{{Short description|International reality television franchise}}{{about|the international reality television franchise|other uses|Popstar (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox media franchise | title = Popstars | image = | creator = {{ubl|Jonathan Dowling|Bill Toepfer}} | origin = ''Popstars'' (New Zealand) | owner = Banijay Entertainment<ref>[https://www.banijayrights.com/programmes/8110 Programmes Popstars]</ref> | years = 1999–2015, 2021–present }}

'''''Popstars''''' is an international reality television franchise aimed to find new singing talent. Serving as a precursor to the ''Idol'' franchise, ''Popstars'' first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the girl group TrueBliss. Despite all shows in the ''Popstars'' franchise having been off air in recent years, it remains one of the most successful TV show formats of all time with the format being sold to more than 50 countries and producing groups such as Girls Aloud that had success on the UK charts for the next ten years after winning. The show was the inspiration for Simon Fuller's ''Idol'' franchise.

==History== thumb|left|320px|International editions of ''Popstars'' The series originated in New Zealand, broadcast on TV2 in 1999, where producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss. Dowling then licensed the concept to production company Screentime in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5166274/Ten-Years-on-the-man-who-reinvented-TV-talent-shows.html|title=Ten Years on, the man who reinvented TV talent shows|first=Simon|last=Shaps|date=16 April 2009|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> who then on sold it to TresorTV in Germany before taking it worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=144153|title='Popstars' concept a hit with US giant |work=The New Zealand Herald|date=15 July 2000|first=Louise|last=Cleave|access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref> Despite all versions now being cancelled, ''Popstars'' remains very successful, with the format being sold to over 50 countries.

The show was the inspiration for Simon Fuller's ''Pop Idol'' franchise which would dominate reality TV, (along with ''Big Brother'' and ''Survivor'') for the next few years.

Although ''Popstars'' started successfully in most countries during the early 2000s, the shows gradually began to fail and were dropped by many broadcasters due to poor ratings. The last country where ''Popstars'' was still popular and successful&nbsp;– besides other casting shows such as ''The X Factor'' and ''Got Talent'', as well as ''Idol''&nbsp;– was Germany. This is where ProSieben produced the ninth season in 2010 because of the show's massive success in the ratings, but in 2012, ''Popstars'' was finally cancelled due to the short success of the groups formed throughout the episodes. In 2007, the show returned to France on M6 for one season. A new version of ''Popstars'' started in 2008 in the Netherlands and ran for three seasons. Germany's version returned for an eleventh season in 2015, but would later get cancelled following poor ratings.<ref>{{cite web|last=Weis|first=Manuel|url=http://www.quotenmeter.de/n/80492/popstars-bald-spaeter|title="Popstars" bald später|trans-title=«Popstars» soon after|website=Quotenmeter|date=1 September 2015|access-date=15 October 2017|language=de}}</ref> In 2021, a revamped version of the original New Zealand series returned to TVNZ. The new series focuses on individual artists and songwriting development and does not involve putting together a pop group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Popstars |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/what-to-watch/news-feed/popstars |website=TVNZ |access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref>

==''Popstars'' around the world== <section begin="Popstars series"/> '''Legend:''' {{Color box|#FF7777|border=darkgray}} Franchise has ceased production &nbsp; {{Color box|white|border=darkgray}} Franchise awaiting debut or renewal

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" width="100%" |- ! Country ! Local title ! Network ! Host(s) ! Judges ! Seasons, series, winners, and groups formed ! Other notable artists |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Argentina | ''{{ill|Popstars: Tu Show Está Por Empezar|es|Popstars (Argentina)}}'' | Azul TV (1) <br> Telefe (2) | | | Season 1, 2001: Bandana<br>Season 2, 2002: Mambrú | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777" rowspan=2 | Australia | ''Popstars'' | rowspan=2 | Seven Network | | | Season 1, 2000: Bardot<br>Season 2, 2001: Scandal'us<br>Season 3, 2002: Scott Cain | |- | ''Popstars Live'' | | | Season 1, 2004: Kayne Taylor | Miranda Murphy |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Austria | ''Popstars: Mission Österreich'' | Puls 4<br>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111105000638/http://www.puls4.com/popstars Website] | | | Season 1, 2011: {{ill|Kilmokit|de}} | Season 1, 2011: {{ill|BFF (band)|de|BFF (Band)|lt=BFF}} |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Belgium | ''Pop Stars'' | VT4 | | | Season 1, 2001: Vanda Vanda | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Brazil | ''Popstars'' | SBT | | | {{ill|Popstars (Brazilian TV series) season 1|pt|Popstars (1.ª temporada)|lt=Season 1}}, 2002: Rouge<br>Season 2, 2003: Br'oZ | Season 1: Kênia Boaventura, {{ill|Janaína Lima|pt}}, Maíra Charken, Marjorie Estiano and {{ill|Quelynah|pt}}<br>Season 2: Vinícius "D'Black" Cardoso |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Canada | ''Popstars'' (1)<br>''Popstars: Boy Meets Girl'' (2)<br>''Popstars: The One'' (3) | CTV (1)<br>Global TV (2–3) | | | Season 1, 2001: Sugar Jones<br/>Season 2, 2002: Velvet Empire<br>Season 3, 2003: Christa Borden | Julie Crochetière |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Colombia | ''Popstars'' | Canal Caracol | | | Season 1, 2002: Escarcha | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Denmark | ''Popstars'' (1–3, 5) <br> ''Popstars Showtime!'' (4) | TV 2 (1–4)<br>Kanal 5 (5) | | | Season 1, 2001: EyeQ<br>Season 2, 2002: Jon Nørgaard<br>Season 3, 2003: Fu:el<br>Season 4, 2004: Maria Lucia<br>Season 5, 2014: Linnea | Season 2: Julie Berthelsen and Christine Milton<br>Season 3: Emil Thorup |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Ecuador | ''Popstars'' | Teleamazonas | | | Season 1, 2003: Kiruba<br>Season 2, 2004: La Coba | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Finland | ''{{ill|Popstars (Finnish TV series)|fi|Popstars|lt=Popstars}}'' | MTV3 | | | Season 1, 2002: Gimmel, Paula Vesala, Mira Luoti<br>Season 2, 2004: INDX | Season 1: Jenni Vartiainen<br>Season 2: Jane |- | style="background-color: white"| France | ''Popstars'' (1–2, 4–) <br> ''Popstars – le duel'' (3) | M6 (1–4) <br>D8 (5)<br>Amazon Prime Video (6-) | | | Season 1, 2001: L5<br>Season 2, 2002: Whatfor<br>Season 3, 2003: Linkup<br>Season 4, 2007: Sheryfa Luna<br>Season 5, 2013: The Mess<br>Season 6, 2024: SOR4 | Season 1: Louisy Joseph<br>Season 2: Chimène Badi<br>Season 3: Diadems and M. Pokora<br>Season 4: Léa Castel, Slimane<br>Season 5: Sindy Auvity |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Germany | ''Popstars'' | RTL II (1–2, 11) <br> ProSieben (3–10) | | | Season 1, 2000–01: No Angels<br>Season 2, 2001: Bro'Sis<br>Season 3, 2003: Overground<br>Season 4, 2004: Nu Pagadi<br>Season 5, 2006: Monrose<br>Season 6, 2007: Room 2012<br>Season 7, 2008: Queensberry<br>Season 8, 2009: Some & Any<br>Season 9, 2010: LaViVe<br>Season 10, 2012: {{ill|Melouria|de}}<br>Season 11, 2015: Leandah | Season 2: Yasmin K.<br>Season 3: Preluders<br>Season 5: Bisou |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Greece | ''Popstars'' | Mega TV | | | Season 1, 2003: Hi-5 | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Hungary | ''Popsztárok'' | TV2 | | | Season 1, 2002: Sugar & Spice | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| India | ''Coke [V] Popstars'' | Channel V | | | Season 1, 2002: Viva<br>Season 2, 2003: Aasma | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Indonesia | ''Popstars Indonesia'' | Trans TV | | | Season 1, 2003: Sparx | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Ireland | ''Irish Popstars'' | RTÉ One | | | Season 1, 2002: Six | Nadine Coyle |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Italy | ''Popstar'' (1)<br>''Superstar Tour'' (2) | Italia 1 | | | Season 1, 2001: Lollipop<br>Season 2, 2003: Lucky Star | Season 1: Valentina Monetta |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Kenya | ''Coca-Cola Popstars'' | | | | | Season 1, 2004: Sema (Kenya) |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Malaysia | ''Popstars'' | ntv7 | | | Season 1, 2003: By'U | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Mexico | ''Popstars'' | Televisa | | | Season 1, 2002: T' de Tila | {{ill|María León (singer)|es|María León (cantante)|lt=María León}} (Playa Limbo)<br>Ana Brenda Contreras |- | style="background-color: #FF7777" rowspan=2 | Netherlands | ''Popstars: The Rivals'' | RTL 4 | | | Season 1, 2004: Men2B (boys), Raffish (girls) | |- | ''Popstars'' | SBS6 | | | Season 1, 2008: RED!<br>Season 2, 2009–10: Wesley Klein<br>Season 3, 2010–11: Dean Saunders | |- | style="background-color: #"| New Zealand | ''Popstars'' | TVNZ 2 | | | Season 1, 1999: TrueBliss<br>Season 2, 2021: Christabel Williams<br>Season 3, TBA: ''Renewal pending''<!--Wait until season 3 is confirmed--> | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Norway | ''Popstars'' | TV3 | | | Season 1, 2001: Cape | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Portugal | ''Popstars'' | SIC | | | Season 1, 2001: Nonstop | Gémeas |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Romania | ''Popstars România'' {{small|''(Popstars Romania)''}} | Pro TV | | | Season 1, 2003: Cocktail | Bliss |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Russia | ''{{ill|Stan zvezdoy|ru|Стань звездой}}'' | Rossiya 1 | | | Season 1, 2002: Drugie Pravila (Другие правила; lit. Other rules) | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Slovakia | ''{{ill|Coca-Cola Popstar|sk|Coca-Cola Popstar (Slovensko)}}'' | Markíza | | | Season 1, 2001: Seven Days to Winter<br>Season 2, 2002: Misha<br>Season 3, 2003: Zuzana Smatanová<br>Season 4, 2004: Vetroplach<br>Season 5, 2005: Bystrík<br>Season 6, 2006: Ivo Bič<br>Season 7, 2007: Peoples<br>Season 8, 2008: Mária Čírová | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Slovenia | ''Popstars'' | Kanal A | | | Season 1, 2002: Bepop <br> Season 2, 2003: Unique | Season 2: B.B.T. and Hajdi Korošec |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| South Africa | ''Popstars''<ref>https://www.tvsa.co.za/shows/viewshow.aspx?showid=1340</ref> | SABC 3 (1)<br>SABC 1 (2-3)<br>e.tv (4) | | | Season 1, 2002: 101<br>Season 2, 2003: Adilah<br>Season 3 2004: Jamali and Ghetto Lingo<br>Season 4, 2010: Nne Vida | | Season 1: Afro Z |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Spain | ''{{ill|Popstars: Todo por un sueño|es}}'' | Telecinco | | | Season 1, 2002: Bellepop | Jesús Vázquez |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Sweden | ''Popstars'' | Kanal 5 | | | Season 1, 2001: Excellence<br>Season 2, 2002: Supernatural<br>Season 3, 2003: Johannes Kotschy | Season 2: Martin Rolinski |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Switzerland | ''Popstars'' | TV3 | | | Season 1, 2001: Tears | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Tanzania | ''Coca-Cola Popstars'' | | | | Season 1, 2004: Wakilisha | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Turkey | ''Popstars'' | Kanal D (1)<br>Show TV (2)<br>Star TV (3) | | | Season 1, 2003: Adibin Özşahin<br>Season 2, 2004: Selçuk Demirelli<br>Season 3, 2006: Metin Levent | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Uganda | ''Coca-Cola Popstars'' | | | | Season 1, 2004: Blu3 | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| Ukraine | ''Суперзірка (Superstar)'' | rowspan=1 | 1+1 | | | Season 1, 2010: Viktoriya Korzheniuk | |- | style="background-color: #FF7777" rowspan=1 | United Kingdom | ''Popstars'' (1)<br>''Popstars: The Rivals'' (2) | rowspan=1 | ITV | | | Season 1, 2001: Hear'Say<br>Season 2, 2002: Girls Aloud | Season 1: Liberty X {{small|(finalists)}}, Darius Danesh, Warren Stacey<br>Season 2: One True Voice, Javine Hylton, Clea, Phixx, The Cheeky Girls, Hazel Kaneswaran |- | style="background-color: #FF7777"| United States | ''Popstars USA'' | The WB | | | Season 1, Early 2001: Eden's Crush<br>Season 2, Late 2001: Scene 23 | Season 1: Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki McKibbin<br>Season 2: Josh Henderson |- |} <section end="Popstars series"/> ==Number one singles== ''The following is a list of singles that reached #1 in the respective nations of the Popstars artists''

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Artist ! Nation ! Song title ! Date ! Album |- |rowspan="5"|Bandana ||rowspan="6"|Argentina||"Guapas"|| December 2001 ||rowspan="3"|''Bandana'' |- |"Cómo Puede Ser"|| February 2002 |- |"Maldita Noche"|| May 2002 |- |"Llega la Noche"|| August 2002 || ''Noche'' |- |"Sigo Dando Vueltas"|| April 2003 || ''Vivir Intentando'' |- |Mambrú || "A Veces" || November 2002 ||''Mambrú'' |- |Scandal'us ||rowspan="3"| Australia||"Me, Myself & I"|| April 2001 || ''Startin' Somethin''' |- |Bardot ||"Poison"|| April 2000 || ''Bardot'' |- |Scott Cain ||"I'm Moving On"|| May 2002 || ''Controlled Folly'' |- |rowspan="4"|Rouge ||rowspan="5"|Brazil|| "Não Dá Pra Resistir" || July 2002|| rowspan="2"|''Rouge'' |- |"Ragatanga (The Ketchup Song)"|| October 2002 |- |"Brilha La Luna"|| April 2003||rowspan="2"|''C'est La Vie'' |- |"Um Anjo Veio Me Falar"|| October 2003 |- |rowspan="1"|Br'oZ || "Prometida" || August 2003|| rowspan="1"|''Br'oZ'' |- |Sugar Jones || Canada || "Days Like That"|| June 2001 || ''Sugar Jones'' |- |Fu:el || Denmark || "Please Please"|| May 2003 || ''Next, Please'' |- |rowspan="5"|Kiruba ||rowspan="5"|Ecuador||"Quisiera"|| April 2003 ||rowspan="4"|''Kiruba'' |- |"Camina"|| June 2003 |- |"Como Extraño Tu Luz"|| August 2003 |- |"Me Pierdo"|| November 2003 |- |"Me Quedo Contigo"|| May 2004 || ''Baila La Luna'' |- |L5 ||rowspan="5"|France||"Toutes les femmes de ta vie"|| December 2001 ||''L5'' |- |Whatfor ||"Plus haut"|| November 2002 ||''Whatfor'' |- |Linkup ||"Mon étoile"|| November 2003 ||''Notre étoile'' |- |rowspan="2"|Sheryfa Luna ||"Quelque part"|| October 2007 ||rowspan="2"|''Sheryfa Luna'' |- |"Il avait les mots"|| January 2008 |- |rowspan="4"|No Angels ||rowspan="10"| Germany||"Daylight in Your Eyes"|| February 2001 ||rowspan="2"| ''Elle'Ments'' |- |"There Must Be an Angel"|| August 2001 |- |"Something About Us"|| May 2002 || ''Now... Us!'' |- |"No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)"|| April 2003 || ''Pure'' |- |Bro'Sis || "I Believe"|| December 2001 || ''Never Forget (Where You Come From)'' |- |Overground ||"Schick mir 'nen Engel"|| November 2003 ||''It's Done'' |- |Preluders || "Everyday Girl" || November 2003 || ''Girls in the House'' |- |Nu Pagadi || "Sweetest Poison" || December 2004 ||''Your Dark Side'' |- |rowspan="2"|Monrose || "Shame" || December 2006 || ''Temptation'' |- |"Hot Summer" || July 2007 || ''Strictly Physical'' |- |Six || Ireland || "There's a Whole Lot of Loving Going On"|| February 2002 || ''This Is It'' |- |Lollipop || Italy||"Down Down Down"|| April 2001 || ''Popstars'' |- |Nonstop || Portugal||"Ao Limite Eu Vou"|| July 2001 || ''Nonstop'' |- |Men2B ||rowspan="2"| Netherlands||"Bigger than That"|| December 2004 || ''A Different Way'' |- |Raffish ||"Plaything"|| December 2004 || ''How Raffish Are You?'' |- |TrueBliss || New Zealand || "Tonight" || May 1999 || ''Dream'' |- |rowspan="2"|Hear'Say ||rowspan="6"|United Kingdom || "Pure and Simple"|| March 2001 ||rowspan="2"| ''Popstars'' |- |"The Way to Your Love"|| June 2001 |- |rowspan="4"|Girls Aloud ||"Sound of the Underground"|| December 2002|| ''Sound of the Underground'' |- |"I'll Stand by You"|| November 2004 || ''What Will the Neighbours Say?'' |- |"Walk This Way" (with Sugababes) || March 2007 || Stand-alone single for Comic Relief |- |"The Promise"|| October 2008|| ''Out of Control'' |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116003647/http://www.pop-stars.de/ Official ''Popstars'' (Germany)] *[https://archive.today/20121127223612/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number:449137;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 ''Popstars'' (Australia)] at the National Film and Sound Archive

{{Banijay}} {{Music industry}}

Category:Popstars Category:Singing talent show franchises Category:Singing talent shows Category:Banijay franchises