Taking Technology For Spin

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Pat Sajak is best known for selling vowels on his show “Wheel of Fortune.” But off the screen, Sajak is a buyer – in a wide array of companies.

The TV host and producer’s most recent investment was in Beverly Hills daily deal and coupon website Great American Deals, one of his first in the L.A. tech scene. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It wasn’t that long ago that there was a skeptical eye on technological businesses,” Sajak said. “You need to embrace tech or you’re in trouble. We do our show, which is pretty low tech; we spin a clunky wheel and things light up. But we have a great online presence.”

Great American Chief Executive Michael Silber and Sajak are old friends and decided to work together about two years ago. The company appealed to Sajak – whose interests outside the television world include stakes in an independent minor league baseball league, a publishing house and radio stations – because it expanded his portfolio.

“Everything I’ve been involved in has been a bit more traditional. I was on the board of a publishing company in Washington and we struggled to make changes,” Sajak said.

Great American, a hyperlocal Southern California take on the daily deals model, will use Sajak’s investment to broaden its coverage area.

Could a Sajak tech venture capital firm be in the TV host’s future?

“My focus is on Great American,” he said. “Aside from my night job, if this works the way we think it will, who knows what

will happen?”

– Justin Yang

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