TVFORMATS
BBC Studios has clinched a series of format deals from its catalog of quiz shows, including Weakest Link, which returned in the U.S. last month.
Weakest Link has been produced in 46 territories around the world. The show will now be returning to MIR TV in Russia, with former Olympic champion Maria Kiselyova as host of the 32-episode series. In Greece, an agreement has been struck with JK Productions to produce an 80-episode second season for free-to-air broadcaster Skai. Tasos Tryfonos serves as host.
In Australia, BBC Studios ANZ has been commissioned to make a third season of Mastermind for SBS. The series launched in Australia in 2019 and in 2020, added spin-off Celebrity Mastermind. A further 85 episodes of Mastermind and five of Celebrity Mastermind will be produced, with filming due to begin early next year.
In Greece, a deal has been signed for a 60-episode season of A Question of Sport with Foss Productions. Known locally as The Big Game, the series launches today and will air on Mondays and Tuesdays in prime time on ERT-1 featuring Greek basketball legend Panayiotis Giannakis, swimming champion Yiannis Drymonakos and rhythmic gymnastics champion Klelia Pantazi amongst others. Presenter, journalist and cinematographer George Lentzas hosts. The agreement follows the launch of the format in Slovakia on public broadcaster RTVS Jednotka this month with former IIHF World Champion ice hockey goaltender Ján Lašák and eight-time Slovak basketball player of the year Radoslav Rančík as resident captains.
Andre Renaud, senior VP of global format sales at BBC Studios, said: “Game shows resonate around the world, as viewers can play at home with their friends and family, and having brilliant brands like Weakest Link, A Question of Sport and Mastermind prove that this genre can still find new homes and also reach new audiences. I’m confident that these series will continue to bring humor, tension, and even more general knowledge gameplayers to new homes around the world.”
