Endemol’s Wipeout Heads to Australia

HILVERSUM, June 11:
Endemol International has sold its obstacle-course program Wipeout into Australia, both as a format and as a
ready-made series.

An undisclosed network has
commissioned an Australian version of the show, with eight one-hour episodes
due to launch later this year. The same network also acquired the first season
of the U.S. version of Wipeout,
which is set to premiere on ABC this month. Details of scheduling and the
broadcaster that commissioned the series remain confidential pending an
announcement in the coming weeks.

The Australian series will
be produced by Endemol Southern Star at the newly built international set for Wipeout
in Argentina, which is the world’s
largest TV obstacle course. The location is also being used for local versions
of the format already commissioned by broadcasters in Germany, Belgium, Greece,
Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Endemol is also close to securing a deal in the
Middle East, with further territories to be revealed shortly.

Rory Callaghan, the
managing director of Endemol Southern Star, commented: “There is a huge buzz around
this format and I am in no doubt that it’s going to make a big splash down
under. Wipeout packs in
adrenaline and laughs from start to finish and I’m especially delighted that
the broadcaster has decided to double the fun by taking the U.S. show alongside
our own Australian version.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski