Word Game 'El Rosco' Eyes North American Launch

Good Formats, based in Valencia, is bringing two U.S. pilot versions of the long-running European word game "El Rosco" to Mipcom, marking its initial foray into the North American market. These pilots include an English-language half-hour version titled "Run the Ring" and an hour-long Spanish version, both featuring Spanish television presenter Christian Gálvez, who has hosted over 3,500 episodes of the game.

The word game, which first aired in Italy in 1999, has a substantial international footprint with more than 10,000 episodes broadcast across 12 countries. Developed in partnership with U.S. producer Lincoln Hiatt, these new versions differ in language and duration to offer broadcasters flexible scheduling options. The development process involved creating preliminary games leading up to the established final challenge, aiming to build compelling narratives around returning champions, much like popular quiz show contestants.

The Mipcom presentation follows a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling regarding the game's intellectual property rights, which Good Formats states were originally secured by MC&F Broadcasting Production and Distribution CV in 1999. Good Formats has served as the official international distributor since 2012. Beyond North America, the company is exploring opportunities in other global markets, with a particular interest in Asia.