TV FORMATS SCREENINGS FESTIVAL
New spins on the always popular game-show and dating genres dominate the selections for the latest edition of the TV Formats Screenings Festival, which features a slew of new and returning properties that will be on offer at MIPCOM. Clicking on each show title below will take you directly to the trailer.
ZDF Studios’ format slate for MIPCOM is packed with uplifting entertainment that can be easily adaptable to multiple markets. Hack My Yard, for example, features gardening experts tasked with transforming a boring family garden. On the game-show front, meanwhile, ZDF Studios is showcasing QUIZ HUNT, which premiered in prime time in 2019. “Three years later, the market share in this time slot almost quadrupled, and subsequent time slots benefited from this rapid growth,” says Ralf Rückauer, VP Unscripted. Launched at MIPFormats, Skydive Quiz sees contestants answer questions while jumping out of a plane. Rounding out ZDF Studios’ highlights is the long-running staple Wanna Bet? “In this show, nothing is pre-recorded or edited,” Rückauer says. “If the celebrities lose their bet, they must complete a task of their own, most often an entertaining charitable gesture. Airing since 1981, Wanna Bet? was the absolute top entertainment show in the German-speaking territories, and to date, a hit around the world.”
On the heels of the tremendous success of The Traitors—with 30 versions commissioned to date—All3Media International is touting a new strategic reality competition, The Anonymous, from the team at Studio Lambert. In the dating and relationship formats space, All3Media International will be talking to clients about Bad Boyfriends. “Equally explosive, authentic and addictive, this fresh spin on the dating show format is packed with mischief and mayhem as couples face plenty of challenges, chores and dilemmas,” says Debra Bergg, VP of sales for Iberia and Italy. Turn on the Charm, meanwhile, blends “adventurous road trips, strategic gameplay and fascinating group dynamics,” Bergg says. All3Media International is also touting two scripted formats based on hit U.K. dramas from the award-winning team at Two Brothers Pictures: Liar and Angela Black.
MIPCOM will again feature Treasure Box Japan (TBJ), a showcase of Japanese formats. The lineup includes a wide range of productions, from low-budget to large-scale. “Japan boasts a remarkable track record in format localization, with over 90 titles and hundreds of localized versions created worldwide,” says Masaru Akiyama, chief executive of business management at BEAJ (Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan). “This year’s TBJ features an expanded program slate compared to last year, presenting nine titles, carefully selected to meet the diverse needs of a larger pool of buyers.”
BBC Studios arrives in Cannes with a strong slate of game and quiz shows. Among its highlights is The Answer Run. “The best quiz formats have a fantastically simple premise at their core, and The Answer Run delivers on this front perfectly,” says Matt Forde, managing director of global entertainment. BBC Studios is also continuing to roll out The 1% Club, which was recently adapted in the U.S. for Prime Video and FOX.
CJ ENM’s latest entry in the game-show space is Artistock Game, while in the dating/relationship arena, it has high hopes for Trust or Lust. “We recognize the growing demand for fresh and diverse programming, and we’re committed to continuing our partnership with our international buyers to bring these compelling narratives to screens worldwide,” says Jangho Seo, senior VP of the content business at the Korean media giant.
