KABO International to Distribute Hot Pepper, Expands MIPTV Slate

LA PLAINE ST DENIS: KABO International has acquired worldwide distribution rights for the game-show format Hot Pepper, which it will present as part of its MIPTV 2016 offering.

Hot Pepper is a daily access prime-time comedy format that currently airs on the TVA network in Canada. It is produced by Avanti Ciné Vidéo. Each week Hot Pepper features three different comedians who compete Monday to Friday in a series of more than 60 games, poking fun at hot topics of the day, including politics and celebrity and pop culture, for the chance to win the audience’s vote and take home the coveted “hot pepper” for the best one-liners and jokes. KABO International will work in association with Les distributions Avanti Ciné Vidéo on the rollout of the show as it extends its reach internationally.

“We have been actively building our catalogue since we launched KABO’s distribution arm just over a year ago, and Hot Pepper is a super addition,” says Arabelle Pouliot-Di Crescenzo, the managing director of KABO International. “With over 1,350 episodes produced, it is one of the most successful daily formats in Canadian TV history, providing entertainment and comedy for the whole family and a platform for broadcasters to showcase new talent.”

“The current success of Hot Pepper, after 15 years, proves that this format has all the elements and punch necessary to be a ratings hit at any time and in any market,” adds Luc Wiseman, the president of Avanti Ciné Vidéo.

KABO International’s MIPTV slate also includes the format rights for Ciao Darwin, which features two teams comprised of people with opposite characteristics (men vs. women, young vs. old, fat vs. thin, etc.) battling it out in various challenges. Six seasons of Ciao Darwin have been produced so far and season seven will premiere on Italy’s Canale 5 this spring.

Further highlights from KABO International include the scripted comedy Our Crazy Family and the entertainment game show Who’s Who? “These formats transcend cultural borders and deliver the right quota of humor and entertainment, and therefore can be adapted to any market,” says Pouliot-Di Crescenzo.

“KABO International is committed to building a catalogue of handpicked, high-quality formats, and we are looking for unique third-party formats available for international distribution,” Pouliot-Di Crescenzo adds.