Deal or No Deal producer Endemol moves into app publishing

Endemol, the UK production company behind Deal or No Deal and Pointless, is expanding to app publishing.

The firm will launch new gaming apps next month based on its well known TV shows, which will allow audiences and their friends to play against each other.

The publishing division is being overseen by the company’s gaming arm, Endemol Games UK, and Endemol sees this as its first step towards building a network of apps based on existing TV brands as well as original games.

Games are to be created and published in-house as well as in partnership with specialist developers.

“Given how much fans love to directly engage with this kind of content we see exciting potential in building a far-reaching network of apps with a broad user base,” said Jurian van der Meer, managing director of Endemol Games UK.

“Pointless and Deal or No Deal are two of the most well known and popular game shows on TV and are the ideal brands to launch this initiative."

Endemol UK established its games division in 2010. It has previously licensing its brands for mobile apps though other publishers, such as Paddy Power for Deal or No Deal – Real Money Casino Game and Channel 4 for Million Pound Drop, the latter of which has had over 2.5 million downloads to date.

The new Pointless Friends app was developed with Jam, part of the Engine group and the Deal or No Deal app was developed with Redwind Software. Both apps were created by Endemol UK and will be available on iOS and Android devices next month.