The grand finale of the reality show Desafio on Nova in Bulgaria ended as the undisputed leader in television ratings. The battle for the grand prize of BGN 100,000 at the Arena in the Wild North attracted more than 40% of all viewers in the key target group (18–59). The second-ranked TV station recorded more than twice lower performance, with an audience share of just 17.3% in the same time slot.

Over the past seven years, NOVA’s original format has grown into one of the most significant events on the television landscape. The latest season of Desafio Bulgaria attracted an average audience share of 36.9% among viewers aged 18–59, while the second-ranked broadcaster achieved only 19.1% in the same period. This marks an improvement compared to last season’s results, when the show delivered a 36% audience share in the working-age category (18–59).

The reality show’s social media ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, generating more than 345 million views, while Facebook, Instagram and TikTok gained over 80,000 new followers. The special podcast series After the Games, hosted by Vanya Zapryanova, has so far surpassed 70 million views across digital platforms.

During the past three months, the extreme competition welcomed courageous participants to the Arena, where they embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. Epic battles, dramatic twists and emotionally charged moments challenged competitors’ strength, endurance and determination day after day. The winner of the seventh season of Desafio Bulgaria is adventurer Miroslav Velikov, who earned his spot through a casting battle and ultimately triumphed over his rivals in a tense and multifaceted contest for the grand prize.