Format

Red Arrow Studios International has secured a pair of new commissions for Block Out that will see local versions of the game-show format produced in Spain and the Netherlands.

Originally created by Nippon TV and Red Arrow Studios, RTVE Spain has commissioned a domestic adaptation of the show, which will be produced by Endemol Shine Iberia’s Gestmusic. It will air on its La 1 channel in 2020. AVROTROS has commissioned the format for the Netherlands, where it will be produced by TIN CAN.

In the format, two teams of four players—each with their backs literally against a wall—battle it out in a variety of physical games, combining trivia, strategy and chance. The teams’ identical walls comprise more than 100 giant blocks. During a number of rounds, wrong answers and bad judgments see blocks push out in a variety of combinations and speeds, forcing contestants into crazy positions to try and avoid being knocked into the pit below. The final sees both teams stand side-by-side on their ledges, but with the leading team’s ledge bigger. Incorrect answers make the wall creep forward, pushing contestants to the edge, and eventually, over it. As soon as one team has disappeared, the other is declared the winner and takes the cash prize.

Red Arrow Studios International holds worldwide rights (excluding Asia) to Block Out. The format is distributed in Asia by Nippon TV. Block Out made its debut in Thailand. It’s also been sold to VTV in Vietnam and to PT Cakrawala Andalas Televisi in Indonesia to air on ANTV.