The Salvage Squad Lands First Adaptation

Hungary’s VIASAT3 has acquired the rights for an adaptation of The Salvage Squad from Primitives, marking the first remake for the format.

The Hungarian iteration, locally titled REnoválók—Lakás újrahasznosítva, is being produced by Show&Game. Each episode sees two households given three days and €1,000 to transform their old interiors, furniture and fittings into showstoppers, guided by fashion-forward designers, up-cycling experts and imaginative tradespeople.

The twist is that the salvage squad cannot buy anything new. They must use only second-hand, free-cycled, rescued, up-cycled, homemade or pre-used materials.

The Hungarian adaptation is set to bow on VIASAT3 in the fourth quarter.

The original series aired in prime time on Virgin One Ireland. It was produced by Amino TV.

“We were looking for a factual entertainment format with a twist in the home improvement genre—something that goes beyond a usual makeover show,” said Éva Kis-Bocz, channel director of CEE for VIASAT3’s operator Antenna Entertainment. “The Salvage Squad immediately stood out. One of Antenna Entertainment’s long-term goals is to integrate sustainability into both its operations and its content production, and this format aligns perfectly with that mission. We believe television has a vital role in public education, and I’m especially pleased that VIASAT3 is bringing a show to audiences that is not only visually engaging and entertaining, but also socially valuable—encouraging viewers to think and live more sustainably.”

Emma Gosling, Primitives’ London-based sales and acquisitions manager, commented, “We are so pleased that this entertaining and timely format is finding its way to Hungarian audiences. As you’d expect in a home makeover show, there are stunning renovations aplenty, but it additionally addresses the growing environmental impact of ‘fast furniture,’ which is clogging up landfill sites, showing us that up-cycling, restoring and renovating what we already own is not only good for our planet and our pockets, but intensely satisfying.”