Budiey
Set to air on Viu in late 2018; Hit global crime drama to become first Endemol Shine Group scripted content in Asia for OTT
23 April, 2018: The premium video-on-demand service Viu, by Vuclip and PCCW, is teaming up with production and distribution house Endemol Shine Group to produce a localized, ten-episode adaptation of global phenomenon The Bridge in which a body is found on the border of two countries, forcing an investigator from each country to work together to solve the case.
Viu’s strategy is to not only deliver local content, but also international content formats tailored to be locally relevant. Today’s announcement is another milestone achievement against that, taking The Bridge which is hugely popular in Europe and the US, to emerging markets.
Viu Partners With Endemol Shine Group To Bring Adaptation Of The Bridge To Emerging Markets
Kingsley Warner, Country Manager for Viu Malaysia said, “Viu previously achieved success in adapting popular entertainment to emerging markets when it brought the CBS Hollywood Squares format to audiences in India, releasing Tollywood Squares. Today’s news is in that same vein and we believe that working with Endemol Shine to tell this gripping story, while also making it uniquely our own, will captivate our viewers.”
Cathy Payne, Chief Executive of Endemol Shine International said: “Partnering with Viu is a natural fit for us, given it’s the leading OTT in Southeast Asia. We expect the premium format of The Bridge to resonate strongly in this region.”
Lars Blomgren, MD of Filmlance and creator of The Bridge said, “The Bridge is a compelling and thrilling scripted format that has a truly global appeal and significance, we are excited to see how another saga unfolds in this first adaptation for Asia.”
The series is expected to shoot in July and begin airing in Malaysia and Singapore later this year. Casting has not yet been announced. The Bridge (Bron/Broen) was originally created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt as a joint production of Sweden’s Filmlance International, part of Endemol Shine Group and Denmark’s Nimbus Film. The Bridge (Bron/Broen) was produced in co-production with Sveriges Television, DR, ZDF German Television network, ZDF Enterprises Gmbh, Film i Skåne, NRK, Copenhagen Film Fund, Lumiere Group, Stiftelsen Ystad Österlen Filmfond, with from Norvision and in co-operation with Malmö Stad.
The original has aired in more than 188 territories/countries, and spawned localized remakes in the U.K and France, the United States/Mexico, Germany/Austria and Russia/Estonia. The series offers a unique opportunity for localization, given the charged premise.
In the Viu Malaysia adaptation, a body is left on the border of Singapore and Malaysia. Two investigators, one from each country, must work together to catch a killer bent on highlighting social problems that they think are plaguing people on both sides of the border. This adaptation will take that premise and make it unique for the local audience, appealing to the diverse arrays of people, cuisines, and ethnicities that call this area home, highlighting both the diversity and similarity between the two countries. This will affect every aspect of the series, with both sides speaking local languages.
About Viu
Viu is a leading OTT Video service by PCCW and Vuclip available in 15 markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Middle East countries of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Viu’s unique value proposition of fresh and localized regional and local premium TV shows, movies and originals entertain millions of consumers every day. The service can be accessed via the Viu app available for free on the App Store and Google Play, on connected devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as on the web at www.viu.com.
About Vuclip
Vuclip is a leading global technology-driven media company delivering on demand entertainment to emerging markets including India, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. As a PCCW Media Company, Vuclip properties include Viu, Vuclip Videos, Viu Life and Vuclip Games. Vuclip’s market success in on demand entertainment is built on its leadership at the intersection of technology, consumer insights and media. Run by a world class team, Vuclip, Inc. and affiliate companies are headquartered in Milpitas, California and have a presence in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Dubai and Jakarta.
About EndemolShine
Endemol Shine Group is a global production powerhouse creating world class content for all platforms. As a producer and distributor, Endemol Shine Group works on a unique local and global axis, comprised of 120 companies across all the world’s major markets, dedicated to creating content that enthralls and inspires.
In 2017 the company’s travelling formats originated from 12 different countries across the Group, with global hits including MasterChef, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, The Money Drop, Your Face Sounds Familiar, The Brain, Hunted and The Island. Endemol Shine Group’s drama portfolio is similarly international and diverse, with acclaimed worldwide hits such as Humans, Bron, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Kingdom, Grantchester, The Fall, Spring Tide, Penoza and Broadchurch.
Endemol Shine’s content is enjoyed wherever the audience wants to watch and generates more than 2 billion monthly views online, with titles such as Mr. Bean now among the world’s most popular entertainment brands on platforms including YouTube and Facebook.
In 2017 Endemol Shine Group produced more than 800 productions, in 78 territories airing on more than 275 channels around the world.
