ABC Bets on German TV

It's always been the ace in the hole of Germany's second public broadcaster ZDF, and now that Germany's beloved Saturday night show "Wetten, dass…?" has been bought by the ABC network, it looks set to repeat its success State-side.

Launched in 1981, the massively popular "Wetten, dass…?" could soon become appointment viewing to US audiences as "Wanna Bet?".

TV executives on both sides of the Atlantic are confident they'll strike lucky -- and the gamble certainly looks like a pretty safe bet.

As the most successful show not just in Germany but in Europe, "Wetten, dass...?" comprises a mix of celebrity interviews, music and bizarre stunts, dishing up wholesome Saturday night viewing that usually over-runs its scheduled 2 hours by at least 45 minutes -- and no one even minds.

Over the years, the show has become a national treasure, turning host Thomas Gottschalk into a household name, not to mention a multi-millionaire; consistently ranking No. 1 in the audience stakes with up to 16 million viewers; and achieving an average market share of 46 percent in a cutthroat Saturday evening slot.

The concept

Half game show and half talk show, its basic gimmick is getting ordinary people to perform outlandish tasks varying from a Chinese martial artist pushing a car with a spear resting on his throat to a nine-year-old boy from Vienna computing the shortest bus and railcar routes throughout the city from memory.

As entertaining as that can be, the show's chief attractions are the stars invited to bet for charity on the outcome of the performances and to offer a wager to be carried out if they lose.

From then Chancellor Gerhard Schröder driving home an audience member as a forfeit to an ashen-faced Michael Jackson appearing too weak to hold his own mike, for the last 25 years the show has been providing Germany with most of its memorable TV moments, fuelling many a Monday-morning water-cooler discussion.

Successful export

The pilot version for the US is already in production, now that ABC has signed up as presenters two popular British television personalities, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. Otherwise known as Ant and Dec, the hosts are veterans of smash UK shows including "Pop Idol," "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!," and "Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway."

The "Wetten, dass…?" concept has long been sold in The Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Russia and China, and this latest coup is all set to consolidate its status as one of TV's all-time winners.

"The licensing contract with the US has opened the doors to this hit show in the English-language territories," said Alexander Coridass, president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises.

So US producers are playing for high stakes, choosing to air their new 60-minute show in a prime time slot once a week -- unlike Germany, where it broadcasts live just six to seven times a year.

But if the show proves as successful in the US as it is in Germany, everyone will be a winner. The networks are taking their chances.