As we know, The Global Entertainment Formats Pitch is a cornerstone of the three-day Formats & Factual strand at Content London 2023 and is designed to discover and develop a new international hit format in one of the following two categories: primetime entertainment or reality/social experiment.
The projects being pitched were the following, but the winner of this edition was the Irish format The Ultimate Hustle. But let's see the full list of formats presented during the section at the Reinannace Hotel in St Pancras.
Alumni Lovers
MBC, South Korea
Dating show Alumni Lovers sees singletons in their late 20s and early 30s, who graduated from the same school in the same year, reunite in the hope of finding love. From the company behind global sensation The Masked Singer, the format is aimed at people in their early 20s to early 40s, although MBC says older viewers will also enjoy it.
“Dating shows have long been popular, regardless of platform, country or cultural background,” says Jean Hur, MBC’s director of format sales and co-development. “But what differentiates Alumni Lovers from existing dating shows is that everyone can empathise with this show. Don’t we all have nostalgic memories of our school days? When a participant has heart-pounding feelings towards their old friend, who turned out to be an attractive grown-up, we all get reminded of our own childhood sweethearts.”
Atmosphere
Ignacio Matas, Spain
Atmosphere is an eco-reality format that aims to determine if humans are capable of living in harmony with biodiversity without destroying it. Living in a giant glass enclosure with a replica of a fragment of the Amazon rainforest, contestants are placed in a moral quandary: whether to preserve the environment that will serve as their home for 45 days or pursue a substantial cash prize. The format tests themes such as friendship, greed, consumerism and alliances.
“Climate change is an issue that affects everyone equally, regardless of their social class, nationality or age,” says Matas, previously a format creative at Banijay Iberia and entertainment co-ordinator at Mediacrest. “Atmosphere is designed to communicate a message that prompts reflection on our way of life and our responsibility towards our world. This is a genre that remains perpetually fresh.”
Beyond the Bars
Makers, Canada
Beyond the Bars is a docuseries that follows the stories of individuals determined to transform their lives after being released from prison. “This format holds a unique allure because it tackles a subject that has historically received limited mainstream focus,” say Makers’ exec producer Katie Lafferty and global development lead Adele Reeves, whose previous credits include Employable Me and Undercover Boss.
“However, the landscape is shifting, with influential figures such as Kim Kardashian delving into prison reform and high-profile cases capturing global interest, propelling this topic into the spotlight. Its relevance extends beyond borders and time, making it a versatile subject that can resonate across various seasons and territories.”
Chef Messenger
Victor Tango Entertainment, India
Chef Messenger sees a celebrity chef create a customised dining experience for people who want to convey a special message to a loved one, such as expressing thanks or congratulations, or sharing good news. It targets all age ranges and demographics, particularly 15- to 50-year-olds. “While food is a big genre, there is definitely a quest for innovating beyond cooking competitions and food trails.
Formats such as Chef Messenger bring the best of two worlds together to create a new and unique viewing experience,” says Victor Tango founder and director Vaibhav Modi. “Chef Messenger brings in the youth by touching upon spaces like gourmet cuisine and high-end hospitality. At the same time it strikes an emotional chord with the older audiences.”
Victor Tango’s previous credits include Times of Music (MXPlayer) and Grilled (Fox Life).
The Ultimate Hustle
Animo TV, Ireland
Aimed at 16-34s, The Ultimate Hustle sees young, broke but hopeful entrepreneurs live together in a rented property where they must compete to bank the most money through a series of side-hustles.
“We spend so much of our lives thinking about money and how we make it, but reality TV feels underserved when it comes to money-making and entrepreneurship. This format stands out from the well-trodden worlds of dating, property and adventure and offers something different, while still being totally relevant to the lives of young people today,” says Animo TV’s head of development, Lorraine O’Donovan. Animo’s previous credits include The Great House Revival (RTÉ) and Ireland’s Fittest Family (RTÉ).
Democracy: A Divide & Conquer Story
Bart Film, UK
Democracy: A Divide & Conquer Story follows two reputable celebrities with opposing political views who travel to four very different countries to start a conversation with each other and search for common ground. “Without a shadow of a doubt, there is a universal demand for conversation right now,” says Bart Film founder Anna Botka, who sees the format airing in a primetime slot.
“As the film and television industry is a shiny and compelling reflection of global socio-economic trends, it is important to provide the viewer with entertainment that also has the potential to trigger follow-up debates with friends and family, maybe even some research or just a one-off ‘a-ha!’ moment.” Botka’s previous TV credits include Suspicion (AppleTV+) and Baptiste (BBC1).
Lips Don’t Lie
Philippa Treverton Jones, UK
Lips Don’t Lie is a play-along family gameshow in which pairs of contestants must lip-read a live panel of ‘secret’ celebrity lips and guess whose celebrity lips are whose.
“Like The Masked Singer and The Wheel, Lips Don’t Lie has universal appeal, big entertainment values and hits broadcasters’ target market,” says Treverton Jones, whose credits include Pointless and Tipping Point. “Lip-reading games are trending online and cut across countries, cultures, age and class, with Premier League footballers, Hollywood actors and pop bands all playing different versions online which attract millions of views. If they’re doing it, it’s only a matter of time before it hits the TV screen.”
Museum Heist
iZen Group, Spain
Museum Heist challenges contestants to see if they have what it takes to uncover the biggest forgeries of all, at a time when forged art is becoming a major problem worldwide. It is aimed at families.
“Museum Heist adds an element of adventure to the gameshow in a new and surprising environment, full of mystery and adventure. It’s different to everything we’ve seen, it touches on topics not covered before and it brings culture to entertainment,” says iZen fiction and formats development exec Manuel Feijoo.
“We all know movies, series and documentaries located in museums. The spectator knows and understands it is a setting in which all kinds of adventures can happen. As far as we know, an adventure gameshow has never been located inside a museum. A show like this would be universal from a cultural point of view, perfectly exportable and understandable in all countries.”
Kiss of Death
iZen Group, Spain
Also from iZen, teen- and young adult-focused Kiss of Death is a dating show in which single contestants try to earn rewards they can enjoy with someone they want to spend more time with. To be able to enjoy these rewards, they just need to share a kiss. However, sharing a kiss is risky because there are also secret traitors who can eliminate them with the ‘kiss of death.’
“Kiss of Death incorporates all the classic elements of the dating reality show genre that viewers are accustomed to, with the added twist of introducing a mole or traitor in a new and different setting. What initially appears to be a reality show played with the body transforms into a reality show played with the mind, filled with twists and surprises,” Feijoo says. iZen’s credits include El Grand Prix del Verano and Insiders and the prodco won the Global Entertainment Format Pitch last year with competition series Black Card.
Ultimutt Design
Sonic Nursery Creative, Canada
Ultimutt Design features pet fashion designers competing to create costumes for rescue dogs. As well as acting as a canine fashion show, it aims to raise awareness about the importance of rescuing and adopting dogs in need.
The target audience is wide-ranging, including families. “With pet influencers and their adorable companions amassing millions of devoted followers, there’s a genuine hunger for pet-centric content,” says Sonic Nursery Creative’s president, Kyle Whitelaw. “Ultimutt Design is perfectly poised to engage and resonate with the vast audience who adore and showcase their pets online, making it a must-watch for pet lovers worldwide.” Sonic Nursery Creative’s credits include Sew Fierce (OutTV) and Knock Knock Ghost (OutTV).
