Quintus Studios, the international factual content distributor and channel owner, has acquired the international format distribution rights to 7 vs. Wild, a hit reality format that first came to prominence via YouTube in Germany.
Developed by German YouTube producers Fritz Meinecke, Johannes Hovekamp and Max Kovacs, the show sends seven content creators and influencers into the wilderness with just seven basic survival items – such as a machete, sleeping bag or fire steel. Challenged to survive seven days in the wilderness, the contestants who overcome the odds win a donation to the charity of their choice.
The first two 16-episode seasons of 7 vs Wild were filmed in Sweden and Panama and streamed on YouTube in November 2021 and 2022. They achieved a total of over 200 million views, making the reality show one of the most watched media events in Germany in recent years. The third season will feature seven teams of two who spend fourteen days in the wild. It is set to shoot in Canada this summer and will be co-produced by Germany production company CaliVision Network GmbH.
In a significant step-change for the German version, streaming service Amazon Freevee has commissioned season three and will release two episodes per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays later this year. Each episode will have a 7-day exclusive window on Freevee before it will be released on YouTube. The first two seasons of 7 vs. Wild will also be available to watch on Amazon Freevee alongside YouTube.
Quintus Studios will distribute the format outside Germany. Commenting, managing director Gerrit Kemming said: “7 vs. Wild is a perfect example of how social media can grow into state of the art big screen entertainment and how traditional TV and streaming platforms can benefit from the community power on social video platforms. Congrats to Fritz and his team and to Calivision, they´ve developed a media phenomenon from a creative idea for what was once a modest YouTube channel.”
Johannes Hovekamp added: “We‘re happy to have Quintus on board and are looking forward to take our show to other markets around the globe.”
