While in India, channels seem to be on the lookout for the next Kaun Banega Crorepati(the licenced version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire), here's an Asian show format that's being exported globally. Everyone Wins, a show created by Singapore-based media baron Robert Chua, is being pushed into global markets outside Asia by UK distributor Action Time. Chua is slated to promote the product at MIPTV 2002 (Cannes, 15 to 19 April).
The founder & chairman of China Entertainment Television, created the show under his own banner Robert Chua Productions. Everyone Wins is slated to make its debut very soon on Singapore's MediaWorks channel.
In Everyone Wins contestants scores are kept secret but if opponents can see through each others bluff they can swap scores. The quicker the answer, the higher the score. The winner with the highest score goes home with US$ 130,000; in the process viewers can also pocket cash by matching a lucky number made of the last digit of each contestants score with anything from their credit card to their license plates numbers. This feature makes the quiz a highly interactive property allowing for viewer participation without the need of set-top boxes.
The format was originally produced by Chuas 28-year old production company Robert Chua Production House. Everyone Wins will air within weeks in Singapore where Chua has signed a production agreement with MediaWorks, and in July on Hong Kongs TVB. Production negotiations are currently under way in Thailand, Malaysia and China, a company release says.
Chua was trained a television producer in Australia in the early 60s and has been a leading figure in the Asian television industry for nearly 40 years. In 1967, he created TVBs Enjoy Yourself Tonight variety show which was televised live nightly and broadcast for almost 30 years.
Chuas company, Robert Chua Production House pioneered the first privately owned satellite TV channel China Entertainment Television Broadcast (CETV) in 1994. It was also the first media company in the world to establish official working relations within China in 1979.
