MGM’s Wheels of Glory format rolls into Germany after RTL2, Tresor deal

Skate Fever is based on MGM’s Wheels of Glory

German broadcaster RTL2 has ordered a local production of Wheels of Glory, a celebrity roller-skating competition format created by MGM Television’s UK Unscripted Group, it was announced today.

Tresor MD Axel Kuehn

The German show is being produced by Tresor, the Munich television production company owned by Keshet International, under the title Skate Fever. The six-episode primetime series is expected to premiere later this year on RTL2.

Skate Fever will highlight some of the best street skaters and their unique skating styles as they mentor pairs of celebrities competing in various roller-skating challenges. Celebs will be whittled down to a select few who will compete for the Golden Roller Skate.

Skate Fever marks the first broadcast commission based on the Wheels of Glory format, represented globally by MGM Television’s Global Formats & Unscripted Content division.

Tresor recently signed a first-look deal with MGM Television for all new non-scripted formats in the distributor’s formats catalogue. Skate Fever is the second MGM Television-owned format that Tresor has adapted for German TV screens, following its collaboration on Das Ist Mein Zeit – Die Generationenshow (This is My Time – The Generation Show) for WDR.

Regarding Wheels of Glory, Patrice Choghi, senior VP at MGM’s Global Formats Group, said: “This fun and free-spirited entertainment format has come to life at the perfect time, with producers and broadcasters worldwide looking to lock up rights prior to Mipcom.”

Added Axel Kühn, MD of Tresor: “Wheels of Glory is a format that hooked us immediately. Not only because roller-skating is having a comeback, but also because it’s the perfect mix of dance and music, and has a gloriously retro feel.”

Tresor also produces local versions of I Can See Your Voice, Masters of Dance and Curvy Supermodel. Its scripted arm, Keshet Tresor Fiction, produces comedies and dramas such as Unter Freunden Stirbt Man Nicht (You Don’t Die Among Friends) and How to Dad, both of which are based on Israeli formats.