Sale Of The Century

1 9 6 9 - 1 9 7 3 (USA)
1 9 8 0 - 2 0 0 1 (Australia)
1 9 8 2 - 1 9 8 8 (USA)
1 9 8 9 - 1 9 9 1 (UK)
1 9 8 9 - 1 9 9 3 (New Zealand)
1 9 8 2 (Hong Kong)
1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 3 (Germany)

Sale of the Century originally ran on NBC in the US from 1969 to 1973. The Australian-based Grundy Organisation had been a very frequent licensee/producer of American game show formats since the 1960s, but had decided in the early 1970s to develop or buy-in formats of its own.

Grundy bought the format for Sale of the Century in 1979 and later the same year sold the program to the Australian Nine Network.

Sale of the Century became the most successful game show ever produced and shown on Australian television. 

The series began on the Nine Network early in 1980 and apart from the short four week summer break each year, was been transmitted in the same prime-time slot of 7:00 PM, five nights a week until 2001.

The outstanding rating success of Sale in the Australian television market made it easier to sell the format elsewhere. 

Thus the company re-versioned Sale of the Century in five other territories: Hong Kong (RTV, 1982); United States (NBC, 1982 - 1988); United Kingdom (Sky, 1989 - 1991); New Zealand (TVNZ, 1989 - 1993); and Germany (Telos/DSP, 1990 - 1993).

The reasons for the continued success of Sale have much to do with the format of the program, its pace and its prizes. 

The game consists of rounds in which contestants compete for the right to buy luxury prizes at low prices. The first to sound a buzzer gains the opportunity to answer a general knowledge question. 

Each contestant begins with a bankroll and receives additional money for a correct answer and loses money for incorrect answers.

From time to time the format of the show changed, and occasional specials such as Celebrity Sale of the Century used television personalities and other celebrities as contestants, playing either for home viewers or charity.

Some of the program's hosts in different countries have included Tony Barber (Australia), Joe Garagiola (USA.), Jack Kelly (USA), Steve Parr (New Zealand), Nicholas Parsons (UK), Jim Perry (USA), and Glen Ridge (Australia).