Ten plunges into Shark Tank

Australia’s Network Ten is creating its own version of Shark Tank, the American series based on Japanese business reality format Dragon’s Den.

Ten is billing Shark Tank as its “new event television series” following a deal with format distributor Sony Pictures Television. A TX date of 2015 has been pencilled in.

The format sees wannabe inventors and emerging companies owners pitch their ideas to a panel of respected businessmen and women, who may or may not invest their own cash into the ventures.

“Australians are among the greatest entrepreneurs in the world and the list of globally successful products that have been invented here is staggering,” said Ten’s chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey.

“The Australian version of Shark Tank will be an accessible, compelling and highly entertaining show that will appeal to all age groups. Viewers will be captivated by the passion, enthusiasm and drive of our inventors – and by the incredible ideas they will present to our Sharks.”

Shine Australia (MasterChef Australia) is producing Shark Tank for Ten. “This unique, smash hit format is a sensational project for Shine,” said the firm’s CEO Mark Fennessy. “It will be a feeding frenzy for viewers as ambitious entrepreneurs present breakthrough concepts to the Sharks – potentially becoming Australia’s next generation of millionaires.”

The American Shark Tank (pictured) has run on ABC since 2008. Numerous other versions of the show have been produced around the world. SPT has international rights.