BBC Studios and Nippon TV, one of Japan’s leading media and entertainment companies, announced they have partnered to co-develop a new comedy gameshow format entitled “Koso Koso.” BBC Studios will act as distributor for the format globally, with Nippon TV leading distribution in Asia. The format will launch to international customers at the BBC Studios Showcase in February 2024.
The new format is the result of a co-development partnership between the two companies and Asia-based content incubator Empire of Arkadia (EOA). The collaboration brings together core expertise from BBC Studios Global Entertainment teams, the producers of “Strictly Come Dancing,” “Eurovision Song Contest” and “The Weakest Link”; Nippon TV, creators of “Dragons’ Den/Shark Tank,” “Old Enough!,” and “Silent Library”; and EOA, led by Fotini Paraskakis, who has been responsible for local format adaptations of global brands such as “Got Talent,” “Big Brother” and “MasterChef” across the Asia region over the past 25 years.
The comedy gameshow format “Koso Koso” sees celebrity secret agents prank unsuspecting contestants to win them a cash prize. The contestants think they are in a reality show, unaware of the secret squad of celebrity agents constantly observing their every move. These undercover agents must skilfully complete ridiculous missions without arousing suspicion to win cash for the clueless contestants. Once the missions conclude, the biggest secret is revealed: contestants find out about the gameshow they never knew they were playing and face a final challenge to win the cash prize. With laugh-out-loud missions and big reveals, this unique family gameshow is defined by its surreal, shareable content. The pilot aired in Japan in June 2023 on Nippon TV’s flagship commercial broadcast network and achieved a strong 24.9% viewership share (within the 13-49 demographic).
“We have really enjoyed working with the development team at Nippon TV on what has been an exciting creative process. Bringing together the experience and ideas from us in BBC Studios and Nippon TV has been hugely beneficial. Together we have created a format which may not have happened in isolation – it is a real coming together of UK and Japanese creativity to create a format that will have wide appeal,” said Suzy Lamb, Managing Director of BBC Studios Entertainment Productions.
Tom Miyauchi, Head of Formats, Content Business & Distribution at Nippon TV, added: “Our partnership with BBC Studios and Empire of Arkadia will spearhead both creatives and distribution across vast territories in both east and west, as reputably covered by each party. ‘Koso Koso’ celebrates both hilarious comedic elements with strong reality aspects as garnered by producers from both ends of the world for a global audience.”
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