Tel Aviv –The factual entertainment format, Couch Diaries, will see its world premiere in Israel next week on March 18 for an initial season of 40 episodes set to be broadcast daily by HOT TV with production by Artza. Based on the trend of “couch surfing”, the format sees a handful of participants, all at important crossroads in their lives, and takes them out of their comfort zones and onto the sofas of strangers. It allows them access to parallel lives and will lead them into personal and emotional journeys in countries as far away as Brazil, Poland and Japan for a 10-night sleepover on unfamiliar couches.

This premiere follows international deals with SONY who have bought the rights to the format in both the U.S. and the UK. Rights have also been acquired by ITV Productions, Australia and broadcaster EO in Holland. This format sees another successful collaboration between the production house Artza and Armoza Formats. How to Be, an innovative spin on the celebrity interview, has also recently been acquired in 10 territories, including the U.S., and Street Justice, a gritty crime drama, has just been commissioned for a second season in Israel.

Avi Armoza, CEO of Armoza Formats, says, “We strongly believed in the potential of this innovative format before it got produced, and now that we’ve seen the end result we are simply amazed at how powerfully it fulfils its promises and beyond. Couch Diaries really manages to take a global trend and adapt it into a compelling and emotional television show, bringing journeys of self-awakening into an exciting international landscape with a high production value of world cultures. We are very proud of this format!”