SIDEWALK KARAOKE
New Zealand’s reality TV line up offers plenty of chance to find love— through First Dates, Married at First Sight the new Heartbreak Island, but what about a chance to win cash for putting your vocal talent on the line?
Māori TV’S Sidewalk Karaoke does just that as it transforms streets into a karaoke stage for Kiwis to perform on. With hosts Te Hāmua Nikora and Luke Bird at the helm, it’s real, funny and occasionally quite emotional. CEO of Pango Productions and creator of Sidewalk Karaoke Bailey Mackey says the show was created in an attempt to make a cost-effective entertainment format. It’s now three-seasons in. “I actually wanted to set it in a taxi, but after rehearsing I felt it just lacked energy so we literally pulled the karaoke out on the street and set up!” Featuring three levels, contestants compete against an app that judges their speed, pitch and tone. Each round offers a cash prize, with the final offering $1000 to contestants who sing a duet with an audience member.
“It might not change your life but it can change your night,” says Mackey. And soon it won’t just be changing the nights of talented Kiwis. The format’s caught the interest of Fremantlemedia (responsible for hits American Idol and X Factor) which acquired the global TV rights to the format. Mackey says it’s starting to roll out around the world but is unable to confirm the countries as it’s not on air yet. When the acquisition was announced in 2016, Fremantlemedia executive vice president of global acquisitions and development Vasha Wallace said Sidewalk Karaoke is exactly what we know broadcasters are looking for. “It’s high volume, cost effective and has been amazingly successful with phenomenal ratings – tripling the broadcaster’s prime time average. It’s wonderfully warm, a lot of fun to watch and suitable for the whole family.”