ITV

Tag: MipTV

  • GRB Media Ranch to sell ‘Blind Dating’ format to ABY Media

    GRB Media Ranch to sell ‘Blind Dating’ format to ABY Media

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch president, Sophie Ferron announced the format sale of “Blind Dating” to Africa’s ABY Media and the acquisition of four-time Emmy-winning docu-series Medical Stories. Produced by Inventi Media Group and airing on PBS, this production has 39 episodes (39×30’) currently available.

    Blind Dating: In this classic studio-based dating game show, three single men and three single women must make the perfect match to win a date. In each episode, without seeing each other, the participants must find their love by answering personal questions while digging for clues – and some dirt – on social media. Watch these singles try to impress, get picked and go home with a mate. A hit show in French Canada for many years!

    Medical Stories: This acclaimed docu-series captures drama through the lens of cinematic storytelling.  It captures the experiences of medical and emergency personnel and their heroic actions and extraordinary measures taken while battling life-threatening conditions of critically ill or injured patients. Follow their emotional journeys as individuals as they navigate their way through illnesses and injuries, often unknown, from the moment of receiving an accurate diagnosis to seeking out support. In-depth commentary is included from renowned medical experts and researchers, providing valuable insight into baffling conditions and the cutting-edge techniques used in developing novel treatments. These intertwined narratives offer viewers a message of hope, empowerment, and awareness of diseases that are often overlooked both by the public and the medical community.

    Ferron stated: “The format sale of Blind Dating is especially meaningful to me. I grew up on the set of this series, as my father created and produced it in Canada. It remained a huge hit and was remade twice for new generations. He passed away last year and would be proud to see it travel. I thank GRB Media Ranch’s Liz Levenson for closing this deal with Bernard Azria of ABY Media for many African territories. We are also excited to have acquired Emmy-winning docu-series, Medical Stories which clearly underlines our commitment to delivering diverse and compelling narratives. We are here at MIP to discuss all our fantastic properties. At GRB Media Ranch, we’ve got stories.”

    Kimberley Azria of ABY Media stated “ABY Media is very happy to have acquired this special Format from our partners at GRB Media Ranch. We know that it will be a popular show in Africa with many audiences!”

    Inventi Media Group’s executive producer and director Brian Chris Capozzi stated: “Inventi Media Group is thrilled that GRB Media Ranch is representing our award-winning series Medical Stories for distribution. Their expertise in the global marketplace is well-known and respected. With them, we are confident that viewers in other parts of the world will soon be experiencing the heartfelt and dramatic stories from our series.”

    Inventi Media Group’s executive producer and director Bob Buruchian added “GRB Media Ranch’s global representation of our Medical Stories series is a source of great excitement for our team. With their esteemed expertise, we’re confident our compelling narratives will captivate audiences worldwide.”

  • Something Special announces sale of two format options to Spain’s Mediawan

    Something Special announces sale of two format options to Spain’s Mediawan

    Mumbai: Something Special, Seoul-based #1 independent* international format agency announced the licensing of two formats into Spain and also announced they are taking a hot new  dating format to MIPFormats/MIPTV. Something Special’s head of international business Praise ChanMi Shin will be at MIP to present a case study of Still Alive a mystery reality game show format which the company has created with top Korean creator, Miyeon Kim and Bora Lee. The session is taking place at 10:15 am on Sunday, 7 April 2024 in the Palais des Festivals Riviera Stage.

    Spain’s Mediawan acquired two formats through its local production labels: Veranda took Something Special’s spooky format Still Alive while Boomerang took celebrity competition format Battle in the Box

    Something Special is also preparing for MIPFormats and MIPTV and will bring their hot new dating format: I AM SINGLE (aka I AM SOLO – KR title): In 2023, there were 43 dating shows airing across different channels and platforms in Korea. Among them, this show has broken records as one of the most viewed non-scripted dating shows across three streaming platforms, including Netflix. This show has also been the most searched and viral TV show of 2023.

    Something Special president & executive producer Jin Woo Hwang stated: “Something Special is pleased announce that Mediawan acquired our special formats for Spain Still Alive and Battle in the Box. We’re also excited to bring the freshest and the best Korean formats for the first time internationally during MIPTV and MIPFormats. Our head of international business- Praise, will be presenting a case study of Still Alive at MIPFormats which we are proudly representing.”

    Boomerang CEO Jorge Pezzi said, “We are delighted to announce that we have acquired the rights for Spain to Battle in the Box. We are convinced that it is a very attractive format for the Spanish public. The Boomerang TV unscripted team is experts in adapting international entertainment brands and I am convinced that they will make a great version of ‘Battle in the box’.

    Veranda Media director of non-scripted Tono Hernández stated, “We are thrilled to partner with Something Special to bring Still Alive to Spanish audiences. With its distinctive and straightforward concept, the format delivers a great deal of fun and keep everyone – contestants and viewers alike – constantly guessing and engaged.”

  • GRB Media Ranch acquires four new documentaries

    GRB Media Ranch acquires four new documentaries

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch CEO, Gary R Benz announced the acquisition of four hot topical new documentaries covering a range of headline grabbing events.

    The content includes the murder investigation of Tupak Shakur: Tupac: 187 (working title), an art theft in Ottawa in Stealing Churchill, and sensational political topics: God & Country and Unfit. The company will present all four docs at MIPDoc and MIPTV next week where GRB Media Ranch president, Sophie Ferron and GRB sales & acquisitions’ executive Liz Levenson will be in attendance.

    Tupac: 187 (working title) after 30 years, the case of murdered Rap superstar Tupac Shakur may finally get resolved when an accused Las Vegas man stands trial. Discover the criminal negligence and its impact on the night of the shooting and see the development of the false narrative that was devised to cover it up; and track the “big lie” all the way from its inception five minutes after the shooting until this moment – the current case in Nevada. Was the right guy caught? (5×60’)

    Stealing Churchill is an investigative documentary taking audiences to the heart of the unlikely heist that shocked the international arts community: the theft of the famous Winston Churchill portrait by Yousuf Karsh. This masterwork painting was stolen from the Reading Lounge in Ottawa’s Château Laurier and replaced by a fake which was only discovered eight months later. Has the portrait of the Roaring Lion, a work of art that launched Yousuf Karsh’s international career, disappeared forever?  (1 x 60’)  

    Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump:  This documentary explores if Donald Trump is psychologically fit to hold the office of President of the United States. This is an eye-opening analysis of Trump by leading U.S. mental health professionals and political observers and those who had intimate personal contact with him and his behavior. (1 x 90’)

    God & Country:  From award-winning director Dan Partland (Intervention) and mega-producer Rob Reiner, this vital documentary reveals the dangerous implications of Christian Nationalism which distorts the U.S.  Constitution and Christianity itself.  What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism?  (1 X 90’)

    Gary R Benz stated: “GRB Media Ranch is thrilled to debut four exciting new documentaries to add to its expanding non-fiction portfolio. The new content is both topical and unnerving and complements our library of over 5,000 hours of premium finished programs and formats.  We are delighted to introduce them to the market at this time when the subject matter continues to attract headlines in the media. As we say at GRB Media Ranch – we’ve got stories!”

  • MIPTV & ZDF Studios announce finalists for MIPFormats Pitch 2024

    MIPTV & ZDF Studios announce finalists for MIPFormats Pitch 2024

    Mumbai: MIPTV revealed the five finalists of the MIPFORMATS PITCH 2024 staged in partnership with ZDF Studios, each of whom will present their original unscripted entertainment formats in front of a renowned industry jury in Cannes on the second day of MIPFORMATS (6-7 April).

    Finalists were shortlisted based on a potential universal appeal by an international jury of format experts who will also judge the pitches on the day, comprised of Ilan Astrug, VP, Formats Acquisition and Sales, Warner Bros. Int. TV Production; Siobhan Crawford, Content and Founder, GLOW MEDIA; Julien Degroote EVP, Head of Content Development, TF1 Group; Ella Umansky, VP Format Acquisitions, ITV Studios and Ralf Rückauer, VP Unscripted, ZDF Studios.

    With 89 submissions for the 2024 competition received from a record 29 countries, the finalists are:

    ‘Villa Incognito’, Tuvalu Media (Netherlands)

    ‘25’, LGH Entertainment (Norway)

    ‘A.I Of The Beholder’, David Tobiasz (Canada)

    ‘The Stupid House’, Chulapo Pictures (UK)

    ‘Unknown Champions’, Phillip Sindermann (Germany)

    The popular annual session will be staged in the world-renowned Palais des Festivals on Sunday 7th April at 16:30. One winner will be selected live on stage receiving a financial contribution of €2000 to development, in addition to complementary accreditation to a future MIP Market and access to coaching and mentoring expertise from within the ZDF Studios Group for a year.

    ZDF Studios vice president unscripted Ralf Rückauer said: “There is a tendency in the market to revive existing formats that audiences are familiar with. This makes it all the more interesting to look at fresh, unusual and completely new ideas. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of submissions and their diversity and originality. I look forward to meeting the five finalists of this exciting competition in person in Cannes.”

    Last year’s competition saw the Turkish talent show format ‘The Show Must Go On’, created by Format Workshop triumphing over concepts from Italy, the UK and Ukraine.

    MIPFORMATS will take place within the MIPTV pre-opening weekend (6-7 April), which alongside an extended MIPDOC strand creates ‘the biggest weekend in Unscripted’ in Cannes ahead of the three-day MIPTV exhibition market (8-10 April) set to welcome over 130 exhibitors and delegates from 85 countries.

    The MIPTV conference programme will feature returning renowned elements including keynotes from leading industry players, The MIP SDG Award (in partnership with the United Nations), and MIPLAB summits focusing on the future of the industry. International Series Festival CANNESERIES will run alongside MIPTV from 5-10 April.

  • RX France announces launch of Mip London 2025

    RX France announces launch of Mip London 2025

    MUMBAI: Change is the only constant is an adage we all know. Well, that’s happening at RX France’s long running MipTV market too. The RX France management today announced that the 61 year old content exhibition market which is held in March-April annually  in Cannes, France is being wrapped up after this year’s edition between 8 and 10 April. A new event called Mip London will come up come-2025. (Its bigger sister event, MipCom which is held annually in Cannes will however continue with its October dateline.)

    Mip London is positioned as a new industry market and networking event which is set to take place 24-27 February with a preopening a day before. The debut event will coincide with the 2025 London Screenings, which have been growing in stature over the years. The venue for Mip London is salted to be the Savoy Hotel and IET London: Savoy Place adjacent venues in the city’s West End. A press release issued by RX France states that Mip London was created following industry feedback to satisfy the growing need for versatile meeting and screening solutions in line with the increased demand for international companies to connect with buyers in London each February.

    Mip London, the release states,  aims to consolidate an already-busy global TV events calendar, and differs in format to MIPTV. The focus is not on exhibiting but rather providing international companies looking to have a presence in London with tailored, scalable options to showcase and network in one convenient spot. MIP LONDON will have a comprehensive invitation programme which gives free access to qualified buyers.

    “The creation of Mip London  is a direct result of clear and evidenced market factors,” says RX France entertainment division director  Lucy Smith. “There is a continued appetite for a global content market

    in the first half of the year. Mip London  will not only alleviate a busy events calendar but will provide

    an additional entry point for international companies to gather in London at the same time.”

    “Staging markets that provide clients with the best possible solutions for showcasing their content and facilitating deal making is what we do best at Mip and take a huge pride in, as proven over decades in Cannes and more recently Cancun,” adds Smith. “We have consulted with many of those already hosting events in London as well as with international companies looking to do so. Our vision is a market that complements, not competes with, the established screenings programme, that provides further options for the widest range of international distributors, studios and buyers to take part and can bring even more business to London in February for the benefit of all. Leading RX France’s first Mip market in London is an opportunity I’m very grateful for.”

     

  • MIPTV announces call for entries for the 2024 MIP SDG Award

    MIPTV announces call for entries for the 2024 MIP SDG Award

    Mumbai: MIPTV announced a Call for Entries for the 2024 MIP SDG Award, the annual honour established in association with the United Nations to recognise the contribution of companies and individuals within the international audiovisual sector to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recipients will be presented live on stage in Cannes at the 61 editions of the spring international television market (8 – 10 April 2024).

    Created in 2020 in support of the UN’s Decade of Action campaign, to which the SDGs are central, the MIP SDG AWARD provides an international platform to showcase how progress towards these goals can be accelerated on or off the air, through editorial, campaigns and business practices. Previous winners include A+E Networks, ACT, Junk Kouture, Sky, and last year’s recipients, acclaimed natural history producers Silverback.

    Two awards will be presented in 2024, the MIP SDG Award, and the MIP SDG Innovation Award, the latter in recognition of originality in endeavour or action. For the first time, applications will be accepted from organisations or individuals whose activity delivers against one or more of the SDGs for either award. The seventeen SDGs encompass areas including the reduction of poverty and inequality and improvement of health and education, in addition to tackling climate change and the preservation of the planet’s oceans and forests. Submission forms including full criteria, terms and conditions can be found here.

    The deadline for entry is 2 February 2024.

    Selections will be determined by a jury comprised of social responsibility experts and representatives from RX France. The presentation of both categories will take place in a special session showcasing the recipient’s work within the conference programme at the forthcoming MIPTV market.

    The MIP SDG Award forms part of RX France’s ongoing commitment to the United Nations’ SDG Media Compact. Founded in 2018, the alliance of media and entertainment companies now numbers over 450 members from 160 countries who pledge to leverage their respective resources to amplify and accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs.

    “Television inspires change like no other medium, and the need to accelerate change globally has never been more evident,” said MIPTV director Lucy Smith. “The MIP SDG Award  provides a platform to highlight purpose and ingenuity in these increasingly critical areas to an international audience of peers to then admire, learn from and emulate in their own way.”

    United Nations Regional Information Center deputy director Caroline Petit added, “This MIP Award calls for more diversity in creative content related to the Sustainable Development Goals. It will encourage the international media industry to increase sustainable business practices on and off-screen. The MIP SDG Award will shed light on existing impactful media initiatives and audiovisual programming aligned with the global goals as well as inspire more companies and industry professionals to create attractive SDG-driven content.”

    The three-day international MIPTV exhibition last year welcomed more than 5500 delegates from over 80 countries. The 2024 edition includes a pre-opening weekend (6-7 April) featuring extended MIPDOC and MIPFORMATS strands, creating ‘the biggest weekend in Unscripted’ in Cannes with documentary, factual and format communities gathering for two days of networking, screenings, showcases and deal-making. International Series Festival Canneseries will again run alongside MIPTV from 5-10 April 2024.

    Award FAQ’s can be found here. 

  • RX France’s MIPTV trade show calls for entries for the fifth MIP SDG Awards 2024

    RX France’s MIPTV trade show calls for entries for the fifth MIP SDG Awards 2024

    Mumbai: RX France has announced the Call for Entries for the 2024 MIP SDG AWARD, established in 2020, to recognise the contribution of, and action by, media companies worldwide to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The MIP SDG AWARD 2024 recipient will be presented live on stage in Cannes, France during MIPTV – The Spring International Television Market – in April of next year.

    The announcement was made by RX France entertainment division director Lucy Smith, on the occasion of the 2023 SDG Summit, which kicked off the high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York (18-22 September). RX France was participating in a media session at the SDG Media Zone,“Driving Social Impact for the SDGs” which also featured previous MIP SDG Award recipients Studio Silverback and Junk Kouture.

    The MIP television industry trade shows are the largest gatherings of entertainment executives and media companies globally with representatives from over 100 countries convening in Cannes, France biannually to showcase their creativity and content. At these, the MIP SDG Award provides an international platform to demonstrate how progress can be accelerated by the industry, helping educate global audiences on sustainability issues both editorially and through their business practices.

    “Inspiring change is what television does best,” commented Smith. “A MIP SDG Award provides a global stage to accelerate change and show what’s achievable and impactful in these critical areas by highlighting exceptional work that peers can admire, learn from and emulate in their own way.”

    The awards form part of RX France’s ongoing membership and commitment to the United Nations’ SDG Media Compact. Founded by the United Nations in 2018, the alliance of media and entertainment companies now numbers over 450 members committed to leveraging their resources towards achieving the SDGs.

  • MipTV: Docubay to double content offering via content partnerships

    MipTV: Docubay to double content offering via content partnerships

    Mumbai: The longest-running global TV market MipTV kicked off on Monday. Major international production companies, distributors and buyers showcased their ‘wares’ at the industry event that includes programming such as drama, documentary, kids, and factual formats.

    Last year’s edition of MipTV took place virtually and there is a bit of excitement about returning to the on-ground festival this year, according to the industry. The trade event that is held in the Palais de Festivals in Cannes, France brings together a rich conference programme, matchmaking events, and a dedicated co-production marketplace for international producers, buyers, commissioners, and distributors.

    This year, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Docubay (IN10 Media Network) and GoQuest Media Ventures are attending the event on the buyers’ side whereas IndiaCast, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, One Life Studios, and IndianTelevision.com are attending on the exhibitor’s side.

    As per media reports, Zee Content Sales, the licensing and distribution arm of Zeel, is bringing 40 new shows launched over the last two years to the marketplace. Zee’s lineup includes Bollywood films such as “Sooryavanshi,” “Sanak,” “Squad,” “Uri – The Surgical Strike,” “Rashmi Rocket” and drama series such as “Bhagya Lakshmi,” “Kundali Bhagya,” “Kashibai Bajirao Ballal” and “Baker’s Table.”

    On the buyer’s side, IN10 Media Network senior AVP acquisition and syndication Adita Jain said, “We are excited to meet our colleagues from the industry after two years. This year we wish to expand our content offering by 2X through content partnerships.”

    IN10 Media Network operates several TV channels and OTT platforms. It operates a factual entertainment streaming service called ‘Docubay’ and a recently launched kids’ entertainment channel called Gubbare.

    “We are looking to engage with new emerging aggregators and studios to find a home at our OTT platform, Docubay, for their latest releases. We are also hoping to renew existing partnerships and sign a few new ones,” said Jain.

    “We also hope to find the latest and innovative kids animation series for our kid’s channel – Gubbare. We are very keen to showcase anime, slapstick comedy, chase and adventure series,” she added.

    Post pandemic, Jain remarked that documentaries that find favour with audiences are the ones that are about world leaders, technology, electric cars, digital currencies, e-commerce, sports and adventures, and world politics. She will also be attending the session on ‘Factual and Documentary Trends’ on Monday presented by K7 Media.

    Recently, broadcasters have started developing unscripted shows based on a range of international formats and adapting them to suit Indian viewers. The most successful example is “Shark Tank India” televised on Sony Entertainment Television which is based on a TV format developed by Nippon TV called “Dragon’s Den.” Last year, Zee Tamil had launched the show “Survivor” based on the popular CBS unscripted series of the same name. This year, Viacom18 is launching a bold new unscripted format with “The Inventor Challenge” on its English entertainment channel Colors Infinity based on the American series “Everyday Edisons.” In the previous year, it had launched a reality series “The Big Picture” helmed by actor Ranveer Singh as the host that was based on a format owned by British production and distribution company ITV Studios.

    TV production accounts for 97 per cent of the content in India at 1,55,820 hours of content produced annually excluding 400,000 hours of news bulletins, as per FICCI-EY media and entertainment Report 2022. This is followed by 2512 hours of OTT content and 1972 hours of film content.  

  • Nippon TV heads into MipTV 2022 with three new formats

    Nippon TV heads into MipTV 2022 with three new formats

    Mumbai: Japanese broadcaster Nippon TV has unveiled one scripted and two unscripted formats ahead of MipTV 2022 in Cannes next month.

    MipTV is the longest-running international television market taking place in Cannes each April. The international TV showcase brings together global distributors, producers, buyers and commissioners of drama, doc, kids, factual and formats programming for a curated week of business meetings, matchmaking opportunities, exclusive market intelligence, conferences sessions, and global networking.

    The latest edition of MipTV will make a comeback as the in-person market on 4-6 April, after going virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

    “The three formats have been aired on Nippon TV to stellar ratings and we will be offering these titles at MipTV 2022 for the first time to its buyers around the world,” announced Nippon TV MD – international business development Mikiko Nishiyama on Monday.

    “Tall Order” is a scripted romantic comedy-drama series that follows the personal and professional lives of an executive assistant to the CEO of a startup company. While the unscripted escape game show “Dark Doubt” sees contestants attempt to navigate through the dark, another unscripted quiz show “Turbo Brain” tasks contestants with answering questions at breakneck speed.

    “In terms of our new unscripted formats, ‘Dark Doubt’ turns its back on the traditional notion that game shows are just funny and lively. It illustrates how fear is a universal form of entertainment that fascinates people. Using night-vision and fixed-point cameras in pitch-dark spaces, the resulting visual impact is quite amazing. ‘Turbo Brain’ tests the human brain’s ability to make instantaneous decisions­—a function necessary to survive. Viewers can immerse themselves in the show just like the contestants and take a shot at the quiz questions, whose difficulty levels are adjusted exquisitely so that they are tough to answer in a split second,” stated Mikiko Nishiyama.

    “As for our scripted title, anyone who follows our protagonist in ‘Tall Order’ will want to rally behind her as she tackles the endless impossible demands from her boss in the stressful office environment in solving the myriad of business and personal troubles, and then suddenly becomes promoted as CEO against her will,” Nishiyama further said, adding that, “the sense of romance with a cheeky colleague and a charismatic boss makes this story even more exciting. Nippon TV’s scripted formats that depict the lives of women, such as ‘Mother’ and ‘Woman -My Life for My Children,’ are receiving high acclaim globally, and I am confident that ‘Tall Order’ presents a story that will resonate with viewers the world over.”

  • Zee Entertainment inks content production deal with Japan’s TBS

    Zee Entertainment inks content production deal with Japan’s TBS

    NEW DELHI: Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment has inked a deal with Japan's Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) that will see the two companies jointly produce diverse content not only for India and Japan but also for the global market. 

    The first joint effort between Zee Entertainment and TBS will be The Spiceman Trails: Asia, a unique culinary travelogue that delves into spice roots and spice routes of the east. 

    "Its picturesque imagery, vivid landscapes, and brilliant hues take the audience across the continent in search of a wide array of spices, deep-rooted history, multifarious cuisine, and rich culture and traditions in a most entertaining way," the companies said in a joint statement. 

    TBS is one of Japan's largest media groups which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. In Japan, the company has operations in various areas of entertainment that include, free-to-air TV and radio, satellite TV, digital streaming and film, stage and event production. 

    On the other hand, Zee Entertainment is one of the largest media houses in India with 47 domestic channels across 11 native languages under its belt. 

    "We are thrilled to partner with an accomplished broadcaster like TBS on The Spiceman Trails: Asia. We look forward to curating and collaborating on other concepts across other entertainment genres," said Zee chief business officer Sunita Uchil. 

    TBS general manager of the international business center Takahiro Kawata revealed that his company is very excited to collaborate and work with Zee Entertainment. Kawata also added that he is looking forward to work with vibrant and creative people in India.