1. MIPTV IS COMING (I): THERAPY IN THE CAR
The MipTv is round the corner and some companies have already anticipated their slate, or at least part of it.
Armoza Format, for example, has announced the international launch of Drive Therapy, a docu-reality that brings therapy into the intimate setting of a car on the way to a meaningful meeting. In each episode our backseat therapist will pick up three people who are on a journey in their lives and drive them to a destination in order to confront something in their lives. During the ride, the therapist will provide the passenger with new tools that will help them re-route their lives, instead of constantly arriving at the same dead end. On the way, they will stop at several meaningful places to their journey, ending as they arrive at the final destination as well as a deeper understanding of themselves.
2. MIPTV IS COMING (II): HORROR & MENTAL AGILITY IN JAPAN
Also Nippon Tv has anticipated 2 new game-shows that will be launched during the market. The first one, Dark Doubt, combines the mood of escape rooms with horror atmospheres. 7 contestants are placed in unknown locations (hospital, school…) to join forces and navigate through the dark in order to escape through 4 stages. If a stage is cleared, an elimination meeting is held to expel 1 contestant. If they fail, 2 contestants will be randomly expelled. As an additional twist, secret ‘moles’ are in the mix to heighten the thrill and suspense among contestants.
Looking at the trailer, it seems quite promising, even though it recalls a little too much some ‘historical’ horror games like Release the Hounds, Killer Camp, 13: Fear is Real and others.
In the second one, Turbo Brain, 6 contestants per episode are put to the test under extreme time pressure, answering visual questions (e.g. guessing the display time of a clock in a mirror, see pic) as quick as possible in a face-to-face knockout tournament.
3. SOUTH AFRICA EXPORTS FORMATS
Banijay has acquired the exclusive rights for the factual-entertainment series Still Got It!, created and produced by the South Africa-based Rebelintown.
This intergenerational format, originally titled The Coolest OGs (OG is a person who is highly respected or regarded), sees 12 people aged 60 to 80 competing in a series of fun and cool challenges with the help of the Gen Z crowd. Challenges include cooking, modeling, songwriting, dancing, gaming, arts and sports under the eyes of 4 young judges, who eliminate one contestant every week, based on their performances, till one of them is crowned winner and receives a big cash prize.
The concept is interesting, but has a potential risk: turning the OGs into caricatures…