Singing Bee returning to old haunts

Much-travelled karaoke format The Singing Bee is heading back into Romania and Indonesia after almost a decade away from both.

The deals to bring the show to Antena TV in Romania and RCTI in Indonesia comes as the resurgence of several classic gameshows continues.

Antena is planning new primetime episodes for the show, which first aired in Romania in 2008 on Pro TV. RCTI is relauncing the format with a 30-episode season nine years after a version for Indostar came off air.

Both territories bought the format from UK-based distributor Magnify Media, whose founder, Andrea Jackson (pictured), previously sold the format through her first company, Zeal Entertainment. DRG bought Zeal in 2006, with Jackson exiting the latter to launch Magnify in 2015, as TBI revealed.

The Singing Bee was first produced by format owners The Gurin Company and Juma Entertainment for NBC in the US in 2006. It has now been sold in 36 territories in total.

The family-focused format sees contestants judged on how well they know lyrics, rather than how well they can sing.

“I know the power of this brand very well, which is why we have prioritised bringing it back to life,” said Jackson. “That decision is already bearing fruit. The Singing Bee is one of the most widely produced formats ever and one that clearly has enduring appeal.”

“Andrea and the team at Magnify have shown enormous passion with this property, and we are excited to collaborate with any company or broadcaster committed to airing a new series,” said Phil Gurin, Singing Bee co-creator and president of The Gurin Company.