A local version of the entertainment format will be developed by ITV Studios Iberia in Spain, as well as in France by Mediawan, Australia by EndemolShine, Germany with Tower Productions, Netherlands with IDTV, Belgium with All3Media Belgium, and the US with All3Media America.
Leading independent distributor All3Media International has announced it will represent Curve Media’s Chess Masters. Commissioned by BBC Two, this brand-new factual entertainment format will pit 16 passionate players from all backgrounds and parts of the UK against one another. As well as unpicking and exploring their psychological gameplay, we’ll discover the often emotional backstories and reasons for playing as they compete with one another in a series of face to face rapid or blitz games. Each game will take place in the Chess Masters glass box before one of the sixteen is crowned Chess Master.
Chess is the fastest growing sport in the world. It was the most watched game on Twitch in 2021, the most downloaded app from the iPhone store in February 2023 and has 605 million adults playing regularly across the globe*. The game has a legion of celebrity fans including Anthony Joshua, Madonna, Will Smith and Lily Cole, and has cemented its global popularity on screen through the success of the award-winning Netflix drama The Queens Gambit.
Since coming on board Chess Masters, All3Media International has brought in leading producers in key territories across Europe, America and Australia to work on local versions of the format. Deals have been agreed in France with Mediawan, Spain with ITV Studios, Australia with EndemolShine, Germany with Tower Productions, Netherlands with IDTV, Belgium with All3Media Belgium and the US, where Curve is working directly with All3Media America.
Nick Smith, EVP Formats and Licensing at All3Media International commented “Chess is the ultimate global game played in 172 countries around the world. It’s stood the test of time, and remains hugely popular over 1500 years after it was invented. Chess makes for captivating and compelling viewing as every game is different, and it is distinctly inclusive and accessible to people from all walks of life. Ultimately chess delivers the ideal game to structure a TV format around and Curve Media’s Chess Masters promises to deliver a gripping format that will inspire, ignite and entertain ardent chess fans, new players and those at the start of their chess journey.”
Camilla Lewis, Curve Media Co-CEO said “We’re thrilled to partner with All3Media International to take Chess Masters global. We are delighted to be making this warm, inclusive and clever series, where the emotional as well as strategic stakes are high. There is untapped talent out there. Amateurs from 8 to 80 will get the opportunity to compete with the best and the audience will get unique insights into the psychological and practical gameplay of this age-old but highly accessible game played by all cultures and by people of all kinds.”
Chess Masters has been commissioned as an 8 x ½ hour series for BBC Two and iPlayer, made by Curve Media. All3Media International will handle global distribution for format and finished version.
