Darwin format selected in Canada and Hungary

Italian variety format Ciao Darwin is returning to Canada and Hungary after distributor Distraction Formats found new homes for the RTI Mediaset-developed property.

The format has been picked up by SRC and MTN-SBS networks, respectively. SRC is the second French-Canadian network to pick up the format, after TVA acquired the licence in 2002, while Hungary’s TV2 also picked up the format last year.

The 60-minute Saturday night show pits contestants against one another as they compete in a series of tasks designed to give a light-hearted take on natural selection.

Following the Distraction sales, Ciao Darwin is currently in production for SRC Canada, TVN Poland and Future TV in the Middle East. The format has also been sold to Romania and Russia, and is currently “generating interest” in the UK, Vietnam and Ukraine, according to Distraction.

“Ciao Darwin is experiencing such a revival now with Distraction,” said Nella Allegretti, the executive responsible for RTI Mediaset’s format distribution division.