'Peking Express' Accelerates Around World

Zodiak International and Zodiak Line Productions, part of the Zodiak group of companies, can today announce continued success for its international hit reality format 'Peking Express', which follows eight couples on a spectacular elimination race across continents.
The Spanish version of the show, which sees contestants racing from Moscow to Beijing, launched on Cuatro, the third biggest channel in Spain, in September. The series, produced by Boomerang TV and Zodiak Line Productions, achieved an impressive market share of 11.2% on launch, almost two points up on the channel average and has continued to maintain its audience despite competition from 'Gran Hermano', the Spanish version of 'Big Brother'.
This follows the huge success of the third season of 'Peking Express' in France on M6, where the series achieved a consistent market share of 16%, almost four points up on the channel average and 24% of its target audience. The channel has now signed up for a fourth season.
Originally produced by Kanakna Productions and distributed worldwide by Zodiak International, reality format 'Peking Express' follows eight intrepid couples over 12 stages as they travel thousands of kilometres and cross continents, finding their own means of transportation and accommodation on a strictly limited budget.
The couples must deal with the challenges and pitfalls of attempting a long-distance hitchhike, whilst communicating in languages they don’t understand and navigating strange cities. During each stage they compete against each other in local games such as truck racing, rafting and salt digging. At the end of each stage the last ranking couple is dropped from the race and as they reach their final destination, just two couples remain to compete for the large cash prize.
Zodiak Line Productions has now produced four seasons of the series for Dutch audiences, airing in the Netherlands on Net5 and Belgium on VT4 since 2003, following couples on epic journeys along ‘The Trans-Siberian Route’ from Moscow to Beijing; ‘The Himalayan Route’ from Beijing to Bombay; ‘The Mekong Route’ from Vietman to Lhassa, ‘The Incas Route’ from Rio de Janeiro to Lima and ‘The Revolution Route’ from Mexico to Caracas. The third season of 'Peking Express' garnered a ‘Goulden Beeld’ award for Best Television Programme. Local versions have also been produced for Germany (RTL), Sweden (Kanal 5), Denmark (Kanal 5) and Norway (TVNorge).
Ludo Poppe of Kanakna Productions commented: "'Peking Express' has established itself in markets across Europe, proving a winner everywhere it travels. Combining real-life adventure with some of the most stunning and remote locations – it offers diverse and broad appeal, quickly becoming a must-see for audiences as they become drawn into the experience and competition".
(KMcA)