Nippon TV created the Japanese television format that ultimately became the basis for the UK show Dragon's Den.
The Japanese programme Money Tigers supplied the essential structure: entrepreneurs present business proposals to potential investors, answer searching questions and seek an agreement involving money and ownership. The format was then adapted for different national audiences, including the United Kingdom.
Nippon Television Network Corporation, commonly called Nippon TV, is one of Japan's major commercial broadcasters. Its role is easy to confuse with the broadcasters that later transmitted local versions of the format. In the UK, the adaptation was made for the BBC, while other countries developed their own editions under titles such as Shark Tank.
The format's international success came from its simple, repeatable premise. The pitches vary by country, but the core negotiation between founders and investors remains recognisable.