Wheel of Fortune first started on January 6, 1975.

Original air date

  • Network version (daytime): The American game show premiered on NBC daytime television on January 6, 1975 , hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford.
  • Format: Three contestants solved word‑puzzle clues while spinning a giant carnival wheel to win cash and prizes.

Nighttime / syndicated version

  • Prime‑time syndication: The current nightly version launched on September 19, 1983 , moving Wheel of Fortune into the familiar 7 pm–8 pm time slot many households still watch today.
  • This version is the one most people remember, with Pat Sajak and Vanna White becoming icons before Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties in 2024.

Quick comparison of key eras

Era / Format| When it started| Notes
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Original NBC daytime| January 6, 1975 15| Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford; aired during weekday afternoons.
Nightly syndicated| September 19, 1983 13| The “classic” version most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White.

So if someone asks “when did Wheel of Fortune start,” the definitive answer is January 6, 1975 , with the modern syndicated version kicking off in September 1983.