WHEEL OF FORTUNE, AMERICAS GAME KEEPS RAISING THE STAKES

Wheel of Fortune, America's most popular game show, will kick-off season 26 with an even bigger and better reason to shout "Big Money!": the all-new One Million Dollar Bonus Wedge.

The new $1 Million Bonus Wedge will be in play through the first three rounds. If a contestant lands on the $1 million wedge, solves the puzzle and makes it to the Bonus Round without hitting bankrupt, they will have the chance to spin the bonus wheel and could be playing for a top cash prize of $1 million.

"We are thrilled to introduce the new Million Dollar Bonus Round," said Executive Producer Harry Friedman. "Viewers will be on the edge of their seats with a feeling of excitement, knowing that someone could become a millionaire in an instant."

Wheel of Fortune has ranked as television's #1 syndicated series for 97 consecutive sweeps ratings periods and has earned 5 Emmy awards. With more than 47 million viewers a week, syndication's longest-running most successful series continues to attract a larger audience than most primetime television shows.

This season, Wheel will travel to Hawaii's sun-kissed Big Island to tape at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. In December, Wheel will make a splash with Shamu at SeaWorld in Orlando. At both breath-taking locations, Wheel will be taping four weeks of shows.

The show, which is broadcast in High Definition (HD), will be taping special theme weeks during the season that include "Best Friends Week"; "Canada Week," a tribute to our neighbors up north; and "Armed Forces Week," which will salute the men and women serving our country. Additional theme weeks include "Pet Lover's Week," and "Teacher's Week," which will honor hard-working educators in America.

Wheel of Fortune is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Paramount International Television, both units of CBS Corp.