3 Ball wins Woestijnvis’s Container Cup

US-based unscripted prodco 3 Ball Productions has bagged local remake rights to competition format The Container Cup from Belgian prodco Woestijnvis.

Reinout Oerlemans

The Container Cup is a competition series that pits athletic celebrities against professional athletes in a series of sporting challenges that take place inside shipping containers, each equipped with numerous cameras and delivered directly to the competitors’ respective homes.

The series was developed as a quick-turnaround format that could be produced in compliance with Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Belgium’s stay-at-home order was issued on March 18 and The Container Cup was conceived, developed, sold, produced and aired within less than six weeks, premiering on Belgium’s Vier network on April 26.

In its first week, the format was optioned to Germany, France and the Netherlands, while deals are pending in Spain, Italy, the UK and other territories.

Reinout Oerlemans, 3 Ball Entertainment’s chairman, said: “So much of regular life has been upended during this crisis and so to be able to find and act on the bright spots, as creatives, is extremely gratifying. We know athletes live to compete and that they haven’t been able to during the Covid lockdown.

“We also know that audiences are clamouring for fun and exciting content that can feel inspirational. This show can rally the whole family around a unique and positive entertainment experience that blends serious athleticism with fun and feel-good humour – all done in a way that is safe and Covid-compliant for all involved, and culminates with a significant donation on behalf of the winning athlete.”