News

19 March 2009

ENDEMOL’S WIPEOUT SPLASHES DOWN IN MORE TERRITORIES WORLDWIDE

Endemol International today announced a significant line up of new deals for its global smash hit Wipeout.

The UK version of the show, Total Wipeout, has been commissioned for a further 24 episodes to run across two series on BBC ONE. The first series, which debuted in January this year and concludes this weekend, has been a prime time ratings winner amongst all audiences, regularly beating competitors in its Saturday night slot. The highest rating episode so far aired on 7th February and achieved a peak audience of 8 million people (34 % share).

The UK series has also been snapped up by TV3 in New Zealand along with ABC's US version and Nine Network's Australian show. UKTV Watch in the UK, AXN in Asia and Antena in Greece and Cyprus have all taken the US series.

Meanwhile the format is set for further international roll out following deals in Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America. TVN in Chile and RTL in Croatia have both licensed Wipeout for local versions and further deals have been secured with broadcasters in Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro (details of which remain confidential). This follows the recent news that M6 has ordered a first series from Endemol France.

Wipeout has now been sold to 22 territories and counting including other major territories such as Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Greece and The Middle East.

Tom Toumazis, Chief Commercial Officer of Endemol Group comments: "Wipeout is our fastest selling show and it's a proven, timeslot winning hit. The UK will be the first territory outside the US to complete its first series and already they've booked two more. With Mip TV just round the corner, this is a fantastic vote of confidence from one of the world's biggest TV markets."

Wipeout is a truly action-packed competition game show that sees contestants from all walks of life compete for a grand cash prize in grueling and hilarious rounds across extreme obstacle courses. Packed with muscle, grit, entertainment, action, impact and spectacular wipeouts, this really is survival of the fittest.

All non-US productions of the format are located at Endemol's international set for Wipeout in Argentina - the world's biggest TV obstacle course.