Keshet International has sold its interactive talent show format Rising Star to the major Greek television network MEGA (Master Chef, Just the 2 of US) and Ukraine’s free-to-air channel 1+1 Ukraine (The Voice, Hells Kitchen).
Having sold to more than 25 territories since its launch at MIPCOM 2013, the speed at which Rising Star’s international network of broadcast partners is growing is unprecedented according to the global content research specialists, The WIT (World Information Tracking).
Rising Star
Both broadcasters will launch their local versions in late 2014. 1+1 Ukraine, has opted for a multi-season deal beginning with a 15 x 90’ first series to be produced by Studio Kvartal 95. MEGA has commissioned an initial 14 episodes, with a local producer to be confirmed.
MEGA has also acquired the high-rating children’s musical talent show Master Class, in which children sing all-time classics with only positive reviews and no eliminations. The format is planned to air during between late 2014 to 2015. As well as being the highest performing talent show on Keshet’s Channel 2, it has also performed extremely well in Hungary where its ratings exceeded TV2’s average for the timeslot by 250%.
Oleksandr Tkachenko, producer general, at 1+1 said, “Rising Star is a completely unique product for Ukrainian market. Our channel believes that in the future TV can only survive by investing in new technologies and new formats. This format is a combination of traditional TV with a new approach and additional platforms. Indeed, for us it is a great experiment, but I believe it will be successful.”
Loizos Xenopoulos, Programming director at MEGA, said, “We hope that this is the beginning of a great relationship between MEGA and Keshet International!”
Keshet International CEO, Alon Shtruzman, said, “In a saturated market, the key to stand out in the clutter is total disruption. Rising Star is not only a completely new take on the Talent Competition genre, but also a pioneer in second screen integration. We’re very happy with its phenomenal success and promise to keep innovating and bringing the world groundbreaking ideas.”
The first international version of Rising Star will premiere in a Sunday night primetime slot on Globo Brazil on April 6. ABC’s U.S. version of the show will air in summer and is available to buyers at MIPTV as a finished 10 episode tape.
In addition to Ukraine and Greece, Keshet International has closed deals in territories including the US (ABC), UK (ITV), Argentina (Telefe), Brazil (Rede Globo), Spain (Atresmedia), Portugal (TVI), Italy (Toro), France (M6 Group) Russia (Rossiya1), Germany (RTL), the Nordics (Nordisk), Hungary (TV2) and Turkey (Acun Medya). Interest in the format continues to grow worldwide following unprecedented ratings for the show’s original series in Israel, the season finale of which peaked with a 58% share of the total domestic audience.
Rising Star is a trailblazing interactive talent format that enables the first real-time voting by viewers via an innovative free app “TV app to you”, which is fully integrated into the show. Making their debut on stage alone, behind a giant wall of TV screens, a performer can only make his or her entry to the studio by securing more than 70% of the viewers’, judges’ and live audiences’ vote. If the bar is met, the screen (which lights up with the face of each voting viewer in real-time) will slowly rise to expose the hopeful to their new fans and the judging panel. From the very first minute of the very first episode, viewers will play an integral role in every decision made on the show and continue to do so throughout the entire season.
Rising Star, produced by Tedy Productions for Keshet Broadcasting, marked a record-breaking debut on Keshet’s Channel 2 from September to December 2013, maintaining its audience throughout the full first season as the highest-rated show in 10 of its 15 weeks on air. Over 10 million votes were cast through the app during season one, which has been downloaded more than 1.5 million times. Rising Star has far outperformed all second screen data ever recorded in Israel, with an activity rate 10 times higher than its nearest competitor. It maintained high ratings and conversion rates (i.e. viewers to second screen participation), in excess of 30%, throughout the series.
Master Class is a talent show full of heart, and no heartbreak! It is a music talent show for children singing old classics with only positive reviews and without elimination. It has become a critically acclaimed programme that taps into the global trend of family viewing because of its warm and humane approach. Master Class avoids the intrigue and harsh judgment of a ruthless competition, focusing on the nurturing relationships formed between the teachers and their young students, as they become familiar with the country’s rich musical history and cultural heritage.
The sixteen stars of the show are children aged 8-14, with the most promising voices in the country. Four teachers – leading artists in the music industry – train them to make the most of their potential and become the best singers they can. The programme is set at the music school and its auditorium, where the weekly performances take place. Towards the end of the season the best student in each performance is awarded a place in the graduation show. In this way, the six will sing for the last time in front of the committee, where one will be selected as the best in the class. Still, all the students continue their studies and perform at every show, including the final one.
Entitled School of Music in Israel, Master Class became a breakthrough hit oh Keshet Broadcasting Channel 2 – it was the 2nd highest rated show in 2011, with a season average of 48.1% share and 32.5% rating.
