Gogglebox heads to South Africa

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) in South Africa has commissioned a local version of hit UK format Gogglebox, following a deal with All3Media International.

Gogglebox airs on Channel 4 in the UK

The show, which films families at home watching the week’s television and commenting on what they see, was originally created by All3Media-owned Studio Lambert for Channel 4 in the UK.

SPT South Africa has commissioned a 10×60’ local version of the programme, to be produced by Eject Media and Picture Tree.

The format, scheduled to debut in early 2016 on Sony Channel (DStv channel 127) in South Africa, has already been to sold broadcasters in the US, Australia, Middle East and throughout Europe.

Gogglebox has also been optioned for French-speaking Africa by producer De Père En Fils Prods, as part of a package of formats including Lion Television’s gameshow Cash Cab; family quiz Cash At Your Door, originally produced for Channel 10 in Israel; and gameshow Are You Normal?, which originally aired in China.

Further options in the region include primetime gameshow format The Cube, originally devised by Objective Productions, to Media Vision in Nigeria, and Undercover Boss, Studio Lambert’s factual entertainment format, to The Televisionaires in South Africa. Finally, gameshow Cash Mob has been signed by Rapid Blue in South Africa.