Pluto TV and BBC Studios Partner to Launch Top Gear FAST Channel in Five European Markets

Pluto TV and BBC Studios today announced the further roll-out of the Top Gear FAST channel on Pluto TV in the EMEA region. Also today, it was announced that BBC Studios and Nippon TV are partnering to develop a new comedy game show.

Already available on Pluto TV in Europe (Spain, Nordics) as well as in North America (US and Canada) the Top Gear FAST channel has now joined the Pluto TV line-up in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy.

In the German-speaking territories, the channel showcases seasons 5 to 14 and 23 to 26, the Top Gear FAST channel in France offers seasons 9 to 27 whilst the Italian Top Gear channel includes seasons 2 to 25. All channels will be available with local language dubbing.

The Top Gear FAST channel serves as the ultimate destination for car enthusiasts who appreciate British humour, top-notch production values, adrenaline-fueled journeys and of course, enigmatic racing driver, The Stig.

Top Gear channels launched on Pluto TV in France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, on 13^th of October 2023 and joined the BBC Studios existing portfolio of FAST channels: Doctor Who in Spain, Italy, France and Germany, BBC Drama in Spain, Italy and France, as well as BBC Food, BBC Travel and BBC History in Germany. 

In the EMEA region, Top Gear FAST channel is also available in Spain on Samsung TV+ and Rakuten TV, and in the Middle East on MBC.

BBC Studios Another Anouncement: Co-Development Pact with Nippon TV

BBC Studios and Nippon TV, Japan’s leading media and entertainment company, today announced they have partnered to co-develop a new comedy gameshow format Koso Koso.

BBC Studios will act as distributor for the format globally, with Nippon TV leading distribution in Asia. The format launches to international customers at BBC Studios Showcase in February 2024.

The new format is the result of a co-development partnership between the two companies and Asia-based content incubator Empire of Arkadia (EOA).

The comedy gameshow format, Koso Koso sees celebrity secret agents prank unsuspecting contestants to win them a cash prize. The contestants think they are in a reality show, unaware of the secret squad of celebrity agents constantly observing their every move. These undercover agents must skilfully complete ridiculous missions without arousing suspicion to win cash for the clueless contestants. Once the missions conclude, the biggest secret is revealed: contestants find out about the gameshow they never knew they were playing and face a final challenge to win the cash prize. With laugh-out-loud missions and big reveals, this unique family gameshow is defined by its surreal, shareable content.

The pilot aired in Japan in June 2023 on Nippon TV’s flagship commercial broadcast network and achieved a strong 24.9% viewership share (within the 13-49 demographic).

The agreement builds on the established relationship between the BBC Studios International Production and Formats team and Nippon TV. Earlier this year BBC Studios licenced the Doctor Foster format to Nippon TV. The local version premiered on Nippon TV’s new Friday night drama slot targeted at young female audiences, as well as streamed on SVOD and AVOD.