It’s a Small World After All
This isn't a new phenomenon, but it is an accelerating one. For decades, American television has looked overseas for inspiration. Norman Lear's 1970s classic “All in the Family” was an adaptation of the British sitcom “Till Death Us Do Part.” More recently,
the beloved U.S. version of “The Office” was famously born from a U.K. original. But the trend now extends far beyond Britain. Hugely popular reality shows like “The Masked Singer” (South Korea), “Big Brother” (Netherlands), and “Survivor” (Sweden) all began as international properties. Even acclaimed dramas like “Homeland,” which was based on the Israeli series “Prisoners of War,” found their start in a different market. This fall season is no different, with networks increasingly banking on shows that have already won over audiences in other countries.
The Business of Predictability
So, why are network and streaming executives so keen on buying formats? The answer is simple: it’s a safer bet. Developing an original series from scratch is an expensive and risky gamble. For every hit, countless pilots and concepts fail to find an audience. An international format, however, comes with a built-in proof of concept. It has a track record, a defined structure, and often, a dedicated global fanbase. In an industry terrified of risk, buying a successful format is like buying an insurance policy. Executives know the core idea works, which makes it easier to justify the investment and sell to advertisers. There's simply more money in remaking a proven hit, which allows for domestic syndication rights and merchandise, than in just licensing the original to air.
Getting Lost (and Found) in Translation
Adapting a show for a U.S. audience is more art than science. It's not just about recasting roles; it's about cultural translation. Humor is notoriously difficult to translate, which is why the tone of the American “The Office” evolved to be less cynical than its British predecessor. Pacing often changes, too; American network shows traditionally required longer seasons (22-24 episodes) compared to the shorter runs of many British series, demanding that writers expand storylines. Sometimes, changes are made to make characters more relatable to American sensibilities or to fit a specific star. The CBS hit “Ghosts,” adapted from a BBC series, is a prime example of a successful translation, keeping the charming premise but infusing it with a distinctly American brand of optimism that has resonated with a broad audience. Its success has even led its creators to develop new supernatural comedies for the network.
From Niche to Mainstream
What has changed in recent years is the American audience's growing appetite for global content. The rise of streaming services like Netflix has exposed viewers to a torrent of subtitled and dubbed shows from around the world, from Spain’s “Money Heist” to South Korea’s “Squid Game.” This has created a more accepting environment for stories that don't originate in Hollywood. Viewers are now more accustomed to different storytelling rhythms and cultural perspectives. While networks still often choose to remake a series rather than simply airing the original with subtitles, the success of these unaltered international shows has demonstrated a clear market demand for fresh ideas, no matter where they come from. It proves that a great story can travel, regardless of its language of origin.
