Over 200 Million Subscribers, Estimated Annual Revenue of 900 Billion KRW
Series to Air on Amazon Prime Video
Planned as the Largest Single Prize in History
Amazon's streaming platform Prime Video, the world's largest e-commerce company, announced on the 18th (local time) that it will produce the largest-ever reality game show in collaboration with famous YouTuber MrBeast.
Amazon Prime Video stated in a press release that day, "We have decided to air 'Beast Games,' produced by MrBeast, as a series." Based on MrBeast's existing content format, the reality show will feature 1,000 participants competing for a prize of $5 million (approximately 6.675 billion KRW). The company emphasized that this show will have the largest single prize in the history of TV and streaming platforms.
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, said, "MrBeast has captivated fans of all ages worldwide with his creativity and imagination," adding, "We are excited to showcase his outstanding production skills and thrilling concept in this show."
MrBeast said, "My goal is to create the best show and prove that YouTubers and creators can succeed on other platforms," and added, "Amazon has given me full creative control."
This is not the first time an OTT platform has produced a reality show. Last November, Netflix released 'Squid Game: The Challenge,' inspired by the drama 'Squid Game,' where 456 participants competed for a prize of $4.56 million (approximately 6.1 billion KRW), which became a hot topic.
MrBeast, who is partnering with Amazon Prime Video this time, also created YouTube content in 2021 featuring actual participants playing games from 'Squid Game.' That video has recorded about 588 million views to date.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is a global celebrity with 245 million subscribers. He also graced the cover of the US news weekly Time magazine last month. In an interview with Time, he revealed that his annual income reaches about $600 to $700 million (approximately 800 billion to 900 billion KRW), all of which he reinvests into content production.
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