Denmark’s Mastiff buys Japanese gameshow format

Danish producer Mastiff has acquired rights to Japanese gameshow Exit from vendor Eccho Rights.

The entertainment format comes from Japanese producer Kenichiro Akiyama and has broadcast in the territory on Nippon Television for three seasons.

The format sees teams of contestants take on mental and physical challenges against the clock to escape from locked rooms.

Eccho Rights has previously sold it into Germany, France, Russia, Sweden and the US.

Cable channel Syfy will begin broadcasting the US version on June 4. That remake comes from Smart Dog Media in association with UK prodco Zig Zag Productions, which is a member of Eccho’s sister formats alliance Sparks Network and has been a key flag bearer for Japanese formats.

Jacob Juhl, director of programs at Zodiak Media-owned Mastiff Denmark, said: “Exit is the perfect entertainment show. We are always looking for formats with the potential to be a big hit and Exit certainly has this potential. We are very optimistic that we will go into production in our territory – in fact we have already had interest from local broadcaster.”