Banijay Asia Partners with Talpa Studio for Representation in India and Thailand
Banijay Asia has secured a two-year agreement with the Dutch production house Talpa Studios, allowing the former to represent a variety of unscripted formats in India and Thailand.
Talpa Studios boasts a portfolio of successful formats, including “The Floor,” “The Quiz with Balls,” “The Alliance,” and “Most Wanted.”
Banijay Asia plans to present Talpa Studios’ shows and creative ideas to broadcasters and streaming services in both countries with the intention of localizing, adapting, and producing these formats for local audiences.
Deepak Dhar, the founder and CEO of Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that it “enables us to introduce genuinely captivating concepts to the viewers in India and Thailand. We are eager to work alongside Talpa Studios to bring these concepts to life with our unique local flair and scale.”
“Asia represents a vibrant and rapidly changing market for unscripted entertainment, and collaborating with Banijay Asia allows our creative ideas to resonate with local viewers,” remarked Talpa Studios CEO Maarten Meijs. “Their demonstrated capability to convert global formats into distinctive local successes makes them an ideal partner for representing our catalogue in this region.”
Talpa Studios’ New Quiz Show ‘Caught in the Middle’ Launches in Netherlands and Australia
In a related development, Talpa Studios’ newest quiz format, “Caught in the Middle,” is set to launch in the Netherlands and Australia. Local versions have been commissioned by Dutch broadcaster SBS6 and Australia’s Seven Network, with the Australian edition being produced by Eureka Productions (a subsidiary of Fremantle) in collaboration with Talpa Studios.
Both versions will be filmed at Talpa Studios’ international production hub. The Dutch edition is scheduled to hit SBS6 in January 2026, while the air date for the Australian version will be announced later.
Developed by John de Mol’s Talpa Studios, “Caught in the Middle” features a duo competing against 100 contestants. Positioned in a massive LED arena, the duo faces a series of 15 questions and must outmaneuver the crowd by selecting answers that align with as many contestants as possible, thereby eliminating them one by one before they can reach the center and claim a jackpot of €50,000 ($57,780).
“We’re excited to unveil this innovative format to Australian viewers,” stated Angus Ross, Seven Group’s managing director for TV. “It’s fresh, unpredictable, and filled with tension and excitement – everything one looks for in a successful quiz show.”
Nippon TV’s ‘Red Carpet Survival’ Season 2 to Premiere in Italy on Prime Video
Nippon TV’s unscripted format “Red Carpet Survival” is set to return for a second season in Italy next year, rebranded as “Red Carpet, Vip al tappeto” on Prime Video.
“Red Carpet Survival” is a star-studded game show combining glamour, humor, and intense challenges. Throughout each episode, a celebrity is escorted down a red carpet by three comedic bodyguards, who must face a range of physical and mental challenges meant to test their skills, bravery, and improvisation.
If the VIP steps off the red carpet, one of the bodyguards is eliminated; the challenge lies in whether the celebrity can complete the lengthy walk without losing their bodyguards. The episode culminates in a dash to the limousine, navigating obstacles such as shifting barriers, water sprays, and even bird droppings. The first team to successfully escort their star to the finish line wins.
Produced by Blu Yazmine for Amazon MGM Studios and based on a Nippon TV format, the show was successfully adapted in Italy in 2025 as “Red Carpet, Vip al tappeto” on Prime Video.
According to Nippon TV, Italy’s Season 2 will introduce new celebrity guests, featuring some of the country’s leading entertainers and social media influencers, “infusing fresh energy and star power into the show, alongside exclusive challenges that are larger, bolder, and even more engaging than before. The production will occur in an unexpected new setting, with a highly anticipated premiere scheduled for 2026.”
“The Italian adaptation of ‘Red Carpet Survival’ reflects Nippon TV’s strategy to deliver premium formats to global audiences,” stated Sayako Aoki, Nippon TV’s head of international sales. “By collaborating with Blu Yazmine, experienced in format adaptation and creating top-notch entertainment, we aspire to offer Italian viewers even more thrilling experiences than the inaugural season in a captivating new environment with visually exciting challenges.”
