Southeast Asia will be the production home of Red Arrow’s new adventure dating format, "Stranded on Honeymoon Island", following the success of the Belgian version, which was filmed in Malaysia.

The hunt for a hub in weather-friendly Southeast Asia comes as countries in the region boost studio facilities and government-backed production incentives.

Snowman Productions’ managing director, Michael von Würden, who created the show, told ContentAsia yesterday that the company was currently scouting for a hub location in Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam, in addition to other locations in Malaysia. 

“We want to be able to offer a hub setting all year round,” he said. 

"Stranded on Honeymoon Island" involves couples matched by experts marooned on a deserted island and left to fend for themselves for three weeks.

Red Arrow announced the format’s pick up by Australia’s Seven Network at the weekend, ahead of today’s opening of this year’s Mip TV in Cannes. 

The Australian version will launch on Channel 7 and 7plus in 2024, growing a dating/relationship format environment currently led by the Nine Network’s long-running "Married at First Sight". 

"Married at First Sight" was also created by the Copenhagen-based Snowman Productions. 

The Australian version of "Stranded on Honeymoon Island" will be produced by Endemol Shine Australia, which also produces "Married at First Sight Australia". 

Red Arrow launched "Stranded on Honeymoon Island" to the international market during the London Screenings six weeks ago. 

Snowman Productions, part of Seven.One Studios and a sister company to Red Arrow Studios International, will set up and manage the hub in Southeast Asia to facilitate year-round filming.

Initially commissioned by Belgium’s VTM, "Stranded on Honeymoon Island" debuted in March. The premiere posted a market share of 46% in the main target demo 18-54 and a 51% market share in the 15-34 demo, doubling the broadcaster’s average market share for March. 

Red Arrow Studios International’s president and managing director, Tim Gerhartz, said "Stranded on Honeymoon Island" served “a growing demand for more authenticity” after years of increasingly dramatic reality shows. 

Red Arrow says commissions with broadcasters in other territories will be announced soon.

Dating formats have enjoyed pockets of success across Asia for years, including TV Thunder’s "Take Me Out" in Thailand.

But markets in the region are giving the more-outrageous-the-better trend a wide berth.

Last year, dating formats made up 4% of the 199 formats on-air/commissioned in Asia, according to ContentAsia’s Formats Outlook 2022. 

The top markets for dating titles were Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.

The top three genres were drama, game shows and singing.