Gogglebox Gets Piloted in Japan

LONDON: all3media international’s hit format Gogglebox has been adapted as a pilot by NHK in Japan, in addition to getting a local treatment for Mongolia’s Mongol TV.

NHK in Japan aired a pilot of the Studio Lambert format Gogglebox at the end of March. NHK placed it on its main channel as one of the special programs commemorating the 90th anniversary of NHK’s first-ever broadcast. Miwako Hosoda, executive producer at NHK Enterprises, who produced the Japanese pilot, commented, “We have never produced nor broadcast anything like Gogglebox, it was totally unprecedented. It was a different program for us and got great reactions from the viewers, especially on SNS such as Twitter.”

Mongol TV will launch its own 13×1-hour series, commissioned earlier this year, in March/April, after a consultancy period that saw all3media international’s Carolyn Gilbey go out to the region to advise on the techniques of filming the series in different styles of homes (including, in the Mongolian instance, a yurt).

Sabrina Duguet, the executive VP for AsiaPac at all3media international, commented, “The global success of Gogglebox continues to build—it’s seen local licenses in over 30 territories—and now we’re delighted to confirm NHK as the latest major broadcaster to adapt their own local version. Gogglebox is a uniquely simple yet incredibly effective format that taps into the ‘national conversation’ happening in front of TV screens throughout the world, ensuring must-watch prime-time television filled with humor, controversy and poignant moments.”