Endemol secures commission in China - launches Facebook's first reality series

16 November 2009

Hong Kong - Endemol announced a new prime commission, its fourth in the territory, to be broadcast across China on Dragon TV.
The Best Years of Our Lives has been licensed to Shanghai Media Group by Endemol in partnership with media rights agency IPCN. The series will be sponsored by Ford.
The Best Years of Our Lives is a fun variety format that combines history and entertainment. The format will be produced locally in China by Shanghai Media Group and has been scheduled for an initial run of 7 x 60 minutes. The show sees two teams take part in a series of challenges, which compare the decades by looking back at iconic films, fashion, trends, customs, scandals, toys, gossip and music. An audience of judgmental teenagers decides which decade really was The Best Years of Our Lives.
The commission follows the success of other Endemol productions in China including International King of Sport for Sichuan TV, 1 vs. 100 on Hunan TV and I Love My Country on Sichuan TV.
Endemol also announced that reality series The Gap Year, formerly on social network site Bebo is being relaunched simultaneously on Bebo, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube. The interactive show is the first of its kind to be hosted on Facebook.
The Gap Year: Challenge New Zealand has successfully launched across all sites with nearly 12,000 fans across its respective homepages and will follow five lucky finalists on an unforgettable journey to the adrenaline headquarters of the world - New Zealand.
Created by Endemol UK's Digital Studios, The Gap Year: Challenge New Zealand is sponsored by the New Zealand Tourist Board in a deal brokered by New State - Endemol UK's division dedicated to securing partnerships with leading brands.