CREATORSPHERE...
... BUT ALSO TRADITIONAL FORMATS
The latest trend (the ‘+1’) in the 10+1 GLOBAL FORMAT TRENDS report, which is available free of charge to Friday’s Espresso subscribers, is actually a mega-trend: the Creatorsphere. Namely, formats created by young creators and uploaded directly to YouTube and/or other platforms and/or social media, which can be passed on to major global streamers or even traditional linear channels, often in a ‘larger size’. The two formats below prove the increasing importance of this “mega trend” in the contemporary media landscape.
BLINDFOLDED DATING ACROSS THE US
The first example is UpDating, a YouTube dating format that ITV America is developing into a TV show. The American company has partnered with the project’s creators, Brandon Berman and Harrison Forman, to develop the TV adaptation alongside ITV America’s Nashville team.
UpDating is a live event where multiple singles embark go on blindfolded blind dates, onstage and in front of a live audience. Hosted by Berman and Forman, the events are unscripted and unexpected – “packed with laughs and including fascinating, sometimes-weird, sometimes-awkward and often-spicy interactions among the hopeful daters,” the producers say.
The new TV format will be modeled on that live experience. Episodes will be released in real time, which means at-home audiences will be able to participate and also join the cast themselves. UpDating just launched a nationwide winter tour, which includes two shows in Los Angeles next month. The show has been performed in more than 140 cities around the world; recently that has included The Wilbur Theatre in Boston and The Town Hall in New York City.
UpDating live shows are uploaded weekly on its YouTube channel, which now has more than a million subscribers. The show also has 1.6 million Instagram followers, 1.5 million TikTok followers and 500,000 Snapchat subscribers. According to the producers, UpDating as now reached more than five billion total views across platforms. Truly impressive figures.
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YES OR NO IN GERMANY
Yes or No Games is an Amazon format based on an idea by ITV Studios Netherlands. ITV Studios Germany is handling production on behalf of Amazon MGM Studios for the German-language version, which will air on Prime Video in January 2026, with all six episodes available simultaneously.
The show belongs to the trend of Massive Games, i.e. game shows with a very large number of participants. In fact, in each episode of Yes or No Games, 128 contestants compete against each other for the chance to win €100,000. On set, contestants are in the Magic Cube, which is the centrepiece of the show – a set with 4-metre-high LED walls on a 12x12-metre stage. State-of-the-art virtual production technology creates 24 virtual worlds that are brought to life through augmented and virtual reality. The candidates and viewers experience 24 different game worlds, including: a magical library with flying books, a fast-paced journey through the human bloodstream, a spectacular walk on the moon, ancient Rome, and so on.
Participants must solve puzzles and master tasks to collect clues for the decisive question. The host, Steven Gätjen, guides the games and asks a question at the end of each round that can only be answered with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
However, it is also part of the Creatorsphere trend: Prime Video has announced a spin-off of the show called Yes or No Games: Creator Edition. Scheduled to air next week, it will see nine content creators test the Magic Cube before the official launch of the quiz show, with the chance to win £10,000 for their community. The show itself is set to premiere on 16 January, with the creator spin-off airing beforehand. Two episodes will be released on Prime Video Germany’s YouTube channel: one on 12 January and another on 15 January. This is a clear sign of the shifting balance and centre of gravity of the global television system.
The very last detail. The platform’s website states that the series will be available worldwide in ‘240 countries and regions’. However, currently, only 195 countries are officially recognised by the United Nations (including Vatican City and other tiny states…). Introducing the concept of ‘regions’ (which are potentially infinite and a very vague term) does not make much sense…
[I would like to thank Mark Land for bringing this format to my attention]
Request your FREE COPY of the 10+1 GLOBAL FORMAT TRENDS report by emailing axel@formatespresso.com.
DEAR OLD FORMATS
In these complex times, balance is one of the most important qualities. While it is true that there are many powerful factors driving change (the Creatorsphere among all), it is also true that there are still many traditional formats (in the positive sense of the term) that continue to be produced and, in many cases, to be successful. Among these, we would like to highlight two upcoming releases.
The first is DecoMaster, a ‘classic’ talent show produced by RTVE in collaboration with Shine Iberia. The format aims to demonstrate that “if you can dream it, you can decorate it”, bringing the worlds of decoration and interior design closer to the general public. The programme is designed to showcase real processes, specific challenges, and creative solutions applicable to real spaces and clients, moving away from unattainable, aspirational approaches. It is therefore very practical and concrete, and and ‘hyper-traditional’.
The second is ¿Apostarías por mí? (Would you bet on me?), on air next Sunday, 18 January, on American Spanish-language free-to-air Univision and ViX (its AVoD service). Based on the format Power Couple, which is distributed by Dori Media International, it is a Fremantle production for TelevisaUnivision.
This very classic reality show will bring together twelve famous couples, who will isolate themselves from the world to face extreme challenges of cohabitation, testing their love, loyalty and mutual trust.
The programme will be hosted by Alejandra Espinoza and Alan Tacher, who will be at the helm of the show from Monday to Friday and the Sunday prime-time show. In addition, fans will have access to exclusive content 24/7 on ViX, including pre- and post-shows, where every move made by the couples will be analysed without censorship.
A traditional format, on a traditional TV, belonging to a traditional genre, with a traditional structure and viewing mode. There is still room for this, though.
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has given the green light to the comedy show Al Margen de Todo (On the Sidelines of Everything), produced by El Terrat (The Mediapro Studio), which will mark the return of the popular Dani Rovira to prime time on La 1.
The Spanish version of Married at First Sight, titled Casados a Primera Vista, will premiere on the commercial channel Telecinco on Monday 19 January at 11 p.m.
The Chase Around the World is a reimagining of the classic ITV quiz show The Chase. This adventure competition series will be produced by Bright Entertainment.
Banijay Entertainment has acquired the option rights for All Star Hide & Seek in all Banijay territories. The digital-first, unscripted format is distributed by Rabbit International and produced by Troot Finland.
The British satirical panel show Mock the Week is set to return to TLC in the UK on 1 February. The revival was first announced in October alongside WBD UK & Ireland’s decision to make the ‘new look’ TLC free-to-air.
