With the first series yet to be aired in the Netherlands, Talpa’s new, groundbreaking talent show Avastars has already been commissioned by MBC GROUP. It’s the first pre-sale of the show, which is set to launch in the Netherlands in April 2022 on SBS6. For the Middle East, the show will be produced by Talpa’s brand-new partner, Blue Engine Studios. Avastars will air on MBC channels and its OTT platform Shahid.
On the revolutionary new talent show Avastars, two top talents - an incredible dancer and an outstanding singer - will be combined into one virtual super talent: an AvaSTAR. The singer is responsible for the singing, talking and facial expressions, and the dancer is responsible for the movements of the head and the body. Together, they perform as one - live, on stage. Thanks to the latest state-of-the-art technology, Avastars can not only sing and dance very well, but they can also do almost everything a human body can do. They can play an instrument, interact with real musicians, walk the stairs, perform a duet with a real singer or with another avastar, and so much more. The Avastar technical team is currently working on improving the Avastar’s facial expressions, enabling them to show real emotions. Avastars is produced in such a way that all technology can be packed up and ready to travel.
Talpa’s Sebastian van Barneveld, director international sales: “I am thrilled that the Middle East is the first region to embrace this innovative and groundbreaking format that we so strongly believe in”.
MBC GROUP’s Group Director of TV, Ali Jaber stated: "Here at MBC, we are always looking for innovative and groundbreaking TV formats to bring to the Middle East and North Africa [MENA] region, and Talpa’s 'Avastars' fits the bill. We look forward to working with Talpa and Blue Engine Studios on the Arab version for MBC's channels - the first format deal to be signed outside the Netherlands." The Middle Eastern and North African market consolidates 22 territories, of which some of the key media markets are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Morocco.
Avastars is produced by Talpa Entertainment Productions and distributed by Talpa Distribution.
About Talpa
John de Mol set up Talpa Network in 2017, a local Dutch media company in a response to the growing power of the international platforms. Talpa Network is a cross platform network that contains 4 free to air television stations and a video streaming platform, 4 radio stations and an
audio streaming platform, a social media network, a print business and an eCommerce platform.
Furthermore, after the sale of Talpa Media to ITV and the subsequent earn out period John set up in 2020 a new company consisting of Talpa Entertainment Productions, Talpa Concepts and Talpa Distribution as the new home for his creative development, production and international exploitation of his content. In combination with Talpa Network this is a perfect way to build and accelerate new brands to the market which creates a unique position in the Netherlands. John de Mol, former founder of Endemol and Talpa Media, is known for his creations of global block busters like Big Brother and The Voice. The Voice has won four Emmy Awards. His last company Talpa Media, founded in 2009, was sold to ITV in 2015. ITV renamed Talpa Media to ITV Studios.
For more information:
Global sales: Sebastian van Barneveld sebastian.vanbarneveld@talpanetwork.com
PR & communication: Erna Schmidt erna.schmidt@talpanetwork.com