ABC Greenlights Talpa Format

LAS VEGAS: Talpa Content, part of John de Mol’s Talpa Media, was given the go-ahead from ABC for the production of Dating in the Dark.

ABC picked up five back episodes, along with the pilot, bringing the total order to six. Developed by de Mol, Dating in the Dark is an experiment that looks to answer the question: Can you fall in love with someone you get to know but have never seen? After the Netherlands, the U.S. is the first market in which Dating in the Dark will be on air.

De Mol, who is behind hit international formats like Big Brother and Deal or No Deal, stated: "I’m in business for many years now, but it’s always special for a European producer to strike a deal with an American network. Besides this, Talpa not only sold the format to ABC, but will also produce the show in cooperation with David Goldberg’s Endemol USA."