December 16, 2024
Beating boundaries: 99 to beat conquers the world
The game format "Homo universalis" (international name: 99 to beat) is on a global conquest tour. After the successful format was already reproduced in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Vietnam, France and the United Kingdom, now Italy too has succumbed to Homo universalis.
Homo universalis originally started as a daily feature in Iedereen Beroemd. Meanwhile, it became a standalone programme on VRT 1, after which it was also adopted as such abroad. In the game show, 100 people compete against each other in a variety of assignments. Those tasks test everyday skills and range from running with a tray to unrolling a toilet roll as fast as possible to literally searching for a needle in a haystack. After each round, the candidate who performed worst must leave the programme. Those who never finish last thus win and get to crown themselves ‘Homo universalis’ (‘universal human’) for a year.
Lieven Vermaele, Director of Partnerships and Operations: "We are very excited that 99 to Beat is being picked up in so many countries and this way we can highlight our Flemish creativity internationally. Because VRT invests in original homegrown ideas, these concepts can also get a second life elsewhere. That is what we want to achieve with VRT Sales. That way, another country benefits from the creativity and know-how of our Flemish creators. Our Flemish originality is closely watched internationally. The income linked to these sales reinvests VRT in the production sector to come up with new concepts, which in turn will hopefully also get a second life."
Simone de Pruyssenaere de la Woestyne, Director Sales & Acquisitions at Primitives: "We are thrilled to bring 99 To Beat to the Italian audience with EndemolShine Italy as our production partner. This collaboration continues the format’s incredible international journey and success.”
From the Netherlands over Poland to the UK
Just now, Italy announced that they will make their own version of the popular game format. 99 to Beat has been running for nine seasons in the Netherlands, has five seasons in Poland and four seasons in Germany. The format also already crossed over to Sweden and Norway, and a first season is in the works in Vietnam, France and the UK. Norway, the Netherlands and Germany are currently still working on new seasons of the programme. A VIP version featuring famous people has also already been made in several countries.
In Flanders, the second season of 99 to Beat was recently broadcast on VRT 1.
99 to Beat is a format by VRT and production house De Chinezen and was reworked by Talpa Networks into a standalone programme. International distribution is by Flemish distributor Primitives.
