ABC is creating a franchise from its hit investment series “Shark Tank.” The network has picked up a spinoff of the show titled “Beyond the Tank.”
From Sony Pictures Television and United Artists Media Group, “Beyond the Tank” will catch up with entrepreneurs after they’ve landed deals on “Shark Tank.” ABC has ordered 10 hourlong episodes.
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Here’s ABC description of the series:
“Beyond the Tank” will feature a look back at past “Shark Tank” pitches and deals to examine the highs and lows that can come from an appearance in the tank. The series will revisit entrepreneurs whose businesses were groundbreaking in terms of their technology, business model or branding who have taken their business to new heights with the help of the Sharks, entrepreneurs and their Shark investors who gambled on their businesses and lost, businesses that multiple sharks fought hard against each other to secure and even those entrepreneurs who did not get deals from the Sharks, but continued on in pursuit of their dream.
“Shark Tank,” which is based on the Japanese “Dragons’ Den” format created by Nippon Television Network Corporation, premiered in August 2009 on ABC. It aired on Fridays, which have long been considered the place where series go to die, but “Shark Tank” thrived on Fridays and helped to redefine the night as fertile ground for viewers. “Shark Tank” captured an average 4.81 million viewers for its first season and grew to 7.45 million viewers for its most recent sixth season debut last month.
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Produced by United Artists Media Group in association with Sony Pictures Television, “Shark Tank” is executive-produced by Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill and Phil Gurin.
An Australian version of the show is set to debut in 2015.