Nippon TV Inks Singaporean Deal for Old Enough!

Nippon TV’s long-running nonscripted hit Old Enough! is being remade for Singapore.

The first format deal between Nippon TV and Mediacorp sees the title being made into a four-parter for On The Red Dot, a current-affairs show on Channel 5. It will air Friday nights from January 4.

“A cultural phenomenon in Japan, Old Enough! has been a primetime hit for 27 years and counting,” said Atsushi Sogo, president of international business development for Nippon TV. “It’s a proven ratings powerhouse across all demographics in Japan and is sure to draw a huge audience in Singapore, thanks to this new deal with Mediacorp. Old Enough! continues in the tradition of family programming. It’s unpredictable, original, can’t-miss entertainment. We are heartened that the unscripted format has been successfully localized in the U.K., China, Italy and Vietnam.”

Tan Lek Hwa, chief editor for current affairs for Mediacorp, added, “One admirable attribute of Japanese culture is its emphasis on fostering independence in their children from a very young age. We hope the heartwarming series will amuse our audiences, as well as prompt debate within Singaporean families about parenthood and the need to imbue their kids with the life skills they need to navigate the world.”

In the show, an incognito camera crew follows preschoolers running errands on their own for the very first time.