Lineup Industries sells hit format "Emergency Call" to NHK

Lineup Industries has sold the documentary format "Emergency Call" to the Japanese public broadcaster NHK which will air it in January 2022. This is the second non-scripted format from Lineup Industries to air in the territory, with community radio station series "Radio Gaga" continuing a successful run, also on NHK.

Takako Ishikawa, Senior Producer at Current Affairs Division, Program Production Department at NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) says, “We are very honored to have this opportunity to be producing the Japanese version of 'Emergency Call.' This format is significant in that it successfully illustrates the daily occurrences at the control room of an emergency unit from a perspective that resonates to audiences the world over, and we appreciate that Emergency Call is a program showing a very high level of human nature. As a public broadcaster, we hope that we will follow their footsteps and show the spirit of call takers in our 'Emergency Call'.”

Ed Louwerse, co-founder of Lineup Industries, said: “It’s fantastic to see how this format is rolling out internationally and capturing the fascination of local audiences. We’re all aware of the crucial work of the emergency services but in shining a light on the people whose important job it is to field the initial call, we are revealing the tense, compelling, and sometimes bizarre conversations that form their day-to-day experiences and how their calm demeanour, clarity of thought and precise questioning can make all the difference in serious and potentially life-threatening circumstances.”

The "Emergency Call" format was originally created by De chinezen for Belgium broadcaster VRT Eén, the Flemish public channel. Lineup Industries handles global distribution for the series, which has been made locally in Belgium (both Flemish and French), Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, as well as being actively optioned for further markets. In Turkey, it will form part of a governmental public service campaign to inform the Turkish public of a new unified 112 emergency number when it launches in early 2022.

The US version of the format, produced by 8 Hours Television and hosted by actor Luke Wilson, has also sold to Australia’s Nine Network, New Zealand’s TV3 and Talpa TV in the Netherlands. Brand new episodes have also aired on ABC in the US this year.