Germany, Italy take on Song Challenge

MIPCOM: A new primetime competition format from Vivendi Entertainment has been optioned in Germany and Italy.

Celebrity Song Challenge will be remade in Germany by Tower Productions, the joint venture between All3Media and BBC Studios, and in Italy by Endemol Shine. The broadcasters have not yet been announced.

The original French format was created by independent prodco DMLS TV for TF1. It launched in a Saturday primetime slot this August, generating the channel’s best performance in the slot of the summer, including big audience rises among women aged under 50 (up 42%) and younger adults (15- to 34-year-olds, up 35%). TF1 has recommissioned the series for 2020.

Celebrity Song Challenge involves a selection of A-List celebrities from a range of different spheres, such as music, acting and sports, who challenge each other via social media to perform a song.

“There is the special thing about linear television combined with a huge social media activity you only get when you are live on air. That’s linear TV at its best,” said Dietlinde Stroh of Tower Productions, commenting on the company’s decision to option the show.

The deals were announced at Mipcom in Cannes today.