BBC STUDIOS AND NIPPON TV ANNOUNCE
FORMAT CO-DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

Format to be distributed by BBC Studios outside Asia
Nippon TV to distribute within Asia

MIPCOM 2023, Wednesday 18th October 2023

BBC Studios and Nippon TV, Japan's leading media and entertainment company, today announced they have partnered to co-develop a new comedy gameshow format Koso Koso.

BBC Studios will act as distributor for the format globally, with Nippon TV leading distribution in Asia. The format launches to international customers at 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).

Suzy Lamb, MD of BBC Studios Entertainment productions said: We've 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's a real coming together of UK and Japanese creativity to create a format that will have wide appeal.”

Tom Miyauchi, Head of Formats, Content Business & Distribution at Nippon TV said, “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.”

Fotini Paraskakis, Founder of EOA said “Our aim is to leverage creative gaps in the highly competitive unscripted market, by creating a format based on known international structures with the addition of fresh Japanese creative twists. We are truly thrilled with this achievement. It's been an amazing plus incredible journey to see how two powerful and very culturally different platforms have come together, with our support, to create something unique that really addresses content demands today.”

Emma Hardie, Commercial Director, International Production and Formats at BBC Studios said: “We are delighted to collaborate with partners from around the world to share expertise and co-develop new, exciting and original ideas to bring to a global audience.”

The project was brokered by EOA Founder, Fotini Paraskakis, Daniel Thomas, Head of Format Acquisitions on behalf of BBC Studios and Tom Miyauchi, Head of Formats, Content Business & Distribution, Global Business, on behalf of Nippon TV.

The agreement builds on the established relationship between the BBC Studios International Production and Formats team and Nippon TV. Earlier this year BBC Studios licenced the Doctor Foster format to Nippon TV. The local version premiered on Nippon TV's new Friday night drama slot targeted at young female audiences, as well as streamed on SVOD and AVOD.

About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios' global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.
BBC Studios | Website | Press Office | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

ABOUT NIPPON TV
Nippon TV is Japan's leading multi-platform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster, as well as owner of streaming giant Hulu in Japan. Over 90% of its content IP is fully owned by Nippon TV and the company has been active in bringing its content to the international market in the form of anime, ready-made programs, formats, and through co-production partnerships.
https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/2676849/

ABOUT EMPIRE OF ARKADIA (EOA)
EOA is a next generation content incubator anchored in the Asia Pacific Rim. Working in both the scripted & non-scripted space, our passion is bringing Asian inspired IP, communities, cultures and stories to the global stage. We source, develop & scale primarily Japanese & Korean inspired IP that has the potential to succeed internationally, collaborating with the best creators across the Asia region and the world, building innovative pipeline solutions for our platform partners. Our dream is to inspire and grow a modern studio ecosystem, a world in which creativity reigns free.
Empire of Arkadia | Website | LinkedIn | Instagram