Primitives, the Belgium-headquartered TV formats distributor, has secured the first international format sale for First Choice, a Belgian political format created by De Mensen for public broadcaster VRT. Slovakia’s STVR will launch a five-part adaptation of the series on October 29, marking the broadcaster’s second format deal with Primitives in less than three months.
The agreement follows STVR’s decision in August to renew travel-entertainment format On the Right Track for a second season, after a successful first local run.
Putting Young Voters at the Centre of Political Debate
Originally launched on VRT 1 as Eerst Keus in May 2024, First Choice attracted large audiences in Belgium and sparked nationwide debate ahead of the country’s regional and federal elections.
The Primitives’ format puts first-time voters in control of political discussions. Across five episodes, 150 students aged 16 to 22 question politicians directly about issues affecting their lives and futures. Bringing together young people from different schools, backgrounds and perspectives, the series combines civic debate with entertainment.
Each episode explores the students’ lives, ambitions and concerns, while a political journalist tests their knowledge of the electoral landscape. The episode culminates in a discussion with three politicians, who must respond to the questions, hopes and concerns of a new generation of voters.
The result is a format designed to encourage young people to participate in political debate while giving audiences a closer look at the issues shaping their perspectives.
“We are very happy to bring this kind of format to our viewers. We wanted to create a space in which young people will not only be an audience, but active participants in the discussion. The goal of First Choice is not to tell high school students what to think, but to give them a chance to say what they think and how they perceive the world themselves,” said Peter Begányi, manager of Slovak Television.
Primitives Highlights the Format’s Relevance
Emma Gosling, Sales & Acquisition Manager at Primitives, welcomed the deal, emphasizing the role broadcasters can play in encouraging political engagement and giving younger audiences a voice.
“With democracy under threat and political views becoming increasingly polarised, we’re delighted that STVR has commissioned a first season of First Choice. Broadcasters have an important role to play in helping audiences engage with politics and feel that their voices are being heard.
“What we love about First Choice is that it doesn’t preach about democracy, it puts young people right at the heart of it. The format asks politicians the questions that matter to young people, giving them nowhere to hide and audiences the chance to hear their answers first-hand. It’s about giving young people a voice, encouraging them to engage with politics and, importantly, helping us all better understand and respect different points of view.”
