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HITS Daily Double
“[The new show is] “a 75% a singing contest and for 25% a game show, which makes it a completely new combination of two highly appreciated TV genres."
——John de Mol

UMG DEEPENS IMMERSION INTO TV WITH NEW FORMAT

Grainge and Hole Hook Up With The Voice Creator on Game Show/Talent Show Hybrid
Ready for the next chapter in the intensifying romance between music and TV?

UMG has teamed with John de Mol, creator of Big Brother and The Voice, in the launch of what de Mol claims is the first ever game show/talent show hybrid, the Guardian reports. The Dutch media tycoon’s company Talpa Media has signed a global recording and artist services deal for the new show, The Winner Is…, and de Mol is said to be in early discussions with U.K. broadcasters over selling the format.

The weekly, 90-minute TV series will feature a number of singers competing in various "duels," which are judged by a panel of 100 people and one well-known expert. As each contestant wins a round, he or she accumulates cash, which grows after each round. But contestants can also negotiate with each other to decide who goes through to the next round—they can take the money or continue in the contest if they are confident in their abilities.

Once the field is narrowed to two performers, each gets a suitcase filled with £100,000 in cash which they can keep if they step away from the contest. Or they can try and win the contest and the £1m prize.

De Mol describes the new format as "75% a singing contest and for 25% a game show, which makes it a completely new combination of two highly appreciated TV genres."

UMG International COO Max Hole told the Guardian that his company's artist development skills made him confident the show would become a "worldwide success."

Said Lucian Grainge: "UMG is about breaking and nurturing new artists and their music. Our partnership with John and his team has provided the right combination of innovation, platform and talent to do just that in dynamic new way."