‘Married At First Sight’ lands in Japan & Korea as Red Arrow strikes global sales for dating show

Married At First Sight Australia

A+E Networks Asia is bringing dating series Married At First Sight to Japan and Korea for the first time, amid a raft of tape sales, recommissions and a new format option, inked by distributor Red Arrow Studios International. 

The network has acquired season six of Married At First Sight Australia, originally produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Nine, as well as season six of the US version, which is produced by Red Arrow Studios-owned Kinetic Content for Lifetime. The Australian version is to be launched by A+E Networks Korea and also by A+E Networks Asia in Japan.

Red Arrow Studios International has also secured further tape sales with Sky in Italy for seasons three and four of the MediaWorks-produced New Zealand version of the show and season seven of the Australian version, while Discovery in Italy has picked up seasons 8-10 of the US version and also commissioned Banijay’s NonPanic to produce four new local seasons of the show, extending it to seven seasons in total.

New seasons of local versions are also being produced in Germany, where SAT.1 has ordered its eighth season from Redseven Entertainment, and in Belgium, where a sixth season is being produced by PIT for DPG Media’s VTM. Meanwhile, in Spain, Bulldog has optioned the format.

Originally created and produced by Red Arrow Studios-owned Snowman Productions for Denmark’s DR, Married At First Sight follows singles who have failed to find love as they put their hearts in the hands of a team of experts, who select their perfect partner, with the couples meeting for the first time at the altar. Cameras then follow the two as they start their new lives together – and after six weeks must decide whether to stay together or file for divorce.

Tim Gerhartz, SVP Global Sales at Red Arrow Studios International, said: “Married At First Sight’s remarkable global journey shows no signs of slowing down, as this latest wave of tape and format deals demonstrates.

“With the series expanding in key markets such as Asia and broadcasters committing to new local and ready-made versions, Married At First Sight continues to be one of the world’s most successful formats, and a channel-defining brand.”