BBC Worldwide in NHK, ZDF copros

BBC Worldwide is to coproduce a natural history series with Japan’s NHK, and is creating a game show format with Germany’s ZDF.

The Japanese coproduction is Wild Japan, a three-part series that will look at wildlife in untamed areas of the Asian territory.

It will be largely shot in 4K, with the BBC’s Natural History Unit producing alongside NHK. Leading production are NHK Enterprises executive producer Tomonori Take and BBC NHU series producer Mary Summerill.

Wild Japan will air globally in 2015 and 2016.

The news comes as BBCWW revealed Germany’s ZDF had commissioned game show One in a Thousand. BBCWW co-developed the series with ZDF and Tower Productions, the prodco joint venture the former runs with All3Media Germany.

ZDF Entertainment will further develop the format in collaboration with Tower ahead of a spring 2015 debut.

The format sees 1,000 competitors competing over 10 knock out rounds that test their mental, physical and emotional abilities in order to win cash prizes.

BBCWW has international format rights and will launch it next year.