Wipeout Australia
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | February 3, 2009 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Owner | Nine Network |
| Parent | Endemol Southern Star |
Wipeout, broadcast as Wipeout Australia on television, represents the Australian version of the American game show sharing the same title. It debuted on the Nine Network at 7:30 pm on 3 February 2009, initially scheduled for an eight-episode season. The show was produced by Endemol Southern Star and is currently aired again on GO!, a digital multi-channel under the Nine Network umbrella.
Production
Applicants submitted an extensive 14-page form and participated in auditions held in Sydney on 2 August 2008. From these, a group of 160 contestants was chosen to film during a week beginning 2 October 2008 at the international Wipeout obstacle facility located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The post-production phase took place in Sydney starting November 2008.
Presenters
On 8 September 2008, Kelly Landry was announced as the field reporter, interacting directly with contestants and providing on-site coverage of their challenges on the Wipeout course.
Co-hosts James Brayshaw, known for his sports presenting role at Nine Network, and actor Josh Lawson were confirmed on 26 November 2008 to deliver commentary from the studio.
Format
The format of Wipeout Australia closely mirrors that of its American counterpart, featuring an initial Qualifier round with 20 participants, where eight are eliminated instead of half. Many contestants don costumes to increase the show's entertainment value.
The top twelve contestants move forward to the Sweeper round, where they must maintain balance atop a 3-meter-high pole while a rotating arm attempts to knock them off. After six are eliminated, the remaining six advance, with the last contestant standing awarded a A$1,000 cash prize.
Following this, six players compete in the Dreadmill, which takes the place of the original Dizzy Dummy obstacle. Competitors must overcome challenges while on a treadmill to qualify further.
The final four contestants enter the Wipeout Zone, racing against the clock to complete the course in the shortest time and claim a A$20,000 reward.