Munich, October 3, 2011. SevenOne International has sold the production rights to Belgian TV smash hit “Benidorm Bastards” to Australian broadcaster FOXTEL, who will premiere the Australian version titled “Off Their Rockers” in 2012. FOXTEL is Australia’s leading subscription television service and will premiere the eight episode series on The Comedy Channel early next year. The show will be produced by Granada Media Australia.
Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Television at FOXTEL said today, “FOXTEL is delighted to have secured the format rights to “Off Their Rockers” from our friends at Granada Media Australia and Seven One International. The Australian version will have all the spark and spontaneity of the original, with a distinctly “Aussie” feel. The great thing about this format is that it is truly universal. We all love a laugh and our local ‘senior citizens’ are as playful at this art form as their European counterparts. We have high hopes for the series, which will spearhead our Australian formats on FOXTEL’s Comedy Channel in 2012.”
Yan He, Regional Sales Director SevenOne International, comments: “Once again, the “Benidorm Bastards” prove their international appeal – Australia is our third major English-speaking market after the US and the UK. We are absolutely delighted and wish our partners at FOXTEL and Granada every success.’
Granada Media Australia is an ITV Studios company that has exclusive agreement with SevenOne International to represent all program format rights and co-productions in Australia and New Zealand.
BENIDORM BASTARDS (2012 Australian Premiere title “Off Their Rockers”)
The Rose d’Or winning “Benidorm Bastards” (produced by Tim van Aelst / SHELTER) is an outrageous hidden camera show that follows 7 senior citizens whose mission is to roam the streets and blow the minds of as many young people as they can. In Belgium, its country of origin, the show has exceeded the channel’s average by up to 284 percent with market shares of up to 27.9 percent (viewers 18-44). “Benidorm Bastards” has been sold to more than 20 countries, including “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” (NBC/US), “Off Their Rockers” (BBC/UK), “Les Détestables” (V-tele/Canada), “Old Ass Bastards” (ProSieben/Germany), “Pensionärsjävlar” (Kanal 5/Sweden), “Benidorm Bastards” (RTL 4/The Netherlands), “Rollator Banden” (SBS/Denmark), “Bingobanden” (TV Norge/Norway), “Batrani si Nelinistiti” (TV 2/Romania), and “JeulGeoUn In Seng” (tvN/South Korea).