TVFORMATS
Indigenius has licensed the Austrian format Lonely Hearts Club for South Africa.
In Austria, Lonely Hearts Club has aired more than 200 times in over 25 years. The show will now be produced in Afrikaans, with the potential to expand and create versions in other languages if the format proves successful.
A pilot episode is being produced in collaboration with Brainwave Productions and TV personality Anne Hirsch.
In this show, lonely people from all different walks of life pour out their hearts in front of a live camera in the hope of finding a partner for life.
Hans Spielthenner, co-CEO of Indigenius, said: “Hardly any other program spreads such endearing honesty and simplicity as Lonely Hearts Club. An international version of the format was an idea that I always really wanted to realize. Given its tremendous success in Austria, we saw a fantastic opportunity to bring this beloved format to South Africa, where we believe it will resonate just as strongly with viewers. We are excited to see how the universal themes of love, hope and resilience will be embraced by a new audience, and we are committed to maintaining the authenticity and charm that made the original show so special.”
Hirsch, host and co-producer, said: “It‘s really exciting to develop this program for our South African audience and, in doing so, finally connect with my Austrian heritage! I have family there, spread across Vienna and the countryside, whom I hope to one day meet. I love the idea of bringing this unique show, and maybe a bit of my previously undiscovered Austrian charm, to our local viewers.”
ORF-Enterprise’s Content Sales International secured the deal.
