Television Production
International broadcasters are increasingly looking to New Zealand and Australia as the source of top quality formats for the world market - especially for European, Asian, African and American audiences.
Foreign distribution companies are taking a keen interest on what's working on Pacific screens. They see this region as a place to source new ideas before they're snapped up and unleashed on the world stage. At Pacific Screen, we have a strong producer-base, with in-house experience in a variety of genres - including Children's TV, Light Entertainment, News and Current Affairs, Reality TV, Magazine Programming, Arts and Documentaries. Format development within these strands continues at a strong pace and we are seeing steady progress in these areas. 
Our most recent success has been The $20 Challenge - winner of the "Best Entertainment Show" here in New Zealand. After scoring exceptional ratings in the local market, the format was subsequently seized by Australia, and is now in production around the world. Developed by Amanda Evans, an executive producer with Pacific Screen, this format follows the fortunes of four young people as they struggle to survive in a mystery foreign city with just $20 U.S. to last them three days! It's a recipe for fun, drama, exotic locations and high ratings wherever it's produced.
The $20 Challenge is distributed by Fremantlemedia. For more information on purchase of this format contact Fremantlemedia.
We have several new formats in development at Pacific Screen - top secret of course!
While we can't disclose the genres, style or even the date of release, we can say you'll be seeing them on screens worldwide real soon…. watch this space!
Craig Herd films Kiwi Challenger
Tania Sword in Paris.
The show is a Reality TV programme that focusses on the adventures of four young people who are set loose in a mystery foreign city with only $20 U.S. to live on for three days and nights. Not only that they're also expected to perform certain challenges each day that will make the task of surviving the stay all the harder! On Challenges so far participants have had to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower (Paris), get their photo taken with someone famous (London), earn money telling fortunes (Amsterdam) and get a group of thirty onlookers to perform the Mexican Wave (Barcelona). This is not a challenge show for the faint hearted, and it makes for compelling viewing wherever it's shown.
The $20 Challenge was originally from a concept by Amanda Evans. She drew on her own experiences of travel to come up with the programme idea.
"Everyone I know has a story of being caught somewhere foreign with only twenty bucks left to get them back through London and home for Christmas. I thought - what would happen if we dropped people into just that situation - give them $20 and get them to find their own accommodation and food for a few days- then sit back - and see what happens…" Amanda Evans Putting that concept into practice proved a challenge in itself - raising the money and convincing a broadcaster to take a punt on the idea was a huge biggest hurdle. Once the show was on the road - with five cameras, presenter and four challengers setting off over Westminster Bridge in London - Evans knew they were onto a winner. " I had my heart in my mouth as they wandered off. I worried that the idea was completely daft - but by the end of the first day I knew we were onto a winner! Every challenge I'm amazed at how ingenious and outgoing the Challengers are - and marvel at the generosity of strangers. It's a really life-affirming experience to be at the shooting of a $20 Challenge. It makes you think the world really is a great place to live."
Best Entertainment Programme Award goes to
Amanda Evans, producer of The $20 Challenge at
the annual New Zealand Television Awards, 2001.
Also in 2000, Pearson Television (now Freemantle Media), with production resources in twenty-seven countries, purchased the world rights for the format. It is now in production in several territories, including Italy (six destinations through Europe) and in Switzerland (4 destinations.)
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