EXCLUSIVE: Iconic Japanese gameshow Action Arena is being taken to international buyers for the first time in its plus-30-year history.
NBCUniversal Formats has acquired distribution rights to the hit Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) show, which sees contestants and celebrities take on a series of entertaining physical and mental challenges designed to test their wits, teamwork and reflexes. The news comes with MIPCOM kicking off in a few days, where NBCUniversal Formats will feature Action Arena in its catalog.
Action Arena premiered in 1994 and aired more than 800 episodes and specials across a 17-year run, during which it was consistently one of the most-watched shows in its time slot.
More than 15 years after the regular series concluded, Action Arena‘s games continue to entertain audiences. Since 2024, for example, Tokyo Friend Park has been revived through specials with J-pop group Snow Man’s hit variety show Sore Snow Man ni Yarasete Kudasai.
Japanese format creators have brought the likes of Ninja Warrior and LOL: Last One Laughing to the world, with the latter currently performing well for Prime Video in multiple territories.
The acquisition follows NBCUniversal Formats picking up format rights to Korea’s Unboxing the Flavours, owned by DI Turn Co. Ltd and Phileas Productions S.L.
Linfield Ng, NBCUniversal Formats’ VP, Format Sales and Production, said: “Action Arena has an incredible legacy in Japan, and we’re excited to be working with TBS to introduce the format to the international market for the first time. Its mix of big, visual games, humour and teamwork makes it fun, instantly accessible and highly adaptable for audiences around the world.”
