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\n\tBanijay<\/a> Entertainment has struck a partnership with Yoshimoto Kogyo<\/a>, one of Japan\u2019s largest entertainment groups and the creator behind global phenomenon \u201cLOL: Last One Laughing,\u201d to acquire global format rights to long-running comedic challenge series \u201cYou Laugh You Lose<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tUnder the deal, Banijay Entertainment will lead adaptations across its 23 territories, with Yoshimoto retaining distribution responsibilities everywhere else.<\/p>\n \n\tThe show, which has been on Japanese screens since its 2006 debut on Nippon TV, puts a group of comedians through a grueling 24-hour challenge set inside an immersive real-world environment. Each participant plays a character as the day\u2019s situations grow progressively more elaborate \u2013 but the one rule that never changes is that nobody is permitted to crack a smile. Do so, and a comedic forfeit kicks in immediately. Unannounced celebrity guests and a steady stream of increasingly absurd scenarios keep the stakes \u2013 and the suppressed laughter \u2013 ratcheting up until the very end.<\/p>\n \n\tThe pickup deepens Banijay\u2019s already significant footprint in comedy formats. The company currently produces \u201cLOL: Last One Laughing\u201d through its labels in 11 markets worldwide, and the Yoshimoto deal signals a continued appetite for proven formats in the genre.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201c\u2018You Laugh You Lose\u2019 is a blockbuster comedy classic in Japan,\u201d said James Townley, chief content officer of development at Banijay Entertainment. \u201cIt\u2019s playful, unpredictable, and packed with international potential. The 24-hour scenario delivers escalating comedic tension, and the instant penalty gag adds a hilarious format beat. It is incredibly adaptable and complements our portfolio, offering our labels, and clients, a chance to craft a locally distinctive, market-defining hit.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHiroshi Fujiwara, director and vice president of Yoshimoto Kogyo, added: \u201cWe are truly honored to be working with Banijay Entertainment, home to one of the world\u2019s largest production networks, to drive the international expansion of \u2018You Laugh You Lose\u2019 (No Laughing).\u2019 We are proud to count it among Japan\u2019s most popular variety shows, and we look forward to audiences around the world enjoying the format.\u201d<\/p>\n