by Thinus Ferreira
South Africa's Primedia Studios has secured the format rights and will be working with ITV Studios to bring two localised versions of the entrepreneurial reality shows Side Hustlers and Double the Money to South African TV screens.
Primedia Studios sees both shows with a strong entrepreneurial slant as productions that could aid in the education process around economic growth and small-business development in South Africa.
South Africa and Primedia Studios is the first territory to pick up the Side Hustlers format for a local adaptation.
Side Hustlers, initially developed by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, follows determined female entrepreneurs who compete to transform their passion projects into fully-fledged investment-worthy businesses.
While juggling demanding day jobs in the hopes of pursuing their dream careers, they get guidance and mentorship from two powerhouse female businesswomen who then put them through a gruelling boot camp.
Side Hustlers first aired on the Roku channel in the United States, where it was commissioned for a second season.
In Double the Money, an original format from the United Kingdom, pairs of budding business hopefuls are pitted against the clock to double their starting funds – again and again – in a race to win a cash sum.
If the out-of-the-box money-making schemes they devise during the show's challenges don't double their capital, they leave the competition with nothing.
Double the Money had Denmark as its first international commission outside of the United Kingdom, with South Africa now second through Primedia Studios.
"We are incredibly excited to add these two refreshing, hugely entertaining and dream-catching formats to our current slate of licensed content," says Jan du Plessis, Primedia Studios president.
"Side Hustlers and Double the Money perfectly fit Primedia Studios' mission to provide unmissable top-notch video entertainment to diverse African audiences while placing a high premium on socio-economic transformation".
"While these shows will empower contestants to follow their business dreams, South African audiences can also gather invaluable tips and tricks of the trade to boost their own business ideas."
Ruth Berry, president of global partnerships & Zoo 55, ITV Studios, says "We are thrilled to see these entrepreneurial formats going to South African shores in partnership with Primedia Studios. We hope these fresh concepts are just what viewers have been waiting for."
The Primedia Studios broadcasting partners and production timelines for Double The Money and Side Hustlers are still pending.
