Endemol Shine China and Shenzhen Satellite Television are to launch a Chinese version of the real-life thriller format "Hunted," which has been picked up by CBS in the U.S., and continues to roll out to new markets after its international debut at Mipcom last year.
"Hunted" is a real-life factual thriller that sees groups of ordinary people go on the run. With little cash and limited ability to contact their network of friends and family, the contestants are pursued by a team of professional investigators, including detectives, psychologists, and surveillance experts.
The "Hunter" team looks for clues that can ultimately lead to each fugitive’s capture, searching their house, scouring internet and cell-phone histories, investigating family and friends as well as analyzing psychological and behavioral patterns. After 28 days, fugitives who reach the final objective without capture win the show.
Endemol Shine China and Shenzhen Satellite Television will work together in adapting "Hunted" for the Chinese market and audience. As in the original version, created by Endemol Shine UK, the tension-filled shows will closely follow both hunter and hunted, using all available technologies, including closed-circuit TV, internet tracking, number-plate recognition, as well as good old fashioned detective legwork to track the fugitives.
" 'Hunted' is an authentic exploration into the most contemporary issues facing our generation — our internet footprint, technology dependency and the impact this has on our daily life," said Selina Zhang, content director of Shenzhen Satellite Television. "The show follows modern, urban people going off grid and escaping from material life, and will allow viewers in China to reflect on their relationship with technology, society and themselves."
Created and produced by Endemol Shine UK, "Hunted" originally premiered on Channel 4 in the U.K. in September, opening with 1.73 million viewers and scoring highly with young adults and on social media.
"Hunted" has now been ordered for a second season in the U.K., and local versions of the format have been picked up by CBS in the U.S., as well as broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.