Endemol International has secured two deals for Wipeout in Australia – both as a format and a ready made series. A leading network has commissioned an Australian version of the show and a first series of eight one-hour episodes is now due to launch later this year. The same network has also acquired the first season of Wipeout in the USA, which is set to premier on ABC this month. Details of scheduling and which broadcaster has commissioned the series remain confidential pending an announcement in the coming weeks. The Australian series will be produced by Endemol Southern Star at the newly built international set for Wipeout in Argentina – the world’s largest TV obstacle course. The location is also home to local versions of the format already commissioned by broadcasters in Germany, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Endemol is also nearing a significant deal in the Middle East and further territories are expected to be revealed shortly. Rory Callaghan, managing director of Endemol Southern Star comments: “There is a huge buzz around this format and I am in no doubt that it’s going to make a big splash down under. Wipeout packs in andrenaline and laughs from start to finish and I’m especially delighted that the broadcaster has decided to double the fun by taking the US show alongside our own Australian version.”