NBCU Scores New First-Look Deal

BURBANK, May 6: NBC Universal has secured an exclusive
overall first-look deal with the award-winning duo Dan Cutforth and Jane
Lipsitz of Magical Elves, the production team behind the hit shows Top Chef and Project Runway.

The agreement provides NBC Universal’s broadcast, all
cable—Bravo, Oxygen, SCI FI and USA—digital and wireless properties
with an exclusive first look on all projects developed by Cutforth and Lipsitz.
It also provides opportunities for Magical Elves to work on projects developed
by the NBCU properties.

Cutforth and Lipsitz has developed and produced shows for
NBC, ABC, Bravo and HBO, including Project Runway, Top Chef, Last
Comic Standing, Project
Greenlight, Air Guitar Nation, Character Roadtrip and Treasure Hunters. They are also behind Bravo’s newest competition
series Step It Up & Dance,
and have signed on to produce the second season of Top Design for Bravo as well as having a pilot in production
with Oxygen.

"I've worked with Jane and Dan for over 10 years,"
said Jeff Gaspin, the president and chief operating officer of Universal
Television Group. "They are great producers with original voices and a
special knack for casting. Their track record of success speaks for itself and
we're thrilled to have them here at NBC Universal."

"We are looking to build a bigger production capacity
to feed our own and third-party distribution channels and platforms," said
Ben Silverman, the co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media
Studios. "These Emmy-nominated producers consistently deliver quality
programming and work brilliantly with advertisers."

—By Kristin Brzoznowski