Report from Paris Unscripted Showcase: formats take center stage

ARCHIVES : Articles by Marie-Agnès Bruneau Published in the International Press

Published in REALSCREEN, May 2, 2025

French unscripted programming basked in the spotlight over the course of the past week, courtesy of the first edition of the Paris Unscripted Showcase.

Taking place from April 28-30 at the Sofitel Hotel near the Champs Elysées, with screenings hosted in the auditorium of Mediawan’s Paris offices, the event saw 15 companies presenting their latest creations, with several of the major French broadcasters attending and associated with the event, including TF1, which hosted the opening cocktail party.

Like the successful London TV Screenings, the Paris Unscripted Showcase is the brainchild of several French producers and distributors. Participating companies included Mediawan, Satisfaction, France TV Distribution, 2P2L, Can’t Stop Media, Dreamspark, Effervescence, M6 Formats, Tooco, Webedia and WeMake. Other international companies, including Dori Media, Fremantle, Global Agency, Keshet International, Rabbit Films and Sony Pictures, also came on board to have a presence at the inaugural event.

According to Anne Cohen Scali, COO of Satisfaction Group, the event drew nearly 200 people. “We weren’t hoping for that many, we thought maybe [we’d have] 40!,” she said.

“What’s great is that they came from a variety of countries, ranging from Spain and Germany to Turkey, Romania, the Ivory Coast, Israel, Australia… For a first edition, we are very happy.”

The idea for the event grew out of the perception that unscripted content was underserved on the French entertainment conference calendar. “Unscripted is a genre requiring a specific development process,” Scali told Realscreen. “It also happens that it has been gaining more airtime and strategic strands lately in France. We wanted to give French formats better exposure.”

The demise of MIPTV also highlighted the need for a dedicated event in the spring, both for local companies and international firms.

“The market is changing,” said Nadav Palti, CEO & president of Dori Media, one of the international companies hosting a presentation. “MIPTV is missing. Everybody’s looking to lower costs. There is the new MIP London in February — it wasn’t bad for us, but it’s a bit too focused on drama.”

Game shows gain traction

In France, there have been significant developments in the unscripted area of late. Most notably, primetime game shows are enjoying significant momentum. France 2 managed to boost its Saturday primetime viewing figures with the introduction of the French adaptation of The 1% Club two years ago, followed by The Floorlast year, with both shows attracting nearly 3 million viewers this season.

Even more spectacular was the reboot of a former TF1 game show, Let’s Make a Deal (Le Bigdil), which has propelled the small DTT channel RMC Story to the level of major broadcasters, reaching over 1 million viewers.

“Game shows is a genre that continues to bring millions of linear viewers together,” said Matthieu Porte, co-founder of Can’t Stop Media, which distributes the U.S. format abroad. The indie distributor has also recently picked up international distribution of France 2’s long-running flagship lunchtime quiz show Hold on to Your Seat (produced by Paris-based prodco Effervescence), which is currently enjoying improved ratings.

For its part, France TV Distribution reported renewed international interest in its classic game show Letters and Numbers (Countdown in the UK), following RTVE’s revamped adaptation featuring YouTube influencers.

“Game shows perform better on linear television, whereas reality shows are the dominant format on streaming,” TF1 EVP of content development Julien Degroote told Realscreen. “Our strategy is to remain balanced and have a diverse offering.”

Broadcasters placing their bets on original formats

In terms of formats, French broadcasters, which have traditionally been more inclined towards adapting foreign hits, are also currently giving more chances to French original creations.

Degroote said TF1 intends to commission a second season of Fremantle France’s primetime reality mystery show Master of the Game, based on its strong performance on digital. The channel also renewed the primetime game show 1 to 10, starring TV presenter Arthur Essebag and produced by his company Satisfaction, and has commissioned two new formats from the prodco. Both are board-game adaptations: Focus and Sea Battle, a.k.a Battleship (the latter a coproduction with Dreamspark, who acquired the rights). Regarding unscripted acquisitions, the channel recently picked up reality competition The Box from Seefood and TVR2 Norway.

France Télévisions is also giving more airtime to French creations. Mediawan revealed during the Paris Unscripted Showcase that it has commissioned the new game show That’s My Chair, which it will co-distribute.

Timed in conjunction with the Showcase, the pubcaster launched a call for original game-show and light factual projects from those in the creator space.

Mediawan, meanwhile, announced the second-season renewal from Canal+ of its sportscaster contest Hit the Mic. The pay-TV channel is also further exploring unscripted, particularly entertainment formats.

Bringing the buzz

Other new game shows and formats generating buzz at the Showcase included Dori Media’s The Auction, which has been commissioned for 30 episodes by Peru’s América Television. Global Agency, meanwhile, was promoting its guessing-game format, Match the Family.

The heartwarming hit The A Talks, appearing in some territories as The Assembly (pictured), is continuing to conquer more channels (including ITV in the UK), and will soon be hitting Canada and Ireland. Distributed by Can’t Stop Media, the series — adapted from the original French format Les rencontres du Papotin, created by Quad+Ten and Kiosco TV for France 2 — features celebrities and top public figures interviewed by reporters who are autistic, neurodivergent or have other types of learning disabilities.

Adventure and grittier formats were also on display at the Showcase. Effervescence shared news about a castle-set adventure-game project, Iron Mask, which it co-developed with a German partner.

European digital and TV player Webedia, meanwhile, is developing an elaborate urban competition, 12 Columns, with streaming platforms in mind. The group is also looking to develop formats that can bring digital creators to TV, such as Perfect Hell, a factual project that explores dangerous places and features two popular Spanish travel creators. “The two worlds need to exist together,” said Webedia Spain’s head of strategy and creative, Gonzalo Pastor. “This is happening in Spain already.”

Overall, the first edition of the Paris Unscripted Showcase marked a promising start for the event, and a much-needed opportunity for connection. “People in the format industry have a strong sense of community, with specific needs and shared codes,” offered Fox Entertainment Global SVP of global formats Nathalie Wogue, who made the trip from L.A. Perhaps next year, even more international executives will follow suit.