NBCUniversal Licenses 'Dance Your A** Off' To China

LONDON – NBCUniversal’s weight-loss dance challenge format Dance Your A** Off has booked its passage to China.

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The company has sealed a deal with Chinese broadcaster ZheJiang Satellite TV for the format with the satcaster set to produce 12 episodes. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Dance Your A** Off is a show where men and women who struggle with their weight compete in a dance challenge to "unleash their inner thin."

The Chinese broadcaster will air the show on Sunday evenings at 10pm, with a rollout scheduled for later this year. The show originally premiered on Oxygen in the U.S. in 2009. This is the format’s fourth version to air internationally.

Danish and South African versions of the program aired in 2010, and an Estonian version broadcast earlier this year. Dance is also under license in Italy and optioned in Germany.

NBCUniversal International senior vp formats and production Yvonne Pilkington said: “Through the support of our local representative, Linfield Ng, China and the wider Asian region is becoming a very active market for us. Our mix of gameshow formats from dating to cookery to big production primetime shows offers Asian broadcasters a diverse menu of choices to fit their audiences.”

Du Fang, TV vice controller of ZheJiang Satellite Channel, added: "ZheJiang is excited to bring Dance to our audience.  Not only is the format entertaining but there is also a positive message that will resonate with our viewers. NBCUniversal have been terrific partners in helping us adapt the show for the Chinese audience."