Written by new-contact on Sep 5, 2013. Posted in On Location

Survivor TV producers clash with Palau governor over filming plan

Producers of the long-running reality game show Survivor face local opposition over plans to film on beaches in the western Pacific. The production reportedly wants to close Palau’s Rock Islands beaches for four months, but the local governor is concerned the move would affect tourism.

“The President of Palau is the one who's supportive of the project and has [told] the Koror State governor [that] if they need anything on the national level they would help them,” local journalist Bernadette Carreon told ABC Pacific Radio: “But it is Koror State who is taking care of the Rock Islands, so they're the one that's going to make a decision whether they're going to close it or not.”

Survivor is a massively successful TV show and has been running in the US for nearly 30 seasons. The format involves remote filming location, where contestants complete gruelling challenges for a cash prize.