Magnify Media’s Fittest Family heads to the Balkans

Magnify Media, the UK-based distribution and rights-management specialist, has closed its first European format deal for Kite Entertainment’s reality-fitness hit Fittest Family.

RTL Croatia has commissioned a first season of the show and has also optioned the rights to the Balkan region, including Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Macedonia.

The series length and TX date of the Croatian adaptation is still to be confirmed. The deal was brokered by Natalia Sterlikova, Magnify Media’s head of format and programme sales for CEE and CIS.

Fittest Family has also been optioned in a string of other European territories, including Spain by iZen, Sweden by Jarowskij and the Benelux by Sputnik TV. It features as one of TBI’s Hot Picks heading into NATPE Miami.

The format sees 12 mega-fit families compete in a series of physical tests and challenges to win the coveted title of ‘Fittest Family’, along with a life-changing cash prize. Four local sports legends mentor the contestants to help them achieve their personal best.

The show was originally devised and produced by James Sexton and Davy Fitzgerald in association with Ireland’s Kite Entertainment and Animo TV for RTÉ One, where it finished its sixth season in December.

Ana Bižić, channel manager of RTL, said: “RTL Croatia is pleased to announce the purchase of the production and broadcast rights for Irish format Fittest Family. RTL always tends to be one step ahead and to follow trends. We are happy to announce that the show will be done in a co-production with Slovenian Planet TV with which we are looking forward to working with.”

Andrea Jackson, CEO of Magnify Media, said: “Fittest Family is an original idea from Ireland that has been sold to Chile and Croatia, and been optioned across Western Europe and the Balkans — what better proof could there be that this is a show with truly universal appeal? And it’s not just great family-event TV: Fittest Family also encourages health and fitness, promotes positive family dynamics and offers a plethora of licensing and merchandising spin-offs. It’s difficult to think of a more appealing proposition for any platform, from public-service broadcasters to large commercial networks.”