TV Globo will bow 'Survivor'-like show
Brazilian show 'No Limite' starts July 23
J. B. de Oliveira, general director of the series, denied that "No Limite" is a copy of any existing series, but he acknowledged that he was inspired by "Survivor," "Big Brother" and pics "The Truman Show" and "Ed TV."
"About two years ago, we had the idea of a show featuring real people. As that type of series boomed among broadcasters all over the world, we decided to go ahead with the project," de Oliveira said at a July 7 press conference. "We will give it a telenovela flavor. Brazilians are heavy consumers of telenovelas."
Top-rated TV Globo expects that the series, airing Sunday nights, will attract auds above the net's 34%-35% average share during that time period, de Oliveira said.
"No Limite" will last for eight to nine weekly episodes, depending on the participants' performance. It will feature 12 contestants, who will spend 22-25 days competing for a $166,000 grand prize in an isolated beach area in the northeastern state of Ceara.
TV Globo did not disclose the series' budget. However, execs said the bulk of the costs are related to the $388,000 in prizes, plus the purchase of special cameras. "We needed lighter cameras for the kind of environment we will find there," de Oliveira said.
