Format powerhouse Banijay Entertainment has announced Let’s Play Ball, a new entertainment series from Banijay Benelux label, EndemolShine Nederland, Talpa Studios and Signal.Stream. The format was originally piloted on YouTube via Signal.Stream’s channel StukTV, where it drew over 1.2 million views.
Commissioned by SBS6 in the Netherlands, the eight-episode series will make its international debut in the Netherlands this summer, and will be co-produced by EndemolShine Nederland and Signal.Stream. Filming for the series will take place across the Netherlands, including Friesland, Utrecht, and Limburg. Conversations are already underway for international roll-out of the format.
According to Banijay, Let’s Play Ball is a larger-than-life physical game show, that becomes a wildly exhilarating race across regional terrains, with contestants rolling a gigantic ball as they go. Each episode features two celebrity-led teams navigating varied landscapes, from narrow city streets, to rivers and countryside meadows. What begins as a seemingly straightforward task unravels into comedic chaos and strategic gameplay, demanding quick-thinking, teamwork, grit and determination.
James Townley, chief content officer, development, Banijay Entertainment, said: “Let’s Play Ball is a bold, scalable, and riotous format, that perfectly reflects our commitment to delivering fresh, escapist entertainment for broad audiences. Its proven online success demonstrates strong young-skewing viewership, and with non-scripted co-productions thriving, this collaboration exemplifies what Banijay Entertainment is all about, building partnerships to maintain and grow the best portfolio in the business.”
Sil Geurtsen, head of development, EndemolShine Nederland added: “After the pilot’s success on YouTube with StukTV, we’re excited to scale it up, especially with the excellent Signal.Stream team. The game might sound simple, but rolling a gigantic ball across different landscapes serves as a catalyst for surreal, hilarious entertainment.
Wouter van der Pauw, founder, Signal.Stream said: “We test our ideas where it counts: in front of a real audience. Let’s Play Ball first ran as a pilot on our StukTV YouTube channel, giving us the chance to see what worked, what didn’t, and importantly, what made people laugh. Those learnings shaped the format into what it is now: a playful, high-energy race packed with chaos, surprises, and momentum.”
