FREMANTLE 'ACQUIRE MUSIC GAMESHOW' DNA SINGER FROM KOREA

Production company Fremantle has announced the acquisition of music gameshow format DNA Singer from Korea. The format is created by FormatEast and creator Kyung Hwangbo for SBS.

In the series, family members who share DNA with celebrities become the 'DNA Singers' and perform, while the judges have to guess which celebrities they are genetically related to.

IlJoong-Kim, Executive Director of FormatEast, said: "It is by no means easy to sell a paper format, before the initial proposal has aired. But recently as the preference for Korean content has amplified interest in our shows...

"We are seeing a trend for major players in the global entertainment industry to acquire our formats in advance to stay ahead of the game. We believe Fremantle is the perfect partner to be working with on DNA Singer."

Vasha Wallace, EVP of Global Acquisitions and Development at Fremantle said: "DNA Singer is just the kind of family guessing gameshow that we know audiences are responding really well to around the world. The guessing element has proved to be hugely compelling with the all important play along factor – only now it has a really unique twist like never seen before...

"Who are the these singers related to? We already have extensive interest from our producers around the world.. This innovative show from FormatEast and Kyung Hwangbo will be a welcome addition to the Fremantle line up and we look forward to launching it around the world."

DNA Singer will premiere during the lunar new year holiday in February on SBS. Fremantle has recently produced local versions of Korean formats such as The Masked Singer and I Can See Your Voice.