Format

ITV Studios has strengthened the international reach of two of its flagship unscripted formats after closing a new agreement with RTL Croatia for "Love Island" and "Game of Chefs", underscoring continued global demand for premium reality and competition formats.

The deal marks Croatia as the 28th territory to commission "Love Island", further consolidating the franchise’s position as one of the most widely adapted reality brands worldwide. Culinary competition format "Game of Chefs" will debut in the market in Spring 2026, becoming its seventh international adaptation.

“This deal with RTL Croatia underlines the continued momentum behind 'Love Island' as one of the world’s most powerful reality brands, alongside the distinctive appeal of 'Game of Chefs'. Both formats deliver premium entertainment with real audience impact, and Croatia is an exciting new market for them. We’re looking forward to working closely with RTL Croatia to bring two bold, high-energy shows to viewers in 2026,” said Tom Clark, EVP Global Sales & Commercial Strategy at ITV Studios.

From RTL Croatia’s perspective, the acquisition aligns with the broadcaster’s broader content strategy across linear and streaming. “RTL Croatia continues its commitment to bringing premium international content to local audiences. The acquisition of these formats marks a significant milestone in our strategy to strengthen our linear channels and Voyo streaming platform,” said Tonko Weissmann, EVP of RTL Croatia.

"Love Island" continues to post strong performance across multiple territories and platforms. In the UK, the current "Love Island: All Stars" series 3 has generated 53 million streams on ITVX and surpassed one billion social media impressions at its midway point, following a launch that became ITV’s biggest programme of the year among 16–34s. In the US, season seven of "Love Island USA" ranked as Peacock’s most-watched original season ever, delivering 18.4 billion minutes streamed and topping the platform’s original rankings during its finale week. Meanwhile, the UK’s series 12 achieved its biggest final in three years with 2.4 million viewers, alongside 173 million total streams, up 8% year-on-year.

"Game of Chefs" brings competitive intensity to the culinary genre, with three top chefs selecting teams of amateur cooks through blind-tasting auditions delivered via a signature conveyor belt. The format progresses through bootcamp and battle stages, blending talent show dynamics with high-end food competition.