it on Usenet and played home versions. Its weekly slots led the season ratings; a syndicated edition followed the prime-time decline.

Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum.

Aug ’98Sep ’99Feb ’00JunJun ’01Jun ’03Jun ’08Jun ’13Jun ’18Oct ’21Mar ’24TVPressOpen webRetail
TVPressOpen webRetail

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Timeline (16)

  1. July 1999

    ABC precursor · Jul 26 ’99

    ABC opened telephone qualifying and announced promotions through McDonald's.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. August 1999

    ABC / Regis Philbin seed · Aug 16 ’99

    ABC premiered the Regis Philbin quiz show in prime time to about 10 million viewers.[2][3]

    ABC Isn't Gonna Party Like It's 1999 With These 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' Ratings

  3. US television viewers commercial · Aug 29 ’99

    The summer run ended with a reported 22.4 million viewers.[2]

  1. press · Sep 1 ’99

  2. platform jump · Nov 8 ’99

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Why it worked

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Origin
Seeded
Sector
Entertainment
Region
US
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

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