New Gabalier show moves from ORF to Puls 4

Just a few days ago we reported that the ORF is working on a new show with Thomas Morgenstern and Andreas Gabalier. The production, announced as the “world's highest live show”, was supposed to be shown live on ORF 1 on September 28th. But now it is clear: This will not happen in this form, as the ORF has since dropped out as a TV partner. The ORF did not give any specific reasons for the withdrawal to the news agency APA, but simply spoke of “production-related reasons”.

The show will still go ahead regardless, and the production company Unscripted Productions has already found a new broadcasting partner. Instead of being shown on ORF, “The Really Best Show in the World” will be shown on Puls 4 on September 28th at prime time. This comes as a complete surprise, as the private broadcaster has not invested much money in major show productions in the recent past, instead focusing on other programming styles.

“We are delighted that Puls 4 and Joyn are partners on board who think about television in a visionary and modern way,” Lukas Steiner-Bauer, Managing Director of Unscripted Productions, told APA.

There is not much information about the content of the show yet. What is known, however, sounds spectacular every autumn. The show takes place on a stage more than 60 meters above Lake Wörthersee. Gabalier and Morgenstern compete in a duel – most recently they were looking for prominent opponents from Germany. Who these are is currently as unclear as the type of duel. “We cannot say anything more about the challenge at the moment for contractual reasons, but I already know one thing: anyone who competes against us should definitely not suffer from a fear of heights,” explained Morgenstern when announcing the format, when the ORF was still on board.

Gabalier and Morgenstern already know each other from an earlier, unusual production. During the world record attempt “Mission Polar Circle,” the two were blown across the empty ice on skates at record speed by 14 leaf blowers. They say they became friends in the process – and acquired a taste for it. “We want to try out crazy things and bring a lightness into the world that is currently lacking far too often,” says Gabalier.