Please wait...
Please wait...

NTV, Banijay reveal Secret for a Million

MIPCOM: Russia’s NTV Broadcasting has signed a pair of distribution deals, including one for its new celebrity gameshow format Secret for a Million.

NTV’s celebrity gameshow format Secret for a Million

Banijay Rights has bagged worldwide rights outside CIS to the show, in which celebrities win money by disclosing personal secrets about themselves.

The format debuted on NTV in September last year and drew shares of 20.4%, according to NTV, and reached eight million viewers. The show’s YouTube channel has garnered more than 45 million views.

“Cooperation with Banijay Rights is an important and significant step for us. The structure of this investigative gameshow adds an interesting dynamic and drama,” said NTV general producer Timur Weinstein.

Andrew Sime, VP of formats at Banijay Rights, added: “Secret for a Million is an incredibly exciting primetime format that has made an enormous impact in Russia. We’re looking forward to introducing international audiences to its unique take on celebrity culture and truth.”

The move continues NTV’s strategy of partnering with international distribution companies on certain shows on its slate. The Russian company’s new 12-part historical drama The Road to Calvary, for example, is handled by Dori Media outside CIS territories.

The show, adapted from the Tolstoy novel of the same name by Russian World Studios, was screened here in Cannes and the show’s stars, Anya Chipovskaya and Yulia Snigir, were in attendance.

Furthermore, Armoza Formats has taken distribution rights to two of NTV’s drama series, Death Highway and Sleepers, and launched them both to the international market here this week.

In addition, NTV presented several other new shows to the Mipcom crowd. Winners is a series about three powerful lawyers in the Russian Empire of the 19th century, and detective drama Schubert follows a former special forces operative investigating the death of his wife.

Please wait...