Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia Acquires The Voice to Sing Across Asia on AXN
Singapore, 21 June 2011 – The Voice, the latest sensation in the exhilarating world of talent reality contest shows is set to premiere in the region on Southeast Asia’s most watched international channel, AXN. Sony Pictures Television’s networks, Asia has acquired the top-rated US hit show from Talpa Media Group to debut to some 97 million households in 22 countries across Asia where its flagship English general entertainment channel is available, in the upcoming months of 2011.
With music and entertainment authority Rolling Stone calling it ‘the best Dutch import since tulips and Eddie Van Halen’, new vocal talent search show The Voice is set to take Asian audiences by storm on AXN. Hosted by Carson Daly (Last Call with Carson Daly), the series features four of America’s top musicians as coaches to some of the country’s most talented vocalists. These coaches are pop diva Christina Aguilera; singer-songwriter Cee Lo Green; rock band Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine; and country music artist Blake Shelton.
“With The Voice, we are very excited to bring the next big talent reality hit to AXN viewers. Fresh and engaging, the new series gathers top-notch performers and musician coaches, and puts them through intense competition not seen anywhere else on television. We are confident The Voice will enjoy great success in Asia on AXN where audiences’ love for the reality genre as well as an appreciation of contestants’ determination, passion and courage continue to grow,” said Mr Ricky Ow, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.
Setting itself apart from the talent shows that are on air, The Voice takes on an innovative format. Prior to the series, The Voice’s casting team collaborated with players in the music industry to gather some of America’s most promising singing talents for the competition. Therefore, contestants are of high standards and not ‘wannabes’ trying their luck or seeking ‘a minute of fame’ at painful auditions.
The first phase of The Voice sees each of four coaches select contestants to form teams in the unique ‘blind auditions’. The coaches are seated to only hear contestants perform, but not see them. If impressed by the singing, coaches push a button to select the contestant. Only then, will the coaches’ chairs swivel to face the candidate. If more than one coach selects the talent, the contestant gets to choose the coach he or she prefers to work with. Each coach forms a team of 8 contestants and develops them by offering advice and sharing secrets of their own success.
In the second stage are battle rounds where coaches will pit two of their own team members against each other by singing the same song together for a studio audience. After the vocal face-off, the coach must choose the singers to advance. At the end of the battle phase, only the strongest members of each coach’s team make it to the final phase of live stage shows.
In the final phase of The Voice, remaining contestants of each team will compete against each other during a live broadcast. The television audience votes to save one contestant on each team and leaves the coaches to decide who to eliminate. Finally, the best and final contestant from each team is left to compete in the finale, and from the four, one will be crowned ‘The Voice’ to win the grand prize of US$100,000 cash and a recording contract with Universal Republic.
Still ongoing in the US, The Voice garnered a 5.1 rating/13 share among adults 18 – 49 and a total of 11.8 million viewers for its premiering episode. It beat ratings of competing shows including Glee and Dancing with the Stars on the night. The Voice has since gone on to record new viewership highs, having drawn some 14.4 million viewers in its sixth episode, and over 12 million for its second and seventh installments. The show’s popularity has seen it being renewed for a second season and casting is already underway. Confidence in The Voice is so high that season 2 is slated to premiere in the coveted slot right after the biggest sporting event in the US, The Super Bowl, in 2012.
The Voice is co-produced by Talpa Productions, reality TV guru Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) and Warner Horizon Television. The series is based on the very successful Dutch talent search reality competition The Voice of Holland created by John De Mol (Big Brother, Deal or No Deal), founder of production companies Talpa and Endemol, who executive produces along with Burnett and Audrey Morrissey.
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About AXN & AXN HD
AXN is the heart of action and adventure. Launched in 1997, AXN is a leading English general entertainment destination among upscale, affluent adults aged 18-39. The channel delivers top -rated drama series, blockbuster features, adventure-reality and first-run lifestyle sports programmes from around the world, as well as dynamic original productions. In 2010, AXN once again cemented its position as Southeast Asia’s No. 1 international channel with The Amazing Race Asia Season 4 and Hawaii Five-0 Season 1.
AXN is an international channel brand that started in Asia, but has since expanded to Latin America and Europe. It is available in 60 countries globally. In Asia, the channel is seen in more than 97 million households across 22 countries, including close to 50 million households on a time-block basis in China.
A provider of unparalleled quality in entertainment, AXN enhanced the viewer experience when it entered the high-definition arena with the launch of AXN HD in March 2009.
AXN ASIA is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by SPE Networks – Asia, which also operates pay-TV channels AXN BEYOND, ANIMAX, SONY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION and ONE. Visit www.entertainmentasiatv.com for more.
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