ITV

Tag: Something Special

  • Korean TV format powerhouse plants flag in India with two ambitious deals

    Korean TV format powerhouse plants flag in India with two ambitious deals

    CANNES: Seoul’s Something Special has cracked India’s booming television market with a one-two punch, licensing two Korean formats to Karman Unlimited that promise to deliver both tears and laughter to subcontinental audiences. The Seoul-based agency announced the deals at Mipcom, the world’s largest television content marketplace held this month in Cannes.

    First up is Unforgettable Duet, a heart-wrenching unscripted series that reunites dementia patients with their pasts through music and memory. Families curate mementos and a cherished song, which are then loaded onto a Memory Bus that triggers long-buried recollections. The finale sees the patient perform an emotional duet with a family member, crowned by a tribute song from a professional artist. It is therapeutic television at its most potent.

    Then there is Hit & Miss Tour, a raucous comedy show featuring five long-time comedian friends competing in six to eight daily mini-challenges across tourist destinations. With over 210 games in the bank and sponsorship from tourism boards across Turkey and Greece, the format has proved a ratings winner on Channel S in South Korea.

    Something Special president and executive producer Jin Woo Hwang sees the deals as validation of the company’s mission to export Korean creative firepower globally. Karman Unlimited founder & chief executive Sunita Uchil —who previously held sway at Zee TV International—is equally bullish, predicting that Unforgettable Duet will strike a chord with Indian families whilst Hit & Miss Tour delivers the laughs the country desperately needs. Two formats, two markets, infinite possibilities.

  • Yiota Pagoulatos takes charge of communications at International Emmy Awards

    Yiota Pagoulatos takes charge of communications at International Emmy Awards

    NEW YORK: Yiota Pagoulatos has been appointed director of communications and partnerships at the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the body that runs the International Emmy Awards. She  took up the role in New York this month.

    The move caps eight years running Pink Orchid International, her boutique consultancy advising global media and entertainment firms on executive messaging, thought leadership and visibility. Her clients ranged from China’s CCTV and India’s DocuBay to Korea’s Something Special and the Mongolian National Film Council. She also fronted campaigns and partnerships at global markets including Mipcom Cannes, Banff, ATF Singapore and the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film.

    Earlier, Pagoulatos spent nine years at Reed Midem, rising from coordinator to sales director. She handled sponsorships and content launches for clients including Lionsgate, DreamWorks, MGM, Miramax and Starz, managing multimillion-euro accounts and delivering high-profile premieres such as Power and The Book of Negroes.

    Her new brief at the Academy brings her back to the heart of international television, with a focus on growing the Emmys’ global partnerships and communications footprint.

  • TF1 picks up Korean formats Still Alive and The Penthouse Game for France

    TF1 picks up Korean formats Still Alive and The Penthouse Game for France

    MUMBNAI: From cryptic mansions to cash-fuelled elevators, two of Korea’s most bonkers reality shows are packing their passports and heading to France. Something Special, the Seoul-based format agency known for its boundary-pushing unscripted content, has struck a double-format deal with Studio TF1 via Flanagan Productions, licensing two of its hit Korean shows Still Alive and The Penthouse Game for French adaptation.

    It’s a spooky-meets-spendy combo: Still Alive is a clue-hunting, rule-breaking game show set in a mysterious mansion where contestants must stay sharp or face mysterious, instant elimination. With hidden rules, 24-hour gameplay, and comedic curveballs, the show blends suspense with laughs, and has already been picked up in 14 territories, including Germany, Italy, and across the Nordics.

    Meanwhile, The Penthouse Game trades ghosts for gold. In this high-stakes, hierarchy-driven format, financially struggling contestants fight for dominance both literal and metaphorical as they ascend (or descend) a vertical playing field controlled by a central elevator. With gold tokens, food rations, and three hosts acting as agents of power, it’s part Monopoly, part Squid Game, part social experiment.

    Both formats were snapped up by Flanagan Productions, one of Studio TF1’s flagship labels, known for adapting edgy international hits for prime-time French TV.

    “We’re thrilled to bring these high-concept Korean formats to France,” said Flanagan head Florence Boudaud. “They’re bold, unexpected, and packed with creative storytelling exactly what today’s audiences are craving.”

    For Something Special, co-founders Jin Woo Hwang and Insoon Kim see this as further proof that Korea’s wildly inventive reality concepts are more than just fleeting trends, they’re becoming global go-tos for fresh unscripted content.

    “Our motto is simple create and connect,” said Kim. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing with formats like Still Alive and The Penthouse Game.”

    With the global appetite for Korean storytelling at an all-time high, these two eccentric, high-drama formats are ready to give French audiences a taste of K-reality with a side of chaos.

  • Something Special welcomes Jacob Han as head of productions, set to lead Unforgettable Duet series

    Something Special welcomes Jacob Han as head of productions, set to lead Unforgettable Duet series

    MUMBAI:  Something Special, the Seoul-based format powerhouse co-founded by Jin Woo Wang and InSoon Kim, has announced the appointment of Jacob (Jongbin) Han as its new head of productions. Han, a seasoned producer with a 12-year track record, is set to lead the full series production of Unforgettable Duet, a poignant and heartwarming show commissioned by MBN, with backing from the KOCCA Fund.

    Han, a former senior producer at MBC, brings a wealth of experience to Something Special, having been recognised as the Korean Producer Association’s best TV producer of the year in 2021. His career highlights include winning the best programme award from the Korea Communications Agency in 2020 for Mystery TV: Surprise and a best programme award at MBC in 2018. Before joining Something Special, Han led content operations at uhomes.com in the UK, overseeing social media content for five Asian markets.

    Unforgettable Duet is a deeply emotional unscripted series where dementia patients are reconnected with cherished memories through mementos and a powerful duet performance with a family member. The series, which was one of the highest-rated specials last year, returns this summer under Han’s direction.

    Hwang and Kim expressed their excitement, stating, “Something Special are pleased to celebrate our sixth year in business with Jacob Han as our new head of productions who will oversee several of our projects, starting with the wonderful Unforgettable Duet this summer. His vast international production experience, along with our recent investment will help propel Something Special to the next level.”

    Han echoed their sentiments, saying, “I am thrilled to join Jin, InSoon and the entire Something Special team as head of productions. Something Special has been a leader of Korean formats, breaking new ground by taking our formats onto the world stage. As my first project, I am honored to produce the full season of  Unforgettable Duet which was one of the highest rated specials last year.”

  • South Korean format factory Something Special gets cash injection

    South Korean format factory Something Special gets cash injection

    MUMBAI: Seoul-based format agency Something Special has secured a financial booster shot from two South Korean investment heavyweights, Daekyo Investment and SB Partners, to fuel its global expansion ambitions.
    The deal, whose financial particulars remain under wraps, sees Daekyo providing the lion’s share of capital with SB Partners chipping in supporting funds. The cash injection comes as Something Special celebrates its fifth birthday, giving it ample ammunition for its next growth phase.

    The format agency, helmed by president and executive producer Jin Woo Hwang and executive VP and head of content InSoon Kim, has already made significant inroads in the global format marketplace. Its smash hit Battle in the Box  has been snapped up in 23 territories, while Still Alive has found homes in 11 markets.

    Its  latest offering, Unforgettable Duet—a heartstring-tugging format featuring dementia patients reconnecting with memories through beloved songs—debuted on MBN as one of 2024’s highest-rated unscripted launches. The show has since secured a full ten-episode commission for 2025 and caught the fancy of Helium Pictures, which optioned it for Australia and New Zealand in December 2024.

    Daekyo Investment, which manages the Daekyo K-Contents Scale Up Fund targeting small and medium-sized venture companies in Korea’s cultural content sector, seems pleased with its new portfolio addition. The firm’s executive director Roh Jai Seung gushed: “Something Special has proven itself to be a globally known and highly respected content company. They are shining a light on the best of Korean creativity to the world.”

    Hwang and Kim responded: “We are honoured that Daekyo Investment and SB Partners recognise Something Special’s vision and potential. As the leading independent Korean agency representing A-list producers and formats worldwide, we remain committed to our motto: We connect and create.”

    The Seoul outfit also represents the white-hot format The Traitors in Korea and boasts partnerships with format behemoths including FremantleMedia, Banijay, ITV UK, UKTV and Warner Brothers International Television.

  • Something Special announces five new formats for Mipcom

    Something Special announces five new formats for Mipcom

    Mumbai: Something Special’s president Jin Woo Hwang has announced the company’s new slate for Mipcom, featuring five formats: Unforgettable Duet, a series about music, family, and memories; Penthouse Game, a reality game show for individuals facing financial challenges; Hit-and-Miss Tour, a celebrity comedian travel show; I Am Single, Korea’s top-rated dating reality show; and the company’s first scripted drama, Who is She! They will also highlight the celebrity game show Battle in the Box. Something Special will be at the KOCCA pavilion (R7.E1, R7.E2) and present at KOCCA’s showcase on 22 Oct at 3:30 pm in Auditorium K.

    Unforgettable Duet: This emotional unscripted series follows dementia patients whose families collect mementos and a favorite song to help them recall lost memories. Participants travel on a “Memory Bus” filled with personal items, triggering forgotten life moments. The journey culminates in a studio duet performance by the patient and a family member, followed by a tribute from a popular singer. Created by Eun-seol Mo (Culinary Class War) and co-produced with Studio Rudolph.

    Penthouse Game: An experimental reality game show where contestants facing financial challenges compete for a cash prize. They use gold tokens to move around a penthouse with an elevator at the center. The show features three hosts with key roles. Originally aired on Channel A and local streamer WAVVE.

    Hit-and-Miss Tour: A comedy travel show featuring five comedians who’ve been friends for 20 years. They take on six to eight mini-challenges per day, with the loser footing the bill. The format has completed over 210 mini-games and is sponsored by tourism boards like those of Turkey and Greece. It was the top-rated show on Channel S (owned by SK Telecom) and produced by Media S.

    I Am Single: A hyper-realistic dating reality show where 12 singles seeking marriage spend six days together to find their partner. Participants use nicknames and cannot reveal their real identities during their stay. The show is a top-rated dating series in Korea, airing on ENA and SBS Plus, and streaming on five platforms. Created by Chonjang Entertainment.

    Who is She!: A scripted drama adaptation of the hit film Miss Granny, about a 70-year-old woman who is magically transformed into her 20-year-old self after having her picture taken. With a second chance at youth, she pursues her dream of becoming a singer. Produced by Studio V+ and Idea Factory, the series will premiere on KBS2 in December 2024.

    Battle in the Box: A celebrity game show where two teams live in an empty box divided by a movable wall, armed only with a toothbrush for 24 hours. Teams win more space and luxuries by completing challenges, but as one team gains space, the other loses it. Interstellar recently acquired the US rights, after producing the U.K. version hosted by Jimmy Carr on U&Dave TV. Created by Nmedia, the show originally aired on MBN in Korea.

    Hwang stated: “Something Special is honored to bring the very special Unforgettable Duet format which premiered in Korea last month on MBN in primetime and was the number one show on the channel that night; as well as two fun formats are The Penthouse Game, and celebrity comedian travel format Hit or Miss. We also will present our first scripted drama format Timeless Time and our popular, hilarious, and precarious celebrity format, Battle in the Box which premiered this past July in the UK on BBC’s U&Dave TV and is now optioned in the US by Interstellar, producer of the UK version. Our Korean formats are ready to hit the rest of the world.”

  • Something Special licenses Battle in the Box’s US rights to UK’s Interstellar

    Something Special licenses Battle in the Box’s US rights to UK’s Interstellar

    Mumbai: Seoul-based international format agency Something Special’s president Jin Woo Hwang announced that they licensed the US rights for ‘Battle in the Box’ to UK production company, Interstellar. Interstellar produced the UK version which aired this past summer with host-comedian Jimmy Carr on U&Dave TV (owned by UKTV, a subsidiary of BBC). The show was created by Nmedia and is globally represented by Something Special. It originally aired in South Korea on MBN with top ratings.

    The program is about two celebrity teams who enter an empty box divided by a movable wall armed only with a toothbrush to live with for 24 hours. Teams earn space and luxuries by conquering physical and mental challenges. Victory expands their living area, but more room for one team means less for the other. With challenges occurring around the clock, the celebrities must be strategic to secure their space.

    Hwang stated: “Something Special is thrilled how Battle in the Box was received in the U.K. and now has an opportunity to go to the U.S. This unique game show format, created by their partner Nmedia, launched in S. Korea on MBN and was a major hit. Take two pairs of celebrities and put them in an expandable box for 24 hours, what could go wrong? We love working with Interstellar and look forward to even more versions of Battle in the Box.”

    Interstellar MD David Williams stated: “Bringing the brilliant Battle in the Box to U&Dave in the UK has been an absolute joy. We cannot wait to take everything we’ve learned about this groundbreaking reality and gameshow format and apply it to a host of new famous faces in the US. American celebrities beware, the Box is coming for you!”

  • Korea’s Something Special wins two KOCCA funds

    Korea’s Something Special wins two KOCCA funds

    Mumbai: Seoul-based independent international format agency – Something Special’s EVP – head of content InSoon Kim, has announced the company won two KOCCA annual funds and accepted both the Format lab (five years in a row) and the pilot fund. KOCCA allows for a max of two funds per year for one company.

    For the Format Lab, Something Special selected four teams of established Korean producers such as: Sook-kyung Kang, original creator of Physical 100, and Hyunsook Ji, original creator of Singles Inferno, to work with Something Special’s own award-winning format producers. The producers will develop original Korean IP made for international format distribution. Something Special’s company mandate is to help Korean content make its way into the global marketplace. Over the past four years, successful formats such as spooky reality game show Still Alive and play-along-able music gameshow The Beatbox came from the Format Lab and have been optioned in Germany, Spain, and more.

    Something Special has achieved another milestone by winning the format production fund. The production is set to produce a pilot with a top-tier Korean creative and production company soon.

    And the UK version of Battle in the Box is scheduled to air on 16 and 17 July with host, popular comedian Jimmy Carr, produced by Interstellar for UKTV and channel U & Dave. The show, originally created by Nmedia and represented by Something Special, aired in South Korea on MBN with top ratings.      

    Still Alive: A reality gameshow format where ten contestants find clues and complete in challenges within a mysterious mansion and try to remain until the end.  

    Battle in the Box: Gameshow showcasing two celebrity teams who live in an empty box divided by a movable wall armed and compete for food and household items.

    Kim stated: “Something Special is pleased to be selected for the prestigious KOCCA funds — for five years in a row, which demonstrates the strength of our company. Since Something Special’s inception five years ago we continue to pride ourselves on working with top producers to develop original Korean format content that can travel around the world. Stay tuned for announcements on some great formats in the coming months!”

  • Something Special & TAICCA partner to co-develop and co-produce new unscripted IP

    Something Special & TAICCA partner to co-develop and co-produce new unscripted IP

    Mumbai: Something Special, Seoul-based number one independent* international format agency, and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) are excited to announce a dynamic partnership to co-develop and co-produce new unscripted intellectual properties (IP) over the next two years. This collaboration is set to begin by the end of June 2024.

    This strategic partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 17 June 2024, during the LEAP co-development event in Seoul. This event was a result of a collaboration between TAICCA, Something Special, and AR Asia Productions (previously announced), aimed at enhancing Taiwanese unscripted creativity by mentoring Taiwanese producers and further developing their ideas.

    Under the terms of the MOU, Something Special and TAICCA will engage in discussions to develop Something Special’s own original paper formats IP for Taiwanese productions. The collaboration will explore diverse co-production opportunities, including working with Taiwanese producers and production companies, engaging Taiwanese celebrities and non-celebrities, and producing shows in Taiwan.

    TAICCA chairperson Homme Tsai stated: “Korean variety shows continuously innovate, providing fresh experiences. Their diverse content captures global attention and resonates with audiences. Taiwan also boasts its unique culture and creative talent. Through this collaboration, we hope to enhance the cultural and technical exchange between Taiwan and Korea. We are excited for more international audiences to discover Taiwan through audiovisual content, and to see more Taiwan-specific content shine on the international stage.”

    Something Special president & EP Jin Woo Hwang stated: “We are pleased to announce this collaboration with TAICCA, with our experiences working with government agencies and international partners, we are more than happy to take part in building the next step of Asian original content.”

  • Something Special acquires international format licensing rights of The Penthouse Game

    Something Special acquires international format licensing rights of The Penthouse Game

    Mumbai: Something Special, Seoul-based #1 independent* international format agency, announced they acquired international licensing rights for the experimental reality game show The Penthouse Game which aired on July 2022 on Channel A and local streamer WAVVE. This show will be available for buyers to review at the LA Screenings Independent.

    The Penthouse Game

    This brand-new experimental reality game show features individuals going through financial difficulties and competing for a cash prize. This thrilling competition features challenges to determine who will occupy the ultimate power of the penthouse. The players will utilize the gold tokens and move around using the elevator in the middle. There will be three hosts who will play different key roles in the show.

    Something Special president & executive producer Jin Woo Hwang stated: “Something Special is pleased to announce acquisitions for international licensing. We are honored that producers come to Something Special to take their shows out of Korea. The Penthouse Game is already gaining traction in Korea and in select markets, and both are set to be audience favorites.”