Banijay Entertainment Introduces New US Gameshow Scrambled Up to Market

Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces it has acquired the global format rights and finished tape rights to Scrambled Up, an all-new studio-based word game from Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company; Keller/Noll, the prolific US format creators Cleve Keller and Dave Noll (Chopped, America Says, Flip Side); Crazy Legs Productions; and Playing Field Entertainment.

Scrambled Up (320 X 30) sees four contestants compete to solve a series of increasingly challenging word scrambles. As each word gradually unscrambles on the board, the host reveals entertaining clues, challenging players to identify the correct answer first. Following two main rounds, the pace ramps up with Speed Scramble, where contestants race against the clock to solve shorter, category-based puzzles. The highest-scoring player then progresses to the Ultimate Scramble, where they must solve three final puzzles in 60 seconds to win a cash prize.

Originally launched as a daily syndication gameshow in the US, Scrambled Upwas recently renewed for a second season with multiple partners like CBS-owned stations, with production recently wrapped on 160 new episodes, doubling its total episode count. The series also expanded through a dedicated 24/7 channel on Samsung TV Plus in the US and Canada.

Creatives Keller and Noll are behind a string of successful entertainment titles, including hit CBS gameshow Flip Side, which has reached 360 episodes in national syndication, long-running GSN series America Says, with 590 episodes; and Food Network favourite Chopped, which has surpassed 1,100 episodes commissioned.

Helen Greatorex, Head of Format Acquisitions, Banijay Entertainment, says: “Gameshows continue to have proven value across every platform and the US success of Scrambled Upalready demonstrates it’s landing well with audiences.  Cleve and Dave have a real instinct for creating formats people want to interact with, and this is no exception. It takes the familiar fun of word games and gives it a lively, funny twist, while importantly keeping it simple to follow.  With all the right ingredients to travel internationally, the format complements our offering for MIPCOM perfectly.”

Dave Noll, Cleve Keller, Ross Babbit, Dave Bulhack, Gary Apple, Tom Cappello, Scott Thigpen, Adam Londy and Joe LaBracio are executive producers of Scrambled Up.

Scrambled Up joins Banijay Entertainment’s premium third-party line-up, including cult strategic format Werewolves from STUDIOCANAL and Dreamspark, superbrand Ninja Warrior from Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), French YouTube sensation Stop the Train from Unfold Production and recent addition, dating reality format Temptations Under the Sun from Productions J.

The format further strengthens Banijay Entertainment’s established gameshow line-up, joining globally recognised international hits like Deal or No Deal, The Money Drop, Lingo,Pointless, and Tipping Point.