Format

CJ ENM is set to unveil a new non-scripted survival format, Synchro Game, at MIP London, marking the latest milestone in its creative partnership with Japan’s leading broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). The project represents a further step in the companies’ shared strategy to develop high-concept entertainment formats designed for international audiences.

Blending intellectual challenge with physical competition, Synchro Game is built around a distinctive premise: survival depends on perfect synchronization between mind and body. The format pairs top-performing “Brains” with elite “Physicals,” forming teams that must tackle a series of demanding missions combining strategy, problem-solving, endurance and strength. Victory is not determined by individual superiority, but by the ability to coordinate, adapt quickly and operate as a single system under pressure.

Produced by Nam Kyung-mo in collaboration with Takehisa Mizuno from TBS’s Global IP Studio, the show features a cast representing Korea’s top intellectual talents and high-level physical competitors. The format will launch with two 90-minute episodes premiering on February 23 and 24, ahead of its international presentation at MIP London as part of CJ ENM’s growing slate of non-scripted titles.

The project builds on the momentum of the CJ ENM–TBS partnership, which began in 2021. Their first jointly developed format, MUGEN LOOP (Infinite Loop), aired in Korea and Japan in 2025 and was nominated for Best Studio-Based Gameshow Format at the International Format Awards the same year. With Synchro Game, the collaboration moves into a new phase, reinforcing a co-development model aimed at creating globally scalable IP from the outset.

Sebastian Kim, Head of CJ ENM’s Content Distribution Business Unit, highlighted the strategic importance of the launch, noting that the format reflects a shared commitment to crafting high-quality entertainment with international potential. Presenting the show at MIP London, he said, offers a key opportunity to position the format in the global marketplace.

Jun Fukai, Director of Global Business Development at TBS, echoed this perspective, emphasizing the strength of the partnership and expressing confidence that Synchro Game—with its distinctive concept and world-building—can follow the international trajectory established by Infinite Loop.

At a time when the global format market increasingly favors strong, easily adaptable competition concepts, Synchro Game aligns with several key trends: hybrid gameplay structures, scalable team dynamics and development strategies built around cross-border collaboration. As such, the format not only expands the CJ ENM–TBS alliance but also signals the growing importance of international co-creation as a pathway to building the next generation of global entertainment franchises.