All3Media International has signed its first format licence for idtv’s ratings-hit reality entertainment series The Traitors to VTM in Belgium orders a local adaptation. The network has commissioned this format, which brings together celebrity contestants for a nail-biting psychological adventure where treachery and deceit are the name of the game.
The deal follows the success of the original Dutch version, which debuted on RTL4 in March and has already been commissioned for a second series. Produced by idtv and All3Media, and airing under the local title De Verraders, the series won a share of more than 40% of RTL’s target audience.
In The Traitors, the celebrity contestants move into an atmospheric location with the goal to work as a team to complete a series of challenging missions to earn a cash prize. The catch, however, is that three of the contestants are traitors who will attempt to deceive and manipulate their way to the prize instead of sharing it amongst the group. As this gripping psychological game plays out, the celebrities must do everything they can to identify the traitors in their midst before it is too late.
Jonathan Hughes, Sales Manager at All3Media International, commented: ‘This original version has gone down a storm in the Netherlands, so we’re delighted to build on this success by kicking off the format’s international journey. The Traitors offers a unique premise, as the celebrities face not only a series of difficult, challenging tasks, but also a whole host of suspicion and mind games, with none of them knowing if they can trust the people playing alongside them. We’re looking forward to seeing a new The Traitors adventure begin on VTM, and are confident, particularly following RTL4’s fantastic ratings, that this commission will be the first of many’.
Davy Parmentier, Creative Director at VTM, completed:‘At VTM we looked with big eyes at what De Verraders did in the Netherlands. The game captivates everyone, and the first episodes brought more than two million viewers to the edge of their seats each time. We are therefore very excited that we have won the rights to this gripping show at VTM and are going to make our own Flemish version of it. At VTM we continue to focus on top entertainment and De Verraders fits perfectly into that picture’.
The format has also been optioned by Tower Productions for German/ German speaking territories and by Studio Lambert in the UK and USA.
