London – Got Talent is through to the record books, having been commissioned in an impressive 58 territories worldwide. The entertainment show, co-owned by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment, now holds the official Guinness World Records title for the Most Successful Reality TV Format worldwide.
An international ratings phenomenon, Got Talent has surpassed other reality titles by being adapted in the highest number of territories worldwide. Captivating audiences around the world, the show has versions across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle-East, Africa and the Americas. Most recently, the format launched in Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan 1), Brazil (Rede Record), Moldova (Channel Prime TV) and Iceland (Channel 2). In total, 59 versions of Got Talent are broadcast in 58 countries (with two versions in Belgium).
Rob Molloy, Director of Global TV Content and Sales, Guinness World Records; Diana Buddingh, Director of Global Entertainment Production, FremantleMedia; and George Levendis, Head of International Production, Syco Entertainment
Simon Cowell said, “I am very proud that Got Talent is a home grown British show. We owe its success to a group of very talented producers all over the world who have made this happen. And of course amazing talent.”
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia said: “We are immensely proud of the ever successful Got Talent and are delighted to add a prestigious Guinness World Records title to its list of achievements. Got Talent has become a global phenomenon that has transcended cultures and excited audiences from all corners of the globe. We look forward to working with Syco Entertainment in continuing to make this brand an absolute triumph.”
Alistair Richards, President of Guinness World Records, said: “We are delighted to confirm that Got Talent has broken the previous world record and is now the official Guinness World Record holder for the Most Successful Reality Television Format, a landmark moment in television record breaking history, congratulations!”
Got Talent has seen a spectacular array of talent from the across the world. The range of acts include Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent, who has gone on to sell over 20 million records worldwide; singer Jackie Evancho from America’s Got Talent; nine-year-old singer Amira Willighagen for Holland’s Got Talent, whose winning performance of Puccini’s ‘Nessun Dorma’ and received more than 50% of the television viewers’ votes; SIMA, a Syrian dancing troupe for Arabs Got Talent; circus artist, Simon Heulle for Got Talent France; Tetiana Galitsyna, an artist who used painting with sand to tell a story for Poland’s Got Talent; the dazzling dancers, Carolina and Felipe Llanos Almonacid for Got Talent Chile; and joint winners Alexander Magali an acrobatic sword swallower and Nikita Izmailov, a contact juggler, crystal ball dancer and illusionist for Russia’s Got Talent. Britain’s Got Talent’s first winner, singing sensation Paul Potts’ initial audition has had over 121 million views on YouTube and his story was made into a major motion picture, One Chance, by Syco Entertainment and The Weinstein Company, starring James Corden as Potts.
Britain’s Got Talent, the UK’s number one entertainment show of the last decade, has notched up eight hit seasons, while America’s Got Talent, the longest running local version of the format, is in its ninth season. With the last series attracting peak audiences of more than 11 million viewers, the series has maintained the position of the #1 summer reality show in the U.S. for eight years.
