The New York Times is set to bring the popular word puzzle game Wordle to television, announcing a new game show adaptation that will air on NBC next year. This move aims to capitalize on the game's ongoing popularity.
Hosted by Savannah Guthrie of the "Today" show, the game show will also see production involvement from The Times and Jimmy Fallon, host of "The Tonight Show." The announcement was made during the morning broadcast, where Guthrie and Fallon revealed that the show has been in development for two and a half years.
Described as a "fast-paced" and engaging family game, the television format is expected to differ significantly from the mobile experience, which often requires more thoughtful engagement from players.
This marks the first collaboration between The Times and a television broadcaster for an entertainment program, reflecting the media company's ongoing efforts to adapt to changing market dynamics and enhance its digital subscription base amid declining print revenue.
Wordle, created by software engineer Josh Wardle in October 2021, quickly became a sensation. The New York Times acquired the game in January 2022, which contributed to a surge in new users for its games division. Recent reports indicate that users engaged with over 11 billion puzzles across all NYT Games last year.
Production for the new game show is set to begin this summer, with NBC currently seeking contestants.
