NBCUniversal International Studios, an American Media and Entertainment company, declared ITV as the first network in Europe to order a non-TX pilot of its new game show format, QuizUp produced by NBCUniversal International Studios. The format was unveiled by NBC Universal International Formats at MIPCOM on 4-7 October, 2015.
The show gives in-studio contestants the chance to earn cash prizes after each round by winning high-stakes trivia battles against viewers based around the United Kingdom (UK) playing in real-time from home on their mobile devices. The innovative game is the result of collaboration between NBC and Plain Vanilla Corp., the prolific game studio that created the QuizUp game.
The premise of the show is simple; if the in-studio contestant wins eight trivia battles against eight different competitors who are watching and playing from home, they can win a cash prize. If any of the at-home players win their battle, they will win the money allocated to that round.
Director of Entertainment and Comedy, Elaine Bedell ordered the non-TX pilot of QuizUp and it will be produced by one of NBCUniversal International Studios’ production entities.
The show has already received a 10-episode order in the U.S. from number one American network, NBC. The U.S. version was created by Jeff Apploff and Wes Kauble.
NBCUniversal International Studios, SVP Factual and Entertainment, David Mortimer comments, “QuizUp is the result of an intense period of successful development by our colleagues at NBC. Television has been waiting for a quiz format that’s big enough turn of the wheel to justify a place in the primetime schedule, and that’s exactly what this show is. QuizUp is a great example of NBCUniversal International Studios working hand in glove with our network colleagues to bring a bold new format to the international market and the deal we’re announcing with ITV is a huge part of our plan to roll the format out internationally at MIPCOM.”
Currently having 4 million players in the UK, QuizUp is one of the world’s most popular trivia apps with more than 75 million users worldwide and reaching #1 in the App Store rankings in 128 countries.