Seven confirms Australian Spartan
Updated: TV's worst kept secret is confirmed as Seven officially locks onto athlete, obstacle series.
- Published by David Knox
- on
Seven has now confirmed rumours of Australian Spartan is on the way.
To be produced by both Matchbox Pictures and Eureka Productions, the series (known internationally as Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge) sees teams of three competing on a giant obstacle course.
Seven’s Director of Production Brad Lyons, said: “It’s no secret family entertainment is attracting big audiences and Australian Spartan will be the toughest and biggest obstacle course ever seen here. It’s so big and tough that you cannot conquer it alone and we will be pitting teams against each other. This will bring added drama as each member of the team relies on each other to make it through this beast of a course.”
Chris Oliver-Taylor, MD Matchbox and Chris Culvenor, CEO Eureka said “We are delighted to combine the talents of Matchbox Pictures and Eureka Productions to bring Australian Spartan to Channel 7. This family series will highlight the strength and stamina of some of the toughest and fittest people in the country. It’s a true test of teamwork.”
Seven has previously noted a new, undisclosed format would follow after the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge (US) currently screens on FOX8.
Applications have been extended to Oct 18 at australianspartan.com
Inspired by the global fitness phenomenon, Spartan Race, this is the world’s toughest team-based obstacle course. Impossible to complete alone, the only way to conquer it is to work together as a cohesive unit of three.
Raising the bar on team competitions, groups of friends, families and workmates must join forces to race through a specially-designed spectacular Spartan course engineered to challenge their determination, endurance and will.
Over the course of this massive television event, the extreme obstacles will escalate to truly test the most outstanding athletes in the country. In the end, only one team will triumph and rise to become the ultimate Australian Spartans.
With the second hit season of the American format currently broadcast on NBC, the popular competition has also seen a localised version commissioned in Denmark.
The format rights for Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge are held by NBCUniversal International Formats and will be distributed worldwide by NBCUniversal International Distribution.
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- Tagged with Australian Spartan, Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge
12 Responses
Seven network exec’s really thought long and hard about this one!! “What rated exceptionally at the Nine network this year”? Let just do something pretty much the same!! My god so predictable.
I agree with you on this one, 7 are so predictable when they can see other networks basking in success, they don’t like when other networks taking in glory and running away with great ratings.. I too will be passing on this one.
Matchbox have Zero experience of producing anything like this. Eureka will be doing all the heavy lifting…seems they just got lucky with NBCU being the rights holders.
Would rather watch ‘300’ again (but not the very mediocre sequel).
Will Ten revamp Its a Knockout?? LOL
I’ve liked watching it when I’ve seen it on FOX8 but I’m afraid that Seven will execute it poorly and waste a great format.
Yep. There will be too many episodes a week, and they will be too long and they’ll be too much back story, and no doubt an irritating commentator or two.
Looking forward to this one. Loved the US series.
Seven have a case of ‘our obstacle course is bigger than yours’ as well as ‘familyentertainmentitis’.
After Little Big Shots fizzling out & Cannonball crashing & burning they seem a bit desperate.
LBS is none too shabby at over 1.1m. Their top show of last week and higher than anything on TEN.
Will they add an “inspired by Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior” line in the credits? Same chance that House Rules will say “inspired by The Block” & My Kitchen Rules “inspired by Masterchef” – which is zero
Looks like I’ve missed the chance to join, or perhaps can’t be bothered!