Fremantle has announced that it holds the global production, development and distribution rights (excluding Japan) to Special Delivery, the new comedy game show format, co-developed by Blue Circle (a Fremantle company) and leading Japanese broadcaster TBS.
In this irresistibly fun comedy competition, comedians are sent on hilarious missions to attempt to deliver anything, anywhere, anyhow.
The globally adaptable format turns the everyday act of delivering an item into an epic test of creativity and commitment. When comedians clock in at Delivery HQ they are tasked with delivering absurd parcels to impossible destinations under ridiculous conditions.
Contestants must take the job seriously; but the job does not return the favour, as everything conspires against them. Every challenge is built from three simple ingredients: what must be delivered, where it needs to go, and how it must be done – resulting in endless combinations of unpredictable deliveries that create maximum mischief, laugh-out-moments and instantly visual, viral-ready comedy.
Commissioned for TBS in Japan, Special Delivery successfully launched this January, when its debut episode ranked #1 in its time slot and achieved a 28% audience share. In Japan, the show is played by celebrities, but it can be adapted to suit different casting approaches worldwide.
Commenting on the deal, Vasha Wallace, EVP Global Acquisitions and Development, Global Entertainment at Fremantle, said: “Partnering with TBS to co-develop Special Delivery has been a fantastic collaboration. As a broadcaster known for bold, inventive comedy, TBS has been an exceptional creative partner, and together we’ve shaped a format that harnesses the originality of Japanese entertainment into something with clear global potential. There is a strong appetite worldwide for big, visual, laugh-out-loud comedy, and Special Delivery has all the ingredients to travel and connect with audiences beyond Japan.
Hidde Pel, Head of Development, Fremantle The Netherlands, said, “Partnering with TBS has been a long-held ambition, and Special Delivery grew out of a thoughtful process, a shared creative instinct, and a belief in simplicity and bold, visual ideas. Aligning creatively was a genuine highlight — and the speed and inventiveness of the TBS team in bringing the show to life has been truly inspiring. We’re proud of what we’ve built together.”
Kentaro Fukuda, Head of Global IP Studio, at TBS, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Fremantle on Special Delivery, and proud of what the teams have created together in Japan. The format’s bold physical comedy and playful competition feel universally entertaining, and we’re excited to see the format reach audiences internationally.”
