Having previously announced the first Finnish adaptation of the popular format with Rabbit Films in 2023, Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, announced today that two additional seasons of Silent Library Suomi will start airing on the Walt Disney Company-owned Star Channel from February 21, 2024. Rabbit Films, the largest television production company in Finland, will continue to produce the successful Finnish-language version. The first two seasons aired with 36 episodes in 2023, and a fourth season is also planned for autumn 2024.

The first two seasons were a hit especially amongst younger audience segments, and the upcoming seasons will focus even more on keeping the cast young and fresh with young-skewed sports stars and influencers. Riku Rantala, the multi-talented reporter, author, and host of a popular local documentary program, will continue to navigate the hilarious series that brought much laughter to the Finnish audience.

Since its launch as an international format in 2007, local versions of Silent Library have been developed in more than 20 countries around the world. Most notable is the hit U.S. version that launched on MTV in 2009 and became a global phenomenon; other versions have been produced in the U.K., Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, France, Finland, Germany and more.

First airing in 2001 on Nippon TV, Silent Library has been a primetime, family-oriented television sensation in Japan and is one of the most influential comedy shows in Asia. Created by the legendary Japanese comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto from the famed duo DOWNTOWN, and produced by Nippon TV in association with Yoshimoto Kogyo, Silent Library has been a hugely successful segment on Nippon TV’s long-running Sunday night entertainment show where contestants must always keep silent no matter what happens. There are six contestants, one librarian, and other people who sit randomly at the tables in the library. During the show, one contestant must endure crazy pranks such as tolerating a tarantula on the face, or having their head put in a smelly box. However, they must always keep silent because the show takes place in a library.

Quote from Sayako Aoki, Global Sales and Licensing, Nippon TV:

“It’s fascinating to see how this classic Asian format keeps evolving into timeless, even more hilarious program with unique games and challenges relevant to each country across Europe. Kudos to Rabbit Films team for creating another hit show which keeps attracting the Finnish audience.”

Quote from Olli Suominen, CEO, Rabbit Films LTD:

“Silent Library is great format to produce: not only do the viewers love the crazy humor,

 it’s a favorite of the comedy writers and celebrity guests as well. Rabbit Films is proud and happy to continue with this great format!”