Banijay Asia, SERA collaborate on innovative format show to send one Indian into space

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Banijay Asia, part of Banijay Entertainment, the world’s largest independent content producer, has announced its collaboration with Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) to produce an innovative format show that will showcase the nationwide hunt for one ordinary Indian citizen, who will journey into space on a future Blue Origin New Shepard mission.

The format will capture the drama, disappointment and joy as the shortlisted individuals participate in various challenges that test their mettle and readiness for space travel. The show will culminate in the selection of a final winner, who will have the opportunity to become one of the first Indian citizens to travel into space.

This announcement builds on SERA’s recent news announcing India as a partner nation for their human spaceflight program aimed at giving an opportunity to citizens from countries with few or no astronauts to travel into space. SERA’s mission is to democratize space travel by opening up opportunities for ordinary citizens to experience the wonders of space exploration.

“At Banijay Asia, our mission has always been to explore new horizons in storytelling. We are embarking on an unprecedented journey with SERA to create a reality format that transcends the ordinary. It’s a privilege to document this journey of an ordinary Indian space traveler, and show how this program will not only transform their life but also democratize space travel more broadly. We are excited to entertain and inspire our audiences as we make a new path in the world of competitive reality television, and spark a new wave of interest in space exploration,” said Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO, Banijay Asia, Endemol Shine India.

Mrinalini Jain, Group Chief Development Officer, Banijay Asia, Endemol Shine India, expressed her enthusiasm saying, “Partnering with SERA is a testament to Banijay Asia’s quest to find inspiring stories to narrate in the most innovative formats. We will pioneer an innovative and inspirational format by blending the thrill of reality television with the awe of space exploration. This will be a game-changing format showing every step of the journey from selection to space.”

Joshua Skurla, Co-Founder, SERA, shared his excitement for the collaboration: “SERA is founded on the principle of making space accessible to all. Our mission is to inspire and enable individuals from all backgrounds to explore the cosmos, fostering a new era of discovery and understanding. This partnership with Banijay Asia will bring space- and science-related content to a diverse audience. We look forward to their innovative approach to transform this historic endeavor into a movement that will not only inspire millions but also cultivate a global dialogue on the future of space exploration. SERA’s spaceflight program will offer citizens from across the world six seats on a future mission of New Shepard, Blue Origin’s reusable suborbital rocket. The mission will fly the selected astronauts on an 11-minute journey past the Kármán line (100 km), the internationally-recognized boundary of space.”

Launched in early 2018, as a joint venture between content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment and Deepak Dhar, Banijay Asia is today among the biggest players in entertainment across screens, and across genres. Over the last few years, Banijay Asia has delivered mega-hit scripted adaptations like The Night Manager, The Trial (The Good Wife), Hostages, Call My Agent: Bollywood and Fall and successful originals such as Dahan, Matsya Kaand, Undekhi and Tribhanga among many others. The content studio’s upcoming shows include Indian adaptations of Monk, House and Suits.

On the non-scripted front, Banijay Asia is leading the genre with blockbuster titles like Temptation Island, The Kapil Sharma Show, MTV Roadies, The Voice, The Big Picture, Into The Wild with Bear Grylls, Case Toh Banta Hai and more.

SERA, the Space Exploration and Research Agency, was founded to build a global community dedicated to space exploration and research. Its mission is to create a space agency for everyone.