Banijay today announces the return to India of iconic format, Survivor, with leading Tamil general entertainment channel, Zee Tamil. Banijay Asia will produce the adventure reality title for OTT platform ZEE5.
Survivor tests the spirit of a group of ordinary, and yet extraordinary, people who are marooned, with little more than the clothes on their backs and their own animal cunning. As they catch their own food, build their own shelter, and order their own society, castaways must compete in increasingly difficult tests of strategy and guile. Survivor India marks the 48th iteration of the show since its launch in 1997. This year is the format’s most successful to-date with 22 productions confirmed.
Deepak Dhar, CEO of Banijay Asia says: “Survivor is a show that has a global fan base. The format is unique, adaptable and has the potential to match audience sensibilities across the board. The Tamil industry has always been experimental and bringing a reality show of this nature will only broaden the genre further. Zee Tamil has always gone beyond when it comes to innovative content and we’re excited to be partnering with frontrunners like them.”
Siju Prabhakaran, EVP and South Cluster Head, ZEEL, comments: “As a channel, we have always committed ourselves to engage and entertain our audience with innovative content and variety in reality entertainment. The new reality show Survivor would definitely set new benchmarks in reality show formats in India. From the production value to the portfolio of talent, Zee Tamil has truly embarked on a journey in partnership with Banijay Asia to redefine quality entertainment in the market”.
Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay adds: “Survivor has huge global appeal, offering excitement, escapism and entertainment, all rolled into one. It’s an evergreen format which consistently delivers, and the fact that this year is the most successful in the show’s history is testament to its enduring relevance to audiences worldwide.”
Produced in more than 40 territories, Banijay-owned Survivor is a global hit and super brand, standing as one of the most-watched formats worldwide. Most recently, Globo relaunched Survivor (No Limite) in Brazil after 12 years of air in the region, featuring a cast of previous Big Brother Brasil contestants. More than 10 million viewers tuned in to the 40th season last year on CBS in the U.S., the latest Australian adaptation was seen by nearly 40% of the population, and the most recent French version, Koh Lanta, ended as number one in its slot.