Dancing with the Stars Heads to South Korea

LONDON: A new deal between BBC Worldwide and MBC Plus Media will see the format Dancing with the Stars make its way to South Korea for a debut in 2011.

MBC Plus Media is a subsidiary of MBC, which operates multiple pay-TV channels in Korea. The show is due to air on MBC Dramanet early next year. This deal follows on recent sales to VTV3 in Vietnam and IVM of Indonesia. IVM will launch its version in early 2011, with VTV3 debuting a Vietnamese treatment in the spring. Sony Entertainment Television is set to launch the fourth season of the Indian version, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, shortly. Previous deals were also signed in China and Japan.

Joyce Yeung, the senior VP and general manager for Asia at BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution, commented, “South Korea is a key territory for us, so we’re delighted that MBC Plus Media has picked up this hugely successful format. Korea has a long tradition of dance, and we’re looking forward to seeing their spin on this glamorous, exciting show.”
 
Bum Cho, the head of the production center at MBC Plus Media, added, “Dancing with the Stars has already proved extremely popular in Asia and around the world, so we expect the show to become must-watch TV for viewers of all ages in Korea too. BBC Worldwide is a renowned television distributor, and we’re extremely excited to be working with them on one of their most successful program brands.”