Format

During the first half of 2025, the global unscripted television landscape has undergone a significant evolution, with emerging trends and genre hybridization shaping the new season. Core themes include psychophysical wellness, the human need for escape, and social experimentation—often enhanced by cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence.

In the lifestyle segment, programming is moving toward more scientific and sophisticated approaches to wellness. Shows like Eat Smart: Secrets of The Glucose Goddess (UK) and Therapy House (South Korea) focus on glucose control or holistic mental health practices. Even commercial brands are entering the space, such as Inside M&S at New Year, which promotes health-conscious products through TV storytelling.

In the entertainment and talent show arena, musical competitions continue to dominate, but are refreshed by spectacular staging innovations—like rising platforms in Lift You Up and The Headliner—and hybrid formats such as Song vs Dance. Nostalgic creativity also thrives in formats like Play That Song… Again!, which reinvents 1980s hits through dual-stage performances.

Reality shows are increasingly extreme and psychologically intense. In Extracted and The Box, contestants face isolation and survival challenges in remote environments. Shows like Million Dollar Secret and De Kluis: Het Masterplan turn competitions into strategic thrillers, while formats such as Know Where To Hide and Strijders emphasize mental pressure and tactical gameplay.

Game shows are balancing nostalgia and innovation: classics like Wheel of Fortune and Pictionary are making comebacks, while new, claustrophobic or psychological formats like The Walls (Japan) and Mystery in the Box (China) test contestants’ logic and nerves.

Dating shows are also evolving—shifting to theatrical settings (Date on Stage) or incorporating artificial intelligence (The Honesty Box), where honesty is measured and lying can cost players the grand prize.

A growing focus on social impact remains, despite political resistance in some countries. Formats like The A-Talks (hosted by individuals on the autism spectrum), Wildlife (featuring mentally challenged youth), and Herbstresidenz (involving the elderly in care homes) highlight underrepresented voices. Others, like Back Seat Cops and Doorbell Detective, encourage viewers to engage with justice and law enforcement through active participation.

In a world burdened by conflict and social polarization, comedy and emotional connection return as powerful tools of relief. Programs like Liars Club, Edvins Lustgård, and Roast on the Coast Sverige offer shared moments of laughter, combining reality, improvisation, and celebrity spontaneity.

Overall, the first half of 2025 confirms the strength and versatility of unscripted television, which continues to reflect global anxieties, technological shifts, and the need for meaningful—and often playful—engagement with real life.