EXCLUSIVE: ALP, owned by Banijay, threatens legal action over fears that the 30-year-old adventure game show Fort Boyard has been cloned by District Z, the new French rating hit from the Sony joint venture Satisfaction Group
District Z premiered on TF1 last week and was France’s best start for non-written entertainment shows in the 25-49 main demo for 27 years. However, viewers and local media immediately pointed out similarities to Fort Boyard, which airs on France Télévisions. Fort Boyard host Olivier Minne has also drawn comparisons between the two shows.
The deadline may indicate that ALP Satisfaction is now sending a legal letter detailing concerns about format violations. If the matter between the two companies is not resolved, we believe ALP is ready to take steps towards formal legal action.
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. hears that ALP’s concerns focus on the mythology behind each show as well as specific format issues. Fort Boyard, adapted in 30 areas around the world, tells the story of an old rich man who lives in a sea-level fort and invites a team of celebrities to steal his treasure through a series of challenges. If the celebrities don’t do their jobs, they’ll be captured and the team will be put at a disadvantage when it comes to claiming the treasure in the endgame.
District Z, meanwhile, focuses on Professor Z, a wealthy scientist who lives in an isolated property. He invites a team of celebrities to steal his treasure through a series of challenges in which they run the risk of being captured by a zombie. If captured, the team will be penalized in the final game in which the celebrities carry out their treasure attack on Professor Z’s secret vault.
In addition to these similarities, ALP is said to have also established that a number of Fort Boyard’s crew members worked in District Z. Host Denis Brogniart also works closely with ALP after presenting the French version of Survivor Koh-Lanta.
Sony Pictures Television, which sells District Z internationally, has highlighted “unprecedented” shooting techniques in its sales materials, including rigged cameras on a set the size of 14 soccer fields. Sources told . that a number of banijay companies have expressed an interest in customizing the show around the world, although it is believed that there are no options.
ALP declined to comment on its legal warning. Satisfaction and Sony also declined to comment. Sony controls 20% of Satisfaction under a joint venture agreement signed in July when Satisfaction acquired 100% of Sony Pictures Television France and its Starling label.
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