Format

Tivù published an article dedicated to formats and trends from the first half of the year. The piece appeared in the October issue and was written by M. Chiara Duranti, chief editor of Formatbiz, titled "What’s New in Formats?"

The year 2024 marked a major evolution in the television landscape, presenting fresh formats that captured the attention of global audiences. From new narrative formulas for reality shows, which are striving to remain relevant, to the intermingling of different genres and the first attempts to combine artificial intelligence with entertainment, unscripted productions have undergone a radical transformation. Mystery reality shows, in particular, have been especially popular, experimenting with unique combinations of suspense and horror, especially in the Asian context. For this article, Tivù explored the most important trends of the year, highlighting some of the most representative programs.

ADVENTURE REALITIES
Let’s start with reality shows, a genre that is still dominant, especially in its various forms of adventure, challenge, or simple competition, where participants are forced to overcome challenges that test the limits of their physical and mental capacities, reflecting the public’s desire to experience extreme and authentic adventures in exotic, marine, lake, or mountain environments. These include examples such as Fight for Paradise (Netflix), an adaptation of the Surviving Paradise format, where a group of strangers is thrown into the jungle and must find a way to return to a luxury villa. Generally set in harsh locations, these programs test the competitors’ ability to survive, forcing them to manage limited resources to win a cash prize. In No Way Back, broadcast on SBS6 in the Netherlands, 16 participants led by a former Special Forces member face risky challenges in inaccessible places to win the prize money. The American version of The Summit, a format distributed by Banijay Rights, has yet to launch on CBS but debuted in Australia with two editions on Nine, offering breathtaking mountain views in a show that combines spectacular scenery with extreme physical and mental tests. The participants must reach the summit to win the money they carry in their rucksacks, which they risk losing during the journey. The program is also set to debut in Sweden and Norway in 2024. This year, the famous All3Media International format Race Across the World, which has aired for several years on BBC Two in the UK, will also be shown in Sweden on Kanal 5 and in Germany on ZDF, while it has enjoyed renewed success at home with its celebrity version. In this travel adventure reality show, teams of competitors must reach specific destinations on a shoestring budget and with improvised means. Reality Backpackers (ProSieben, Germany) also features celebrities abandoned in the jungle who must find a way to return to base.

EVER-BIGGER BIG BROTHERS
House-based reality shows, where participants are forced to live in an almost claustrophobic environment with other people, are also expanding. In Inside (UK, YouTube), 10 celebrities are isolated in a house for seven days to face challenges and temptations, with the chance to win a one-million-pound prize. With more than 3.2 million views in the first 15 hours, the show became an instant hit on the digital platform. Meanwhile, House of Heat (USA, Tubi) locks a group of content creators in a house to produce original content, combining personal drama and professional ambitions, offering an intriguing glimpse behind the scenes of the world of digital influencers who are always seeking to expand their fanbase. Big Brother-style reality shows are now infused with the world of social networks, from YouTube to TikTok, platforms used to select contestants. An “army” of faces, as seen in the Korean Netflix show Deo Inpeullueonseo (The Influencer), features 77 participants who wear a special necklace from the start of the show that reveals the number of new followers they’ve gained—the one who gains the most, wins. In this vein, we should mention the Prime Video talk show, Influenced, which aims to bridge the gap between the two worlds by recording a group of influencers discussing some of the hottest topics on social media each day (such as lifestyle, health, beauty, and food).

THE RISE OF KOREAN MYSTERY REALITIES
In 2024, there was a surge in programs combining elements of mystery and suspense, keeping the audience engaged with intricate stories and deductive challenges. In the Netherlands, the complete series A Party to Die For aired after the pilot (Moordfeest) launched on SBS6 last December. Here, celebrities who think they are attending a wedding are actually there to solve a crime. The USA has also seen Studio Lambert (All3Media International) launching Anonymous (USA Network/Crave), where competitors play on two levels: in the real world, where they meet face-to-face, and in the digital world, where they enjoy the anonymity of pseudonyms, trying to create a winning strategy by any means and subterfuge. The Fortune Hotel (UK, ITV) is also set in a luxury hotel, where participants must solve riddles to discover the traitor among them. The Trust – A Game of Greed (USA, Netflix) is a psychological reality show testing trust among participants, with dynamics of alliances and betrayals influenced by titles like The Mole or The Traitors. Additionally, the Korean mystery reality genre is expanding beyond light entertainment, with titles like Apartment 404, Still Alive, and Bloody Game gaining international attention, with adaptations in Norway and more. Banijay Rights has acquired international rights for Bloody Game across various European countries, including Italy, France, and Germany. Still Alive (distributed by Something Special) contains elements of black comedy, as players in a deadly mansion try to uncover a mysterious “death rule” by solving clues. Lastly, Apartment 404 (CJ ENM) features VIP participants uncovering the truth behind real-life past incidents.

NEW FORMULAS FOR TALENT SHOWS
Reality and talent shows merge in Estrela de Casa (Globo, Brazil), where contestants perform weekly while being monitored 24/7. Among classic talent shows, those focusing on redemption stories and second chances have discovered new popularity, such as Sing Again (Belgium, VTM), a song competition for previously rejected competitors. Die große Chance – Let’s Sing and Dance is also a revamped classic, enjoying success in Austria on ORF 1, where contestants sing and dance before a jury of stars. Germany’s SAT.1 also aired a new adaptation of The Tribute: Battle of the Bands, where bands compete by performing covers to win a concert in a famous theater. Stories of personal growth and success over adversity are also the focus of Deb’s House (USA, We TV), a musical talent show following young female artists competing to become the next rap star, presented by rapper Deb Antney. In addition, shows such as Stars on Stage (Holland, RLT4) bring celebrities closer to Broadway-style performances.

DATING SHOWS: HAS LOVE CHANGED?
Dating shows in 2024 explore a wider range of relationship dynamics, reflecting the diversity and complexity of modern relationships. Even if some things remain the same—like the role of mothers in matchmaking, at the center of Si lo dice mi madre (AtresPlayer, Spain)—siblings play this role in My Sibling’s Romance (South Korea, JTBC). The dating genre is now influenced by social media dynamics, as seen in Date Me at My Worst (BBC iPlayer/YouTube), where participants show their worst side during a first date, upending classic dating norms. In Korea, love later in life finds a second chance for singles over 55 in Last Love, set on Jeju Island, known as the island of love. The LGBTQ+ community is also represented in new dating shows, such as Japan’s The Boyfriend and the UK’s I Kissed a Girl (BBC Three), a spin-off of I Kissed a Boy.

GAME SHOWS OLD AND NEW
The game show format continues its evolution, incorporating new elements of strategy and physical challenges, refreshing classics like Wheel of Fortune and introducing new entries like The Floor (Talpa Studios) and 1% Club (BBC). Other new titles include The Almost Impossible Gameshow, adapted in Portugal on SIC, 30 Seconds (Holland, SBS6), and The Answer Run (UK, BBC One). Another standout is Qui restera dans la lumière? (France, France 2), a quiz show where players must answer correctly to keep themselves in the spotlight and others in the dark. Finally, we should note the significant impact of so-called “crazy” Japanese shows in the West. Fremantle has acquired international rights to Hitoshi Matsumoto Presents Freeze, where contestants must stay completely still, regardless of the challenges thrown at them (such as water, feathers, or animals).