Distraction Ramps Up U.S. Activities

MONTREAL, August 25: Distraction has notched up a number of
new deals in the U.S. market—including one for an adaptation of its hit
scripted format Love Bugs—since
setting up its office in Los Angeles under executive sales director Rob Kaplan.

TBS will air Love Bites
as a series of two-minute episodes following reruns of Sex and the
City and during the 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
slot. It was adapted for the U.S. market by Paul Reiser and his production
company, Nuances Productions, with the collaboration of JWTwo Entertainment and
of The Greif Company. The 65 two-minute episodes will star Lauren Bittner (Third
Watch) and David Julian Hirsh (CSI:
New York).

Love Bugs has already
performed well in more than 30 markets, including France, Spain, Italy, Poland,
Russia and Greece.

In addition, Cosgrove-Meurer has picked up TV Diaries and is currently in discussions with American
broadcasters. In each one-hour episode, seven contestants unveil their own
three-minute TV diary, and viewers vote on their favorites; the lowest-scoring
contestant is eliminated. The format has been sold in the Middle East and to
the U.K., Poland, Russia and Denmark.

You Be the Judge has
been acquired by Newline, which is pitching it to networks in the U.S. First
launched on BBC One, the show attempts to settle civil disputes.

Further, as it continues to boost its finished program
business, Distraction has licensed the Sky One series Wimps to Warriors to Fox Reality.

“A lot of exciting developments have taken place in the U.S.
since last MIP,” said Kaplan. “Over the past six months, our team’s diligence
in this key market has led to greatly enhanced levels of visibility for our
formats, directly resulting in the development of new products, new business
relationships and new network projects. I am highly confident that the next six
months will be just as fruitful for Distraction and our U.S. partners.”