All3Media's hit quiz Cash Cab will be adapted again in Germany, with a two new versions: a classical edition for Kabel Eins to be aired in access prime time on Monday, September 4 and a younger version, to be broadcast twice a week for the Free VOD young channel Joyn.
The format was previously broadcast by the same channel from 2008 to 2010 in Germany, and Felix Wesseler who was totally in love with the power of the format, asked his colleague to pitch it again to the broadcaster.
"Cash Cab is a wonderful format and I always wanted to produce such a big hit and I wanted to bring it back: and we did it! - said Felix Wesseler. the quiz has been on air for 2 years on Kabel Eins (ProSieben) and was a super powerful brand.
In our country, nostalgia is definitely a trend, and we thought that was the time. A momentum to bring it back to Kabel Eins. I asked my colleague to pitch it and I was insisting and begging her to pitch it to the channel. Finally, she wrote an email to the broadcaster, saying that Felix was crazy and wanted to bring it back to Germany. As the broadcaster replied that was also thinking about the format, we got the commission.
In Cash Cab unsuspecting members of the public hail a cab whose driver (actor Thomas Hackenberg) has them answering questions in a quiz where they can win money. As soon as the cab drives off, the driver asks them questions designed to test their general knowledge and they win money while the meter’s running. If they give the wrong answer three times in a row, they are dropped off at the exact location of the cab. Unlike a traditional cab, the meter doesn’t give the amount owed by the passenger but their winnings. As soon as the cab driver/host drives off the meter is turned on and questions are asked. The level of difficulty increases gradually as the winnings get higher: five €50 questions, five €100, then five €150, before the final jackpot question.
"When we got the commission - said Wesseler - was super easy to produce it as we got the material from other producers in other countries. Definetely, nostalgia trend is a big iusse in Germany as in the rest of the world, as Cash Cab is currently seeing a revival in many countries around the world – such as in Canada on Bell Media and French language channel Noovo – and it’s still a firm favourite in Mongolia plus there’s new interest in the wider Asia region.
"We finally produced two versions of the format: the classical and also a young version for the platform Joyn focused on a very young audience: we interacted the stories with a faster show and more rhythm, so in September is going on air in access time and we are hoping that this will be a good success and we keep finger cross."
The full video interview can be watched in our Instagram's page @formatbiz
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