NBC Orders Pilot for U.S. Top Gear

BURBANK, January 15: NBC has ordered a pilot for its own
version of the hit British motoring show Top Gear from BBC Worldwide America.

Announcing the order, Ben Silverman, the co-chairman of NBC
Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, said: “Top Gear is a proven international hit which fits perfectly
into NBC’s line-up of programming with male appeal, including Sunday
Night Football and American
Gladiators. We’re always looking for
innovative ways to partner with our advertisers and this show offers a great
platform for the latest in car culture.”

Craig Plestis, the executive VP of alternative programming,
development and specials at NBC Entertainment, added: “We’ve had our eye on Top
Gear for a while now and think this show
can really click with viewers. The concept taps into America’s obsession with
cars and is unlike anything else on television.”

The series, which premiered in the U.K. in 1977, is
consistently BBC Two’s most-watched program. The show reaches more than 150
million households globally and made its stateside debut on BBC America in
2007.

—By Mansha Daswani