50 AROUND THE WORLD
... and a new trend and a well-established one
50 ITALIANS (AND A LION)
Les Cinquante (The 50) is an unusual format. Created by Banijay Productions France, it premiered on the French channel W9 in September 2022. At first, it seemed like nothing more than a non-violent variation clearly inspired by the hugely successful Netflix series Squid Game, which was launched the previous year and was still fresh in viewers’ minds.
Fifty reality TV stars gathered in a castle an hour outside Paris, where there was an arena measuring 650 m² just outside. They were challenged by a master wearing a lion mask to take part in a series of knockout challenges involving logic, endurance and precision. At the end of each trial, the loser was put at the mercy of the winner in a high-stakes voting ceremony. There is a cash prize of €50,000 up for grabs, but the winner will not keep the money for themselves, but rather for one of the viewers who has joined their favourite’s fan club by downloading the show’s app.
At first glance, it seemed to be nothing more than a ‘bargain product’ riding the wave of success of Korean fiction. However, it was much more than that. Series after series — we are currently on the fourth in France — it has become a true classic of the channel. It has also begun to circulate abroad, always with success. To date, there have been international versions of the format, including ones in India and Germany.
Italy is the latest country to announce a local version of this competition show, which will be launched on Prime Video shortly and is being produced by Banjay Italy. The lion will roar in Italy too.
THE FITNESS TREND
Two issues ago, we saw a format distributed by Banijay that was very similar in concept – albeit earlier – to LOL: Last One Laughing. Now, we will consider another format from the same production company, which was also presented at the recently concluded London TV Screenings and is reminiscent of the Prime Video format in its title: Last One Standing.
This new competition show is co-developed by RTL Creative Unit and SimpelZodiak (part of Banijay Benelux) for Videoland, RTL’s Dutch streaming service and it was selected for the company’s Genre Accelerator Fund, a global initiative that supports development investment for unscripted ideas.
This time, the concept has nothing to do with laughter. Set against a striking, desert-like backdrop, Last One Standing follows a group of celebrities living together in a basic camp 24/7 as they compete to achieve peak fitness. Across eight episodes, the celebrities take on elite-level trials engineered by top athletes, while a fit room (which, to keep up with the times, is referred to as AI-powered) reveals their physical condition in real-time.
The challenges test every aspect of performance, including strength, endurance, speed, agility and mindset, showcasing each participant’s character, discipline and resilience. With no alliances or votes, anyone who loses or quits is instantly eliminated. Ultimately, only one contender remains: the ‘Last One Standing’.
This format is somewhat reminiscent of the 2023 Korean Zero Sum Game, albeit with different premises and objectives.
Another format presented by the same content powerhouse was The Bicycle Race a travel competition show from EndemolShine Nederland (part of Banijay Benelux) and Talpa Studios for SBS6. The format follows six celebrities who team up with a partner, friend or family member to compete in an epic bike-based adventure.
Set against the striking chaos and beauty of India, the teams must make smart tactical decisions to navigate unfamiliar terrain and earn money in high-stakes challenges. They must also rely on the generosity and insight of local communities. Each stage lasts three days, after which one couple will leave the show. After an unforgettable 12-day journey, only one couple will be crowned the winners of ‘The Bicycle Race’.
Banijay’s new slate of formats has a clear focus on sport and health. Could this be the start of a new trend?
PUSH YOUR FAMILY!
For a new trend that is perhaps emerging, another that has a long history behind it and is widely present on screens around the world (see our report 10+1 GLOBAL FORMATS TRENDS in 2025, available on request): that of “push your limits!”.
The latest addition to this type of programme is the Dutch Survive Your Family, developed by Talpa Studios, Kinetic Content and Signal.Stream — the same team behind the psychological game Watch Your Back. As the title clearly suggests, Survive Your Family is an extreme survival reality format that pushes physical endurance, strategy, and emotional bonds to the limit. Families are forced to make impossible choices that test trust, responsibility, and loyalty. The programme will premiere in the Netherlands in April on SBS6, which is owned by Talpa Group..
In this format, families are separated and pushed to their limits, with each side becoming fully dependent on the other. The intense challenges of survival in the wild and at base camp test the families’ trust, sacrifice and bonds as they race to be the first to reunite.
For now, not much else is known about this format, except that the concept of “push your limits” enters the family. Let’s see if there will be something really new or if it will be just another variation on a trend that, okay, is strong but with too many formats that are too similar to each other.
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Global content producer and distributor Keshet International has licensed its hit game show format Boom! to Brazilian production company Boxfish, who will create a brand-new local adaptation for Brazilian broadcaster Record. This marks the latest international adaptation of the globally successful show.
Crave has ordered a second season of Project Runway Canada. Production on season two will begin this summer in Toronto and will debut on Crave later this year. Project Runway Canada is produced by Bell Media in association with Fremantle and in collaboration with the School of Fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
Banijay Entertainment has unveiled the first international adaptation of its culinary format 100 Knives, with a Danish version commissioned by TV 2 and produced by Banijay Nordic-owned prodco Metronome. The Danish adaptation marks an expansion for the format following its debut commission from TV4, courtesy of Mastiff Sweden. The Danish edition was filmed on the established set in Stockholm and will premiere this fall.
The BBC has signed a three-year deal that will keep The Traitors and The Celebrity Traitors on BBC One and BBC iPlayer through at least 2030. Made by Studio Lambert Scotland, the fourth season of The Traitors debuted in January and achieved a 12.5 million 28-day average, up 22 percent from season three. The Celebrity Traitors initially debuted in October and held an average audience of 14.9 million across its run.
JioStar’s Bengali channel Star Jalsha has ordered a re-boot of popular reality format Bigg Boss Bangla. To be produced by Banijay label EndemolShine India, it will mark the show’s return in Bengali-language form after a decade-long hiatus.
Originally airing from 2013 to 2016 and hosted by Mithun Chakraborty Jeet, Big Boss Bangla follows the Big Brother format, with contestants living together in a purpose-built house, tackling tasks and trying to evade eviction.
Foodie travelog series Somebody Feed Phil is moving from its longtime home on Netflix to YouTube in 2027, following a deal penned between the show’s creator and host, Phil Rosenthal, Banijay Americas and Banijay Rights. The two Banijay divisions will partner with Rosenthal’s production shingle, Lucky Bastards, to bring new episodes of the series to a new branded channel, Phil Rosenthal World, which will also feature other short and long-form content.
Comcast-owned streamer Peacock has acquired sketch comedy variety format Saturday Night Live UK (SNL UK) and will stream it in the US the day after its UK premiere. The British version of the long-running American show, which has aired for 51 seasons on NBC since 1975, debuts on pay TV operator Sky’s recently re-booted channel Sky One on March 21. Produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio’s UK production team and Broadway Video for Sky and VoD platform Now, SNL UK is executive produced by original creator Lorne Michaels.
