Sat.1 readies German Gogglebox, RTL preps rival

Germany’s Sat.1 has ordered a local version of hit reality format Gogglebox as rival free-to-air broadcaster RTL has unveiled another people-watching-television format, Sofa Stars.

Gogglebox hails from All3Media-backed production company Studio Lambert and has been popular on Channel 4 in the UK.

News of a German deal came out at MIPCOM. TBI now understands the local broadcaster is Sat.1 and the local version will be called Wohnzimmerhelden – So Schaut Deutschland (Living Room Heroes – This is What Germany Watches).

All3Media International distributes the format and struck the Sat.1 deal. It has also sold it to Foxtel in Australia, among other international broadcasters.

In the show, members of the public are filmed reacting to the week’s TV highlights. Four seasons of the show have gone out on Channel 4 in the UK.

RTL has greenlit a format in a similar space, Sofa Stars. In the show, ten families watch and react to RTL shows.

Sofa Stars will go out at the start of January on RTL and Sat.1 has expedited production of its version of Gogglebox in order to put out a two-episode special ahead of the rival show.

The local Gogglebox will now go out next Tuesday (December 16) in a 10.30pm slot, with a second installment following a week later. Each installment will run to an hour.