Media Headquarters licenses Canada’s Smartest Person for US market

DetailsMichelle Clancy | 22 February 2015




Media Headquarters has partnered with multimedia studio Electus and Barracuda Television Productions to produce its TV format Canada’s Smartest Person for the US market.


The format, originally developed in Canada for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is a prime time competitive reality series in which competitors prove their smartness in challenges that go beyond trivia or IQ tests.

“The successful rollout of Canada’s Smartest Person proves that entertaining and accessible Canadian formats have a great chance for success beyond our borders,” said Robert Cohen, president of Media Headquarters. “We’re thrilled to be working with Electus and Barracuda to bring this popular series to the US, and around the world.”

Electus has also licensed Canada’s Smartest Person to Turkey’s TRT and Sera Film for production, and has secured deals in France, Norway, Sweden and Portugal.

The programme debuted on CBC in September 2014 and was Canada’s No. 1 new series of the autumn television season.

"I love this format because it's revolutionising the way we judge who is smart. IQ scores don't mean anything any more… this is the new way to test intelligence. And it's fun, physical, fast-paced and filled with surprising outcomes," said Barracuda’s Barry Poznick, who will serve as executive producer.