Power of 10 was a short-lived CBS game show hosted by Drew Carey. The show ran from August 7, 2007 to April 7, 2008 and aired twice weekly during the late summer and early fall. Each game featured contestants predicting how a cross-section of Americans responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by CBS. The top prize was an annuitized $10,000,000. Some international versions follow the same money ladder, but in local currency.
The series was produced by Embassy Row Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television and was taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City.
On September 10, 2007, CBS ordered six additional episodes of the show slated for mid-season to extend the first season to 18 episodes. The summer finale aired on Sunday, September 23, 2007, due to Kid Nation airing the following Wednesday.
Two contestants attempt to predict the results of polls in a best-of-five elimination round. A question is read (e.g. What percentage of Americans said they are afraid of circus clowns?) and the two contestants are given ten seconds to lock in their guess using a dial to select a percentage. If a contestant has not locked in their guess after ten seconds, the computer locks in the percentage the on which the contestant had currently rested. The player who comes closer to the actual percentage earns a point. The first player to earn three points advances to the money round to play for $10,000,000.
In the money round, the contestant is given similar questions, and places a range on a scale from 0% to 100% that they believe includes the correct answer. The size of the range decreases as cash awards increase:
Question # Playing for Range Amount won if wrong
1 $1,000 40% $0
2 $10,000 30% $0
3 $100,000 20% $1,000
4 $1,000,000 10% $10,000
5 $10,000,000 Exact (see below) $100,000
For the first three questions, the correct answer to the question is revealed once the contestant locks in an answer by pulling down a handle or lever. For the $1,000,000 question, the correct answer is only revealed if the actual percentage is outside of the contestant's range. If the contestant correctly answers the $1,000,000 question, they are then given the chance to win $10,000,000 by picking the exact percentage (rounded to the nearest 1%) out of that 10% range.
Contestants who miss either the $1,000 or $10,000 question leave empty-handed. From the $100,000 question onward, missing a question decreases contestant's winnings by the power of 10, meaning that their current winnings were divided by 10.
For each question, audience members make exact-percentage guesses in order to show the contestant a full sample of the results for help in answering. Contestants can also ask an in-studio relative or friend their opinion before locking in, and contestants can adjust their choice if necessary to elicit reactions from the audience or their friend/relative. Contestants can stop the game and take the money that they currently have until locking in an answer.
The host is not made aware of the answers prior to the reveal and sometimes helps contestants think through questions and offered their own opinions, unlike most game shows.
Philippines
GMA Network acquired the rights of the show and is now airing to the Philippine audiences, with Janno Gibbs as its host.