France & Spain take Peking Express

Peking Express is set to enter it fifth series in France, with 13 new episodes planned for broadcast in Spring on M6. The ultimate survival game has become so popular that M6 commissioned a follow up show Peking Express: L’aventure Continue which immediately follows the main show on the same channel.

Spanish channel Cuatro has commissioned the third series of Peking Express after the first two series performed exceptionally well. 

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The Guillotine secures third commission

A third series of the addictive word association gameshow The Guillotine has been commissioned in Poland. Currently in production with 28 new episodes for TVP2, broadcast will begin in early March in access primetime.
The daily gameshow first broadcast on the channel in October 2009. The second series was immediately commissioned following its success and has been going from strength to strength ever since.

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Parenti Talenti commissioned for second series

Based on the ratings success of the first series in Portugal, RTP has commissioned a second 7 episode series of Parenti Talenti. The first series of the show locally titled Familia, Familia received an average audience share of 20% across the seven live shows, beating the channels slot average of 17%.

Parenti Talenti is a primetime family entertainment extravaganza where two families battle it out to prove who is the most talented in singing, dancing and acting.

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French Kiss readymade series sold to Russia

French Kiss has now spread to Russia making this the fourth territory to air the format since its launch at MIPTV last year. MUZ TV will air the 10 x 30 minute Spanish version in Spring 2010.

The format was first produced by La Grosse Equipe and originally aired in 2008 on NRJ12 in France and is now the channels flagship show. Shooting of the third and fourth series for France will begin in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. 

Originally a 90 minute format, it was sold to Spain who adapted the French format to 30 minute episodes.

The sale to Russia follows the Spanish version of French Kiss selling back into its country and broadcaster of origin, NRJ 12 in France and to OUTTV in Holland.

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Buzz builds for Twist & Shout

Twist & Shout broadcast for the first time in Spain as Canta Si Puedes. Antena 3 aired the outrageous musical talent-show as a 90 minute primetime special on New Year’s Eve.

The 6 episode series airing as Chante Si Tu Peux in France on Virgin 17 has been receiving outstanding ratings, attracting the channels biggest ever audience for an original production in its first episode!

Twist & Shout has been commissioned for its first series in The Philippines with shooting set to begin in May.

Already licensed in 5 territories the format is currently airing a 10 episode series on Friday night primetime on Antena 1 in Romania. Twist & Shout and has also been optioned in a further 19 territories including a recent option by Fremantle in Portugal.

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The Best Singers commissioned for second series

The musical extravaganza The Best Singers has been commissioned for a second series of 8 episodes on NED3/TROS in the Netherlands. Having performed consistently well in its first series by increasing the channel’s slot average by 63% the format has been nominated for ‘Best Entertainment’ in the Dutch Academy Awards. Shooting for the new series will commence in May.

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Fort Boyard enters 21st season

France 2 has re-commissioned Fort Boyard for its 21st series. The show’s success continues spanning more than two decades! Production of the new French series will commence this summer for broadcast later this year.

Over 300,000 copies of the video game have sold in France alone with an additional 150,000 mobile downloads. August 2009 saw a highly successful sponsorship deal with Fort Boyard branding the McDonalds Happy Meals.

Leading Bulgarian channel BTV and Fox Serbia are to begin airing their third and second series respectively of Fort Boyard from mid February.

55 episodes of the readymade UK version will air on Brunei TV in Spring 2010. The series will include Fort Boyard Takes on the World, a best of special featuring the highlights from the series.

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Shopaholics keep shopping in Romania and Lebanon

Shopping mania hits Romania as Shopaholics has begun shooting of its eighth series for Euforia Lifesyle TV. The 13 episode series was commissioned after the rating success of the seven series before.

Future TV in Lebanon will launch a 15 episode series of Shopaholics with shooting set to begin in the coming months.

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Other format news

Classic hidden-camera comedy show Oblivious has been optioned to Signature Productions in the Middle East and to Israeli channel Reshet.

BAFTA Award winning children’s political format Election has been optioned to Middle Eastern production company The Frame.

The readymade series Norway’s Ugliest Room has sold to Hungary and Czech Republic – two territories that do not usually pick up non-English speaking programming.