New Dragons’ Den remakes in Europe, Africa

Broadcasters in Sweden, Portugal and South Africa are launching their own versions of the Sony-distributed business formats Dragons’ Den.

In Sweden, Viasat-owned TV8 has ordered a 10-part run that will be known locally as Draknästet, with ITV Studios Nordic producing.

In Portugal, Take & Sound Productions is producing a local run for commercial broadcaster SIC for 2015, while M-Net-owned South African cable channel Mzansi Magic has commissioned local prodco Rapid Blue to make a 12-episode show. The latter version launches this month.

This comes after Network Ten in Australia announced it had commissioned Shine Australia to create a local version of Shark Tank, ABC’s US take (pictured) on the Japanese format, which NTV first conceived.

”Dragons’ Den continues to strike a chord with audiences around the globe and has become a firm family favourite in many countries,” said Sony Pictures Television’s senior VP, formats, international distribution Jane Dockery.

“We now have close to 30 adaptations for the show worldwide. It remains one of the world’s most successful business shows and we’re already in talks with several other new territories.”

The format sees cash-strapped entrepreneurs seek backing from a group of respected businessmen and women, who put the hopefuls and their ideas through their paces before deciding whether to invest.

Local versions are on air in the UK, Canada, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany and Spain.