A roundup of the week’s key unscripted developments, from ITV Studios's 'The Chase' expansion to 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' successes, new reality launches and format adaptations worldwide.
From the creators of ITV Studios' format hit 'The Chase' comes a new prime-time show, 'The Chase Around the World', ordered in the UK for later this year. Contestants will attempt to track down The Chasers in undisclosed locations around the globe in order to win the prize in a quiz, unraveling puzzles along the way.
ITV America is adapting the viral live comedy dating show 'UpDating' into a format for TV and streaming platforms, Variety reports. Singletons go on unfiltered blind dates in front of a live audience.
Formatbiz has released a chart of the 10 most-watched shows on Italian TV last year. Banijay's game show 'Deal or No Deal' is No. 1, followed by 'Wheel of Fortune' and the locally developed emotainment show 'You've Got Mail' (C'è posta per te).
RTL Germany aired another 3-million-euro special of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' over five consecutive evenings, culminating on Friday with an excellent 20.1% share in the 14-49 demo. The 'Millionaire' format from Sony has been renewed in Poland, among other markets, and ITV debuted a British version of 'Millionaire Hot Seat' in the daily 7:30 PM slot last week.
After Hungary, the new strategic reality competition 'Pandora's Box' from Fremantle launched in France and the Netherlands, where it competes against the singing competition 'The Winner Takes It All' on Saturdays. Contestants in a mythology-inspired world are tempted to open the box. It may change their fate, but at a cost to the group.
Canada is getting its own version of the party reality format 'Jersey Shore'. 'Canada Shore' premieres January 22 on Paramount+.
Also launching soon is a new 24/7 version of Dori Media's reality competition format 'Power Couple' on Univision and ViX in Mexico and the U.S. Hispanic market.