THANKS TO HUGE RATINGS AMONG THE YOUNG DEMOGRAPHIC,
NIPPON TV'S HIT GAME SHOW FORMAT "MUTE IT!"
GREENLIT FOR TWO-HOUR SPECIAL IN JAPAN

TOKYO, JAPAN - August 13, 2020 - Nippon Television Network Corporation (Nippon TV), Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, announced today that its game show format Mute it! (30min to 120min eps.) has been greenlit for a two-hour special set to air during its coveted primetime slot on Friday, August 14th which is a time that annually garners high PUT ratings due to the large number of individuals all over Japan at home watching TV in the summer. Garnering stellar ratings especially from the children / teenagers / 20-34-year-old demographic and receiving high acclaim on social media by the young demographic, the gameshow first aired on Nippon TV in November 2019, followed by its move to primetime in March 2020. Having announced the availability of the format rights this past April, Nippon TV has already received numerous requests for international format adaptations of Mute it!.

"Since the original airing, Mute it! has far exceeded our expectations. Not just here in Japan but around the world with the interest that this unique game show format has been generating," commented Fusako Nagashima, Head of Formats, International Business Development for Nippon TV. "We are excited to be unveiling this two-hour special with new themes including pirates, treasure island, secret caves and jungles, and we are certain that Mute it! will continue to grasp attention from buyers looking for a fun studio gameshow format." Added Nagashima, "Through our research, we found viewers not only avidly watched the show but also posted a huge number of real time comments on social media cheering on their favorite celebrities who challenge the game in total silence, and even saying that they wanted to participate in this game show themselves. We are confident the ratings and social media hits will skyrocket once again."

In Mute it!, there is only one rule: don't make any sounds. Contestants play four stages of games in the Hall of Silence, a custom-built giant studio with difficult challenges for the players to accomplish, yet at the same time, filled with loud sound making traps all around. If contestants make any sounds above 50dB, the Sound Watchman, purveyor
of the Hall of Silence, suddenly shows up to take the contestant away. For players who succeed in the first three stages, the final stage awaits. The question is will the players be able to withstand the challenges and overcome the difficult missions without making a single sound, to gain the big prize money at the end.
https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2020/03/mute-it.html
 

ABOUT NIPPON TV
Nippon TV is Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster as well as owner of streaming giant Hulu Japan. One of the biggest successes for the nation's finest producer of all genres of programming is the Emmy Award-winning Dragons' Den/Shark Tank, a globally successful business show format that has more than 40 versions in 186 territories across all continents of the world. Following closely are the successes of scripted formats Mother and Woman -My Life for My Children-, whose Turkish versions have become mega-hits that have gone on to air in nearly 40 territories around the world, a first for a format from Japan. Mother has also been sold to South Korea, Ukraine, France, Thailand, and more, making it one of the most exported formats out of Asia. The company is also achieving great success with BLOCK OUT, its action-packed game show format that has been sold to Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, Spain and Holland. Over 90% of its content IP is fully owned by Nippon TV, in addition to well-established businesses that span VOD/live-streaming engineering, animation/film production, fitness clubs, eSports, and android creation/digital mixed reality technology. Nippon TV is leveraging its coveted platform to revolutionize digital media in an ever-changing industry to solidify its presence and brand as a global media leader.