Top entertainment companies Fremantle, NewBe, and toy maker Jumbo Group are partnering to bring the popular music game “Hitster” to a global television audience. The tabletop game, which challenges players to place songs on a timeline based on their release dates, has seen great success among younger generations. Its popularity surged this year when it reached bestseller status in Germany and the Netherlands.
Fremantle Netherlands and NewBe will co-produce the television adaptation. This represents a shift from their previous collaboration on the Netflix series “Heartbreak High,” which was produced by Fremantle Australia. Fremantle will hold international production and distribution rights for the “Hitster” TV show. Vasha Wallace, an executive at Fremantle, said “Hitster’s” interactive music play and universal themes will translate well to television screens.
NewBe founder Jeroen Koopman noted this is the first time a party game has gained such widespread attention before being adapted for television. After playing “Hitster” himself and learning about its origins, Koopman felt confident in its potential to resonate with TV audiences. The game has launched in 30 countries so far through Jumbo Group. Isa Lana, a marketing executive at Jumbo Group, said “Hitster’s” success shows people enjoy playing and that bringing shared experiences is most important.
As games and other properties are increasingly translated to new formats, “Hitster” seems primed to make the jump to broadcast TV. With simple, clear rules and broad appeal, the show could become a new phenomenon for both music and game fans. As development proceeds, these audiences will watch closely to see how testing music history knowledge plays out onscreen.
