7 vs. Wild: These men really benefit from the million dollar hit
How two unknown entrepreneurs inspire millions with the YouTube format "7 vs. Wild" - and who benefits from it
In the 2000s, Discovery Channel aired the television series Abandoned in the Wild. In it, survival expert Bear Grylls was abandoned in the wild and had to fight his way back to civilization without help. His tasks: find food, build shelters and defy other adversities.
Maybe it was this series that gave those responsible for "7 vs. Wild" the necessary inspiration years ago. In any case, the YouTube format that everyone is talking about now works in a very similar way – but with more than one protagonist. As the name suggests, 7 vs. Wild involves seven contestants being released into the wild. They are all Youtubers, some of them produce outdoor videos themselves. Depending on their previous knowledge, they are allowed to take between one and seven items with them in the current season in order to survive in the wilderness. They film themselves and their everyday lives. That also means seven days of complete isolation.
Wilderness survival as a concept
And because surviving without provisions is obviously not enough of a challenge, participants can also do a “challenge” every day to collect points. In the end, whoever has the most points and holds out until the end wins.
The format is hosted by Friedrich "Fritz" Meinecke. The Youtuber from Magdeburg is best known for his adventure videos and stands for the extreme. In the past 12 months alone, the 33-year-old has cycled from Berlin to Istanbul, spent three days in the desert or spent the night in deep snow when temperatures were in the two-digit range. Meinecke also takes part in both seasons of 7 vs. Wild himself. He also won the first.