Endemol Shine Australia, Japan’s TBS reveal partnership, announce new format The Insider
From left to right: ESA’s Elliot Spencer, TBS’s Shunsuke Fukaya and ESA’s Peter Newman
Banijay-owned Endemol Shine Australia (ESA) has struck a co-development partnership with Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) to adapt the Japanese network’s formats for Australian and global audiences.
The pact will see both parties collaborate to “amplify a dynamic and innovative raft of titles on the world stage for networks and streamers alike,” claims ESA.
It will give Sydney- and Melbourne-based ESA (MasterChef Australia) access to both new and existing formats from TBS, which is known as the creator and producer of hit international formats such as Ninja Warrior and Takeshi’s Castle.
As part of the agreement, Banijay Entertainment has a first-look arrangement to produce the co-developed titles locally across its label footprint.
The first TBS format to be developed with ESA is an adaptation of strategic gameshow, Actors vs Reactors, produced by Junya Ueda. It will be scaled and reinvented under the new title The Insider.
It sees a group of celebrities take part in a game in which they are continually pranked. One celebrity sneakily knows the details of every prank and is faking their reactions. Can the celebrities find The Insider before they win all the cash?
Marco Bassetti, CEO, Banijay Entertainment, said: “Via this all-new agreement, ESA has a unique opportunity to delve into TBS’ portfolio to apply its expertise in fostering new global hits and supersizing reimaginations.
“Diversifying and complementing our own catalogue of standout titles, the collaboration will also lean on our 21-territory-strong footprint to localise and scale these next generation superbrands.”
Peter Newman, CEO, ESA, said: “Working alongside TBS on this exciting initiative, we are excited to apply our creative lens to reinventing these local formats for a global audience. With The Insider, we have a title built for a broad audience – unpredictable and attention-grabbing.”
Katsuaki Setoguchi, executive officer, TBS Holdings, said: “We are thrilled to have established a partnership with Endemol Shine Australia, renowned for their outstanding creative capabilities as part of Banijay Entertainment, a leader in the global content market.
“We have high expectations for the innovative unscripted format that this collaboration will bring to the market; our first project, The Insider, combines the classic prank elements of Japanese variety shows with ESA’s supersizing prowess.”
