» French Survivor Highest Ratings as of Yet, Due to Palawan ? And What is that Strange Animal?

French Survivor Highest Ratings as of Yet, Due to Palawan ? And What is that Strange Animal?

Filed under Entertainment, Environment, Foreigners Viewpoint, Media, Signs of Progress, Tourist, Video

Interesting to note that the French are starting to take notice of the Philippines.

First there was this show called Koh-Lanta, a Survivor type show. Koh-Lanta: Palawan has the highest viewership of the show with about 9 million viewers. The host has noted that the experience that he had in Palawan is “two of the best” the other being New Caledonia. A Filipina blogger has pointed out that this show has helped her a bit…

Well, at the school, my teacher and European classmates asked me about Philippines and to describe them how it is… This program has helped me in a way that people here will have some knowledge about Philippines like how beautiful it is, how kind and welcoming the people are and how abundant we are to have these beautiful and wonderful nature. – Petite Cherie

Koh-Lanta Palawan Intro Video:

or via youtube

Kevin talks about his experience in the Philippines after winning a challenge (he gets to keep the pearls )

or via youtube

The series ended in September but if you like to watch it, you may do so via streaming video (after the break)

Caméra Café
On another note, a French Producer has stated the Philippine version of Caméra Café top his his list. Based on an exclusive interview with the Inquirer he stated:

“I’ve been to a lot of countries [and] seen the different versions. But, for me, the best is the Pinoy cast.” “The Filipinos are even better than the original French cast—who are my friends!”

Koh-Lanta: Palawan Streaming Episodes (Windows Media)
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Finale

Palawan takes French TV audience’s breath away
Source: Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines - Of all the exotic locales Denis Brogniart and his collaborators have shot in, the host of the top-rated French reality TV show “Koh Lanta,” a Survivor-like hit show, cited Palawan and New Caledonia as “two of the best.”

Brogniart went on to heap praises on Palawan, particularly El Nido resort, where he stayed, as the most beautiful location they’ve come across in seven years.

“It’s incredible to see a place like this where you can be totally lost,” he said. “It has everything, from lush forest to transparent waters full of fish and corals of various shapes and colors.”

Show producer Thierry Graff was equally awed when and he his team “stumbled” on Palawan while scouring the globe for possible locations.

“It was really spectacular to see those rock formations and magnificent beaches all in one place,” he said. “It’s a dream location that’s isolated yet accessible enough to stage challenges.”

The irony wasn’t lost on Graff when he admitted that Palawan, by far, is more scenic than Koh Lanta, a resort island in southern Thailand, from which the show got its name.

9 million viewers

But the biggest affirmation came from the French people themselves. Close to nine million viewers reportedly watched the Palawan series during its entire 11-week run, making it the highest-rating “Koh Lanta” adventure so far.

For sure, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of islands all over the tropics that are as beautiful and as isolated as Palawan. But the latter offers a rare mix of nature and modern-day amenities a crew of 70 people (excluding 16 French contestants) needs in order to effectively do their jobs.

The logistics involved in shooting a show like “Koh Lanta” are staggering, said Brogniart, a fitness buff who had a treadmill shipped all the way from Manila to El Nido. Apart from the show’s French crew, Graff and company had to hire hundreds of locals to provide support.

Brogniart went on to assure French reporters that the Philippines is a safe place to visit except for certain islands like Jolo. Terrorism, he added, can happen anywhere, even in places like Paris and London.

“Not once did I feel unsafe in Palawan except one morning when a big dog followed me while I was jogging on the beach,” Brogniart shared with a hearty chuckle. “I felt the same way wherever I went, whether it was in Boracay or in Manila.”

After endorsing the Philippines in a press conference organized by the Department of Tourism in the recently concluded TopResa travel fair in Deauville, France, the towering Brogniart later graced the Philippine pavilion, where he elicited stares of approval from a curious French public.

Indeed, DOT has another winning endorser in its efforts to further push “Brand Philippines.”