KABO International Secures Format Pact with Reflect

LA PLAINE ST DENIS: KABO International has closed a distribution deal with Finnish outfit Reflect for a trio of interactive formats, including Tilt.

Under the terms of the agreement, KABO International has worldwide distribution rights to three of Reflect’s new innovative formats. These include Tilt, the first TV format using virtual-reality (VR) and mixed-reality production techniques in broadcast TV; Together, a factual social-experiment format; and High Score, a futuristic game-show format.

Tilt currently airs in Finland on TV6 and is sponsored by Hewlett Packard. The game-show-meets-talk-show format sees millennial celebrities challenge each other in VR games. Tilt has been on air in Finland since 1997 and got a futuristic revamp last year.

Together is a new factual social-experiment format that follows real-life couples as they attempt to improve and save their relationships using a groundbreaking mobile app that tracks their progress and creates tasks for them to perform. Viewers are also able to use the same app at home for an interactive experience.

High Score is a futuristic eSports decathlon that sees contestants battle it out in games and challenges ranging from quizzes and party games to futuristic mind power and virtual-reality experiences. The format is accompanied by a set of games for viewers to play at home on mobile devices, connected TVs and virtual-reality platforms.

“As the TV landscape continues to evolve in line with viewer demands, VR and interactive entertainment are taking center stage,” said Arabelle Pouliot-Di Crescenzo, the managing director of KABO International. “Reflect as a company is one step ahead of the game and the technologies they use give audiences a truly immersive experience. We are very excited to add these titles to our slate and look forward to presenting them to buyers.”

“While TV will not disappear, technology innovation will blur the lines between different forms of entertainment at an increasing speed,” commented Juha Ponteva, co-founder of Reflect. “We are pleased to have finalized this deal with KABO International, who are perfectly placed to take our interactive formats to a global audience.”

“This deal also coincides with the launch of our recently formed company,” added Antti Seppänen, co-founder of Reflect. “Juha and I teamed up to launch Reflect as a development operation whilst still managing our separate production ventures. Whilst the first formats out from our ‘lab’ are game shows and reality, we are also working on live entertainment shows and testing new concepts using virtual- and augmented-reality technologies.”