Television
March 23, 2011
Warner Bros. International Television Production To Offer Format Rights To New Reality Competition Series “Flashback” At MIPTV 2011
(March 23, 2011 – Burbank, CA) – “Flashback,” an exciting new reality show set to debut this week in the Netherlands (NED1), is looking to take the world by storm as Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) has acquired the worldwide format rights to the series from BlazHoffski. WBITVP will be licensing the format for the production of local versions at the upcoming MIPTV sales market in Cannes, France. The announcement was made today by WBITVP’s Ronald Goes, Executive Vice President and Head of International Television Production, and Andrew Zein, Senior Vice President, Creative Format Development and Sales, and Taco Ketelaar, CEO, BlazHoffski.
Each one-hour episode (8X60) takes place over 13 hours in which five couples are thrown into a heart-pounding adventure, testing their physical skills and intelligence at the same time. The contestants must keep up their energy, attention levels and memory at all times. After all, anything they see, hear, experience or endure during that vigorously suspenseful day leaves them reeling by the time they face the memory challenge which will decide their fate: the Flashback contest. This experience is a true assault on the senses of each contestant. Who can still think clearly and has the best memory of recent events, including those pesky little details? And who is sent packing?
WBITVP will begin formal discussions with production companies and broadcasters from around the world regarding the licensing of format rights to “Flashback” at MIPTV. Ief Stuyvaert, the originator of the format behind “Flashback,” worked with the creative executives at BlazHoffski to develop the series, which has already spurred great interest among potential buyers.
“We believe ‘Flashback’ will have great appeal to audiences around the world with its original, fast-moving, clever and engaging format,” said Zein. “The audience is taken on a journey with the contestants, feeling their pain and rooting for their success.”
"That Warner Bros. would pick up the worldwide format rights to ‘Flashback’ is a huge recognition of all the hard work and creative efforts of the team, especially since we have launched and will launch a significant number of brand formats in the next months," said Dan Blazer, Creative Director, BlazHoffski.
Here’s how “Flackback” works: Each episode pits the couples against each other. They are on a rollercoaster ride, moving from one experience to the next at breakneck speed. While carrying out three assignments and reaching particular locations in exotic surroundings at set times, they must keep their eyes, ears and other senses peeled, and absorb anything they can.
During the final hour, the contestants take part in an individual edge-of-your-seat Flashback test that examines their powers of memory regarding the past day. All the contestants are left on their own now. The one with the lowest score goes straight home, leaving his partner alone.
The final episode brings together the three contestants with the best memory. The one left standing wins the big golden Flashback bar. “Flashback” never lets up. It’s a combination of game and reality.
During a terrifying helicopter jump, not only the guts of the contestants are tested but during this extremely spectacular event they also have to stay very alert. The tension, exhaustion and full concentration ensure that emotions run high. Who can still function under this extreme pressure? Who can still rely on his partner? “Flashback” moves where other reality-adventure shows stop, taking the audience to the next level.
About: BlazHoffski Group:
BlazHoffski Group, the leading creative quality boutique in The Netherlands and Belgium whose award winning formats are respected and sold around the globe. With à format catalogue including smash hits such as “Hello Goodbye,” “Intensive Caring,” “Mind over Matter,” “CIA,” “Tower C,” “24 hours with” and “Down with Johnny.”
Established in 1996 in Amsterdam by Dan Blazer and Erik van der Hoff, the mission has been to create and deliver top quality formats produced at the highest achievable level. Since 2008 they have operated successfully in Belgium, managed by Geert Willems. BlazHoffski Group is managed by CEO Taco Ketelaar.
Active in a broad range of genres: entertainment, reality, drama, comedy, commercials, documentaries and factual entertainment for commercial- and public channels as well as advertisers. In 2010 BlazHoffski established an exclusive joint venture with award winning producer Gideon Levy and acquired Dahl TV headed by producer/host Maurice Dekkers and Creative Director Benthe Forrer who produce iconic formats such as “CIA” and “Fierce Kitchen.”###