EXCLUSIVE | Seven’s ‘big new global format’ is MILLION DOLLAR ISLAND

Channel 7 has bought the local rights to one of the most anticipated formats in the world right now

Seven West Media CEO James Warburton recently talked up a new format the network will announce in March.

TV Blackbox can reveal the show he described as “the biggest new global format” is Million Dollar Island.

The news comes off the back of our exclusive story yesterday revealing arch-rival Channel 9 has obtained the rights to new reality dating format My Mum, Your Dad.

Million Dollar Island sees 100 people dropped on an uninhabited tropical island, where they need to survive for two months.

Upon arrival, each contestant is given a numbered bracelet worth $10,000. The 100 bracelets are worth a total of $1M.

The contestants gain and lose bracelets by playing duels and challenges – and by receiving them from those who quit.

Get more details in the latest TV Blackbox podcast

But it’s the producers behind the format who will really have TV fans in a spin. Million Dollar Island has been created by two world-renowned format creators — Stephen Lambert and John de Mol.

de Mol was behind big-hitting imports such as Big Brother and The Voice and former BBC Creative Director Stephen Lambert is behind Gogglebox and The Circle.

A UK and US version of the Dutch format has already been announced, and TV Blackbox can reveal Seven won an intense bidding war for the Australian rights.

The original Dutch version of the new format has just completed shooting in the Philippines and will air in the Netherlands on SBS6 in March.

When questioned by Tim Burrows from Unmade at Seven’s FY22 half-year results about the new format, Warburton would only say it’s:

“I can’t really go into it, but it’s going to be big”

And he’s not wrong. It’s hard to articulate how hot this show is right now, even though an episode has not been aired anywhere in the world

Seven did not respond when approached by TV Blackbox about the series.