Beat the Channel bags two Format Awards
Beat the Channel took home two awards at yesterday’s IFAs
TO VIEW THE AWARDS SHOW CLICK HERE.
German gameshow Beat the Channel won a pair of prizes at the annual International Format Awards (IFAs) yesterday, held online for the first time in its history.
The annual prizegiving was held via C21Media.net rather than the usual beachside setting at ClubC21 in Cannes, and was organised by C21 in association with FRAPA, EMC and MipFormats.
Beat the Channel, a new show produced by Florida Entertainment for ProSieben in Germany and distributed by Red Arrow Studios International, was named Best Brand-Driven Format and Best Studio-Based Format by the IFA judges.
The format sees two television presenters face off in a competition to win 15 minutes of airtime where anything goes. Their opponents are the smartest and physically toughest stars from their own channel who they must battle in a series of challenges.
The show has already been commissioned for a third season by German broadcaster ProSieben and has also been picked up for local adaptation by producers in Spain, Portugal, France and the Middle East.
Elsewhere, South Korean singing format The Masked Singer, which has been a hit for Fox in the US and ITV in the UK among others since originating on South Korea’s MBC as King of Masked Singer, went home with the Best Returning Format award. MBC produces and broadcasts the South Korean original and distributes the format internationally.
There was a pair of prizes for UK pubcaster the BBC. Michael McIntyre won the Best Host of a Format award for fronting his series Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, which airs on BBC1, produced by Hungry Bear Media and distributed by NBCUniversal Formats Distribution.
Meanwhile the UK pubcaster’s commercial arm BBC Studios distributes The Stand Up Sketch Show, which was named Best Comedy Format. The Stand Up Sketch Show aired over two seasons on ITV2 last year and this year, produced by Spirit Media.
The Best Competition Reality Format award went to crazy golf-themed Holey Moley, which was produced by Eureka Productions and Unanimous Media for US broadcast network ABC. The format is being distributed internationally by Disney/ABC.
The ABC in Australia took home the Best Factual Entertainment Format award for its adaptation of Old People’s Home for 
4 Year Olds. Produced by Endemol Shine Australia, the show is based on the UK format distributed by Red Arrow Studios International. The format originally debuted on Channel 4 in 2017 and was adapted for ABC in August last year.
Channel 4’s When I Grow Up show, in which kids take over the running of well-known companies, scooped the Best 
Reality Format award. Optomen produces the show for Channel 4 while parent company All3Media International distributes.
The award for Best Scripted Format went to Plan B from Quebec-based KOTV for French-Canadian pubcaster Ici Radio-Canada. The drama, following a company that offers people the chance to go back in time to correct past mistakes, has already started to be adapted for local audiences in English-speaking Canada (via CBC) and France (TF1) and KO 
Distribution is shopping the show and format worldwide.
Lastly, You vs Wild, which airs on Netflix, was named Best Multi-Platform Format. Propagate Content, Electus and Bear Grylls Ventures are behind the format, an interactive series in which audiences make key decisions to help survivalist Bear Grylls complete missions in the harshest environments on Earth.
This year’s prestigious Gold Award went to Sony Pictures Television (SPT) president of international production Wayne Garvie, who oversees SPT’s global network of production companies outside the US, covering Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia.
And the winners are:
Best Brand-Driven Format – Beat the Channel
Produced by: Florida Entertainment
For: ProSieben
Distributed by: Red Arrow Studios International
Best Comedy Format – The Stand Up Sketch Show
Produced by: Spirit Media
For: ITV 2
Distributed by: BBC Studios
Best Competition Reality Format – Holey Moley
Produced by: Eureka Productions/Unanimous Media
For: ABC
Distributed by: Disney/ ABC
Best Factual Entertainment Format – Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds
Produced by: Endemol Shine Australia
For: ABC
Distributed by: Red Arrow Studios International
Best Host of a Format – Michael McIntyre – Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
Produced by: Hungry Bear Media
For: BBC 1
Distributed by: NBCUniversal Formats Distribution
Best Multi-Platform Format – You vs. Wild
Produced by: Propagate Content, Electus, & Bear Grylls Ventures
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix
Best Reality Format – When I Grow Up
Produced by: Optomen
For: Channel 4
Distributed by: all3media international
Best Returning Format – The Masked Singer
Produced by: MBC
For: MBC
Distributed by: MBC
Best Scripted Format – Plan B
Produced by: KOTV
For: Ici Radio-Canada
Distributed by: KO Distribution inc.
Best Studio Based Format – Beat the Channel
Produced by: Florida Entertainment
For: ProSieben
Distributed by: Red Arrow Studios International
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