CREATORS' ERA
1 game in the beehive and 2 'original' (but not too much...) dating shows
CREATORS SHOWCASE
It was just a matter of time. The creator economy, i.e. the universe of independent creators who have a direct relationship with consumers (via AVoD platforms - especially YouTube), which along with artificial intelligence is the most important television phenomenon of this first half of the 21st century, is becoming integrated and self-sufficient.
We have talked about the importance of this sector and how it is reshaping the world of formats in recent issues (see, for example, FE 10 Jan). Now, however, we should point out a new, fundamental leap in quality. Until now, content from the ‘creatorsphere’ has found a place in traditional markets or been associated with traditional organisations, magazines and players: Create London and Create Americas, Connecta Digital and others. But next Thursday we will launch a fully integrated and self-contained space for this content.
The Spotter Showcase is an exclusive, invitation-only event, taking place in NYC on 27 March, designed to give media executives direct access to the top YouTube creators who have built today's biggest entertainment networks and hit TV shows, organised by Spotter, a company that represents and advises content creators. The creators that are part of Spotter’s roster have over 77 billion minutes watched in the US for adults 18-49 in 2024, proving that YouTube Creators are the new mainstream (or at least a part of the new mainstream).
Attendees will hear directly from some of the most popular creators including MrBeast (370 million subscribers), Dude Perfect (60.8m), Kinigra Deon (4.8m), Ryan Trahan (19.1m), Rebecca Zamolo (18m), Jordan Matter (28.5m) and other top creators in attendance, with discussions led by fellow YouTubers Colin & Samir, who are also producing the event with Spotter. Around 150 marketing and advertising professionals are expected to attend.
The creative economy is currently experiencing a period of very strong expansion, to the detriment of the traditional corporate economy, which is instead in a period of contraction. A balance will soon be found between these two models, which I am sure will co-exist in the future and be mutually beneficial in a future renaissance of television and the global audiovisual system.
A GAME IN THE BEEHIVE
Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) has teamed up with Korean entertainment group CJ ENM for a co-developed game show , Mugen Loop (aka Infinite Loop; "Mugen" is a Japanese word meaning "without limits"), which is actually the first unscripted collaboration between the two companies since they signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2021.
Premiering on TBS on 24 March, the series sees six challengers locked together in a confined space and tasked with completing a series of high-stakes missions for the chance to win a large cash prize. The contestants must move through an 'infinite' number of interconnected rooms of the same colour and shape, accumulating an unlimited amount of prize money as long as they succeed in their tasks. However, if any of the contestants fail to complete their challenge, a contestant must be voted out of the game and only the last remaining contestant wins the accumulated prize money.
While we wait to understand the mechanics of the games and challenges (which is the most important part), the most interesting aspect seems to be the scenography: the rooms are hexagonal and the whole thing is reminiscent of a giant beehive, as you can see in the images below, taken from the official TBS website.
DATING ON A YACHT AND THROUGH YOUR MUM
In last Friday's Espresso, we talked about 2 'classic' dating shows that have recently been adapted outside Europe. Now we look at 2 new ones, although, to be honest, with not particularly original elements.
The first, Overboard for Love (w.t.), produced by Cooper's production company Unwell Productions (Alex Cooper is also the show's host - pictured), Jeff Jenkins Productions (JJP) in association with 3BMG and Walt Disney Television Alternative, arrives on Hulu, the American subscription streaming media service owned by Disney Streaming, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Entertainment segment.
The show is set aboard a luxury yacht where sexy singles are ready to mix, mingle and find love. As the voyage unfolds, romance ignites, alliances are made and hearts are broken. In the end, only one couple will emerge victorious.
The yacht setting is interesting and has great potential, but otherwise it feels a bit like other formats in the same genre.
The second is #Somebody's Son, which premieres on 12 April on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Inspired by the social media hashtag of the same name, the series follows three successful single men as they search for true love among a group of equally attractive and accomplished women. The twist is that the men have a third wheel on their romantic journeys in the form of their mothers, who provide guidance, support and sometimes drama as they help their sons find 'The One'.
Each bachelor will be introduced to four women who will discover, somewhat later on, that not only is their potential match bringing his mother along for the trip, but that she will be living under the same roof as her son and the entire dating pool as they engage in a series of competitive challenges and bonding activities. But even if the mother-son duo decide they've found the perfect match, it's ultimately up to the independent and successful women to decide if they want to commit.
Again, a nice format, but not very original, given that the twist of putting mothers at the centre of dating has been used many times before, such as in the recent Spanish dating show Si Lo Dice Mi Madre (If My Mum Says So).
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
On 31 March 2025, RTL-TVI will start filming the second season of Maintenant ou Jamais (Now or Never), the ‘warm format’ produced by Butterfish, co-created by Pepper Formats and distributed internationally by Can't Stop Media. This emotional and reconciliatory show was a breakout hit last year, with a remarkable +214% increase in 15-34 year olds. Following this success, the format is now making waves beyond Belgium, with options already signed in six international territories (USA, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Finland).
French commercial broadcaster TF1 is to develop a local language version of reality competition format The Box. Originally created and produced by Oslo-based Seefood TV for Norway’s TV2, the show sees contestants compete in a series of high-stakes challenges, psychological gameplay and moments of absurd comedy. Since launching in January, The Box has now been licensed in seven territories including ITV in the UK, TV2 in Denmark, Nelonen in Finland and RTL in the Netherlands.
From Monday 17 March, The Real Housewives of Antwerp, the adaptation of the NBCUniversal franchise, can be seen on Streamz and from 11 April on Play4 and GoPlay. The series is a co-production between Concept Street and Banijay Belgium. The second Dutch version of the format - after The Real Housewives of Amsterdam - will be available on Videoland from 18 April: The Real Housewives of the South, produced by Concept Street.
Banijay Entertainment’s format Hunted has been commissioned for local remakes in Sweden, Belgium and Botswana. In Sweden, Meter/Jarowskij will produce for Kanal 5 and Max; in French-speaking Belgium Banijay Belgium is producing for RTL-TVI while in Botswana, Banijay Rights has struck a deal with local partner Botswana Ignite.
Last One Laughing, hosted by Jimmy Carr, launched on Prime Video UK yesterday, Thursday 20 March.
TLC has slated a new docureality series that will chronicle the challenges and complexities of two couples who are living in a polyamorous family structure.
Premiering on April 29, Polyfamily follows two married couples — Alysia and Tyler, and Sean and Taya — who have chosen to live together in a closed quad relationship in which Tyler is dating Taya, and Sean is dating Alysia.
The musical game show Juego de Voces (Game of Voices), returns to Las Estrellas, the Mexican television network owned by TelevisaUnivision in a second series entitled Juego de Voces... El Reto Está Cantado (Game of voices... The challenge has been set)
Chile's TVN presented its adaptation of the MasterChef format, distributed by Banijay Entertainment.
Prime Video in Poland has premiered the Rochstar-produced talent competition Rap Generation, which marks the country’s first-ever rap talent show. The original format blends talent competition with reality television, offering an authentic look into the world of hip-hop.
Thanks for another great edition, Axel.