The Wit List – Playlist Unscripted

Research specialists The Wit picked 3 inspiring shows from their Fresh Database that reflect the various ways an unscripted format can become a hit. Great formats come from anywhere and can be distributed everywhere.

Here’s the proof by 3:

A game show born in the small Belgian market adapted in 10+ countries that just made into the USA
A British reality competition born on YouTube that transferred to Netflix in its second season that was just adapted in a US version on Netflix.
A Turkish singing talent contest entirely streamed on YouTube and social media that just got recommissioned and an international distributor.

99 to Beat, USA, FOX

Pitch: Game show franchise launched in Belgium that sees 100 contestants compete against each other in a series of brilliantly bonkers challenges, from boiling an egg to guessing the weight of a llama. After each round, the number of players is reduced until only one remains to win the big cash prize. The only aim of the game is for players not to come last, and if they do, they are eliminated.

Social media buzz: The game show format has been adapted in more than 10 countries since its first version in 2018. There are celebrity and kids’ spin-offs. In 2025, the format has been launched in Italy, United Kingdom, Brazil, France and the US. In Brazil, the show has been popular on Instagram with more than 30,000 followers on the official page. In the USA, the series premiere delivered 3.12 million viewers and a good 8 % audience share in the commercial target (18-49, source: The Nielsen Company).

Premiere: Sunday 21 September 2025 (US version)

Distributor: Primitives

10 60-minute episodes (US version)

Inside: USA, Multiple territories, Netflix

Pitch: Reality competition based on the Sidemen YouTube show by the same name, in which ten social media stars and celebrities live with each other in a house with the bare minimum. For seven days, they try to win challenges to earn comfort and money. If the group wins the challenges, money is added to the communal prize pool, but if they fail, they risk seeing their prize pool dwindle. By « buying » home comforts such as hot showers and snacks, the contestants take even more money away from the prize.

Social media buzz: The original first British season streamed on Sidemen YouTube channel (22.7 million followers) in 2024 has gathered more than 54 million views across its 12 episodes run. The second British season streamed exclusively on Netflix in 2025 ranked second in the UK Top Ten on its first week and featured in the Top 10 in 29 countries. A US version has been launched on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Premiere: Sunday, September 21, 2025 (US version on Netflix)

Productor(s): Cowshed Collective / Sidemen

7 60-minute seasons

Big5 Türkiye, Turkey, YouTube (Big5)

Pitch: Talent contest that follows fifteen candidates through twelve weeks of intensive training in singing, dancing and styling. Their goal: to earn a place in a five-member pop group, with a real professional launch at stake. After national selection by a music producer, pop star and dance coach, participants join the bootcamp. The winning group officially debuts with a single and video produced by the label.

Social media buzz: The official YouTube channel counts 235,000 subscribers, more than 700 posted videos (short clips and full-length episodes) and almost 200 million cumulated views. The three parts of the final episode have gathered 4.6 million views on YouTube. On Instagram, the official page features 172,000 followers and the debut single of the band ranked in Spotify Top Ten in Turkey.

Premiere: Monday, September 9, 2024 (second season commissioned in 2025)

Distributor: Global Agency

15 60/70-minute weekly episodes