Endemol Shine Signs Up for Vivendi’s The Secret Song

Vivendi Entertainment has closed development deals with Endemol Shine Group for the shiny-floor format The Secret Song in Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Vivendi Entertainment has taken on distribution for the French format from producer DMLSTV. The Secret Song, which recently debuted in France on TF1, watches as popular celebrities—singers, TV hosts, comedians, athletes, etc.—are seated in the middle of a stage on a special chair to watch other artists, friends or family surprise them with a new take of one of their own favorite songs.

Matthieu Porte, executive VP of international and development at Vivendi Entertainment, said: “We are so excited to collaborate with DMLSTV to make The Secret Song a global format like we’ve done with Guess My Age or Facing the Classroom. Leading broadcasters are all looking for the next shiny-floor show that will gather the whole family in front of their screen. The Secret Song has this very rare potential.”

Arnaud Renard, executive VP of creative affairs at Vivendi Entertainment, said: “The show’s concept is so simple, efficient and catchy. It can be easily adapted to each broadcaster’s specific needs, generating a lot of buzz with spectacular and moving performances.”

Orsetta Balsamo, head of format acquisitions and international at Endemol Shine Italy, commented: “The Secret Song is the shiny-floor, feel-good entertainment show we were looking for given the great appetite for studio-based shows in Italy. After our adaptation of Facing the Classroom, we’re glad to partner up again with Vivendi Entertainment on another successful French format which we believe perfectly fits our main generalist, free- to-air broadcasters’ needs.”

Matthieu Vergne, managing director at DMLSTV, added: “We are really proud to have created such a strong show. We feel that the emotion it gave to both the participating celebrities and the viewers will perfectly translate to other cultures and networks. We can’t wait to produce more episodes for TF1 and networks around the globe.”