Dragons' Den

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Dragons' Den is a venture-capitalist television programme that originated in Japan where the format is owned by Sony. The format, which now airs internationally, consists of entrepreneurs pitching their ideas in order to secure investment finance from business experts — the "Dragons".

[edit] Show format

The contestants are usually adventure-product designers, who have what they consider to be a viable and potentially very profitable business idea, but who lack funding and direction. They pitch their idea to five rich entrepreneurial businesspeople, the eponymous "dragons". They have, before the show, named an amount of money that they wish to get, and the rules stipulate that if they do not raise at least this amount from the dragons, they get nothing. In return, the contestant gives the dragons a percentage of the company's stock, which is the chief point of negotiation.

Once the contestant has made their presentation, the dragons then probe the idea further, often revealing an embarrassing lack of preparation on the part of the contestants or uncovering troubling facts, and consequently rejecting the investment.

[edit] Versions

Dragons' Den series have been produced in numerous different countries. Apart from in Japan, where the original show format was maintained, in all other locations the show names, structures, and styles are based upon the UK version.

[edit] UK

Main article: Dragons' Den (UK)

In the UK, Dragons' Den is broadcast on BBC Two and is hosted by former BBC economics editor Evan Davis. The Dragons are/were:

Series 1	Series 2	Series 3	Series 5
Peter Jones
Duncan Bannatyne
Simon Woodroffe	Theo Paphitis
Rachel Elnaugh		Deborah Meaden
Doug Richard		Richard Farleigh	James Caan

The BBC website also has an online Den hosted by Dominic Byrne and featuring two new Dragons; Shafiq Rasul and Julie Meyer. Entrepreneurs ask for investments of less than £50,000.

[edit] Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, the show is called Fikr wa Talash.

Article on the show

[edit] Australia

The Australian Dragons and host.

The Australian version of Dragons' Den was broadcast on the Seven Network and hosted by Andrew O'Keefe. Different from other versions, the host ran through the outline of the business with the contestant then negotiating with the Dragons for a deal. It was produced by Michael Horrock. The Australian Dragons were:

The Seven Network announced in December 2005 that the show would not be back for a second season after poor ratings.

[edit] Canada

Dragons' Den first aired in Canada on CBC Television on October 3 2006. Season one featured eight 1-hour episodes, including a final "where are they now" edition. Season two expanded this number to ten 1-hour episodes, with "where are they now" segments inserted into the last few episodes of the show. Season three aired from September to December 2008 with 11 episodes plus a one hour special which aired in January 2009.

It is hosted by Dianne Buckner. The Dragons are:

Arlene Dickinson (Season 2&3), the owner of Venture Communications, a marketing company with offices across Canada.
Robert Herjavec (Seasons 1-3), who sold his IT security firm at the height of the dot-com bubble for over $100 million.
Laurence Lewin (Season 1&2), co-founder of La Senza, a chain of lingerie shops with more than 310 stores throughout Canada, and, via corporate licensees, a further 320 stores operating in 30 countries around the world. Lewin died on November 12, 2008. He left the show for health reasons, which ultimately claimed his life. The show aired a dedication in memory of Laurence on Nov. 17, 2008.
Kevin O'Leary (Season 1-3), co-host of Business News Network's SqueezePlay, was formerly the President of The Learning Company, which was sold to Mattel for $3.7 billion in 1999.
Jim Treliving (Season 1-3), a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who now owns Boston Pizza. In 2005, his restaurants generated well over $500 million in sales.
Jennifer Wood (Season 1 only), one of the most influential executives in Canada's beef industry. Her career in the cattle business began in 1990, and she now owns a 6,500-acre (26 km²) ranch with over 20,000 head of cattle.

W. Brett Wilson (Season 3 only), is a founder of FirstEnergy Capital Corp. in Calgary, Alberta. He is part owner of the English football team Derby County. He is also involved in numerous charities. He replaced Laurence Lewin.

[edit] Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the show is called Den D (The D-Day).

[edit] Finland

In Finland Dragons' Den is called Leijonan kita. The show started running in Finland on 27 September 2007 on MTV3 channel. The show is hosted by Anna Sorainen. The local Dragons, or Leijonat (Lions in Finnish), are:

[edit] Ireland

An Irish version of the show began in 2009 on RTÉ ONE, the state broadcaster. It is presented by Richard Curran, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Business Post. The Irish dragons are:

Gavin Duffy
Sean Gallagher
Bobby Kerr
Sarah Newman
Niall O'Farrell

The dragons have appeared on television in Ireland, in promotion of the series, on The Tubridy Tonight Show, on RTÉ ONE. RTÉ started broadcasting show promos after Christmas as part of their winter line-up.

The first episode aired on 19 February 2009.

[edit] Israel

In Israel, Dragons' Den is entitled Hakrishim (which is Hebrew for "The Sharks"). It is produced by Gil Productions and airs on Channel 10. It is hosted by Guy Zohar. In the Israeli version, there are 6 dragons who rotate their appearance weekly. The first season aired during the summer and fall of 2006. The dragons in season 1 were: Ze'ev Holtzman, Israela Shtier, Aviv Tzidon, Oded Dessau, Jacky Ben-Zaken, and Nir Sharatzki.

The second season began airing on Channel 10 on May 24, 2007. As in the first season, the dragons rotate their appearance weekly. Aviv Tzidon and Jacky Ben-Zaken returned from the first season and were joined by the following new dragons:

Yossi Moldavsky
Nir Barkat
Amir Eyal
Roni Ross
Amos Luzon

[edit] Japan

Titled Money no Tora (Money Tigers), this original version was created by and aired on Nippon Television from 2001 to 2004. It was the first entertainment programme in the history of Japanese television that dealt with the concept of business investment. During its three year run, as many as 16 business executives appeared in the programme as Tigers.

[edit] Middle East

In the Middle East Dragons' Den is known as Dragons' Den: Al Aareen (The Den.) It is broadcast on Lebanon's Future Television, which is available via satellite. The show receives contestants from various Arab countries.

The panel of Dragons for the 2007 series consisted of:

The show has been scheduled for a 2008 series.

[edit] Netherlands

In the Netherlands the show aired in May 2007 on Nederland 3, every Friday at 20.25 (+1 GMT). The second season will begin airing in May 2008 on Nederland 3, every Monday at 21.25 (+1 GMT). As in the first season, it is hosted by Jort Kelder. The dragons are:

Henk Keilman
Annemarie van Gaal
Jan Pieter Melchior (2007)
Willem Sijthoff
Arjen de Koning
George Banken (2008)

http://www.dragonsden.kro.nl

[edit] New Zealand

In New Zealand Dragons' Den is broadcast on TV One and hosted by Rawdon Christie. Initially the UK and Australian series were broadcast, but a local version has now been produced and screened in 2006. The series is produced by Eyeworks Touchdown. The New Zealand Series 1 Dragons are:

Production company Eyeworks Touchdown is currently soliciting applications for a second series of Dragons' Den.

[edit] Nigeria

Nigeria's adaptation of Dragons' Den aired weekly in 2008 on the AIT Network and was produced by Storm Vision.

The Nigerian Dragons were:

A second series is now being re-commissioned.

[edit] Russia

There was a Russian version of the format called Capital.

[edit] Sweden

The British version was on air in Sweden for several years on TV8 and BBC Prime. A Swedish version called Draknästet (English: "The Dragons' Nest") was broadcast in 2009 on Sveriges Television.^[1]

The Swedish Dragons were:

Mats Gabrielsson, who sold his IT firm at the height of the late 80s for over $100 million.
Richard Båge, founder of Insplanet IPO in 2006, founder and chairman of Mediaplanet.
Gunilla von Platen sCEO and founder of Xzakt Kundrelation, a telemarketing company located in Sweden.
Ljubo Mrnjavac sold his fast food copmany Pölsemannen 2002. Today active in real estate.
Sven Hagströmer founder of HQ, Avanza, Öresund and also in the board for the public companies Bilia, Eworks and Insplanet.

[edit] United States

In 2008, television producer Mark Burnett signed a deal with format holder Sony to produce an American version of the series. The series on U.S. television will be titled The Shark Tank (TV series).^[2]

The U.S. network ABC has ordered a pilot episode which will be produced by Sony Pictures TV. ^[3] On October 9, 2008, a casting producer announced that The Shark Tank was accepting applications for a pilot, giving entrepreneurs two weeks to submit their ideas. The pilot was filmed January 6-9 2009 in Los Angeles. ^[4]

The Sharks are:

Robert Herjavec, who sold his IT security firm at the height of the dot-com bubble for over $100 million.
Kevin O'Leary, co-host of Business News Network's SqueezePlay, formerly president of The Learning Company, which was sold to Mattel for $3.7 billion in 1999.
Barbara Corcoran self made real estate millionaire who sold her company The Corcoran Group for $70 million in 2001.
Kevin Harrington pioneer in the Infomercial Industry.
Daymond John founder of FUBU

^[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ SVT pressrelease [1]
^ Sony, Burnett dive into 'Shark Tank', Variety [2] February 13, 2008
^ ABC to Swim With Burnett's 'Shark' [3]Sept 4, 2008
^ First Shark Announced [4]January 28, 2009
^ Introducing the Sharks [5]March 30, 2009

[0] SVT pressrelease [1]

[1] Sony, Burnett dive into 'Shark Tank', Variety [2] February 13, 2008

[2] ABC to Swim With Burnett's 'Shark' [3]Sept 4, 2008

[3] First Shark Announced [4]January 28, 2009

[4] Introducing the Sharks [5]March 30, 2009

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