Star Academy
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Location of different versions of Star Academy |
Star Academy is a highly successful television show format produced by
Endemol, that has been broadcasted in over 50 countries. It is a
pop music talent contest with viewer voting and
reality show elements.
There are many versions of the
Star Academy show, each country having its own slight variations, but the basic concept remains the same: contestants live in a boarding-school called "The Academy", managed by a director, and various teachers coach them in several artistic disciplines. The participants are filmed with hidden cameras throughout the day and night (an idea borrowed from another of Endemol's major reality shows
Big Brother). Once a week, the contestants have to face a prime time show, where they sing the song they've preparing during the week before, as well as recapping their trials and tribulations at The Academy from the past week. The live show will often feature special guest stars, with whom some of the contestants have the opportunity to sing. Based on the judges' verdicts and viewer voting, the weakest contestant is dropped. The eventual winner is awarded a record deal, or similar prize.
The
Star Academy idea belongs to Spanish production house Gestmusic, a Spanish branch of
Endemol. Even so, the first country to broadcast the format was France, on October 20th, 2001. Two days later,
Operación Triunfo, as the show is called in Spanish speaking countries, began in
Spain.
Since that moment, the
Star Academy phenomenon began to be developed in an unstoppable way, being impelled by the sweeping success of the contest in major media markets like
France or
Russia.
Nowadays,
Star Academy is the second most expanded reality show, just behind
Big Brother, and has reached markets so different as
India,
Middle East and
United States, becoming the first Spanish format ever acquired by these countries.
The most recent addition to the
Star Academy franchise are the upcoming adaptation in the Philippines entitled
Pinoy Dream Academy, by
ABS-CBN, and
Star Academy Maghreb, a pan-regional version with several North African countries involved.
Pan regional version with 11
African countries involved:
Botswana,
Ghana,
Kenya,
Malawi,
Namibia,
Nigeria,
South Africa,
Tanzania,
Uganda,
Zambia and
Zimbabwe. Adaptation for the
Maghreb area. Countries taking part in it yet to be announced. Joint version with 18
Middle East countries taking part in it (watching, voting and/or with a contestant):
Algeria,
Bahrain,
Egypt,
Iraq,
Jordan,
Kuwait,
Lebanon,
Lybia,
Morocco,
Oman,
Palestine,
Qatar,
Saudi Arabia,
Sudan,
Syria,
Tunisia,
UAE and
Yemen.
Fame Factory**
Lithuania**
Norway**
SwedenLa Academia**
MexicoEB Babes Training Camp**
Philippines
