Format and Finished Sales for Four Weddings

CANNES: ITV Studios Global Entertainment has announced the commission of the hit format Four Weddings by Italy’s Rete 4, owned by Mediaset, while the U.K. and U.S. versions of the show sold to 75 international territories.

Mediaset-owned RTI Productions is set to produce four two-hour installments for Rete 4 in collaboration with ITV Studios. This is the fifth international market to commission the series since its MIPCOM 2009 debut.

Andre Renaud, the senior sales executive at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said, “We’re incredibly excited about Four Wedding’s Italian premiere, and are confident that the passion, drama and fun that each show brings will be must-see television for Rete 4’s millions of viewers.”

The first two seasons of the British version of Four Weddings, commissioned by LIVING, have been picked up by broadcasters such as BBC Worldwide for Africa, HOT Family of Israel, SBS of Belgium, TVNZ of New Zealand, Lifestyle in Australia and Zone Club for Poland and Hungary. LIVING went for the U.S. version of the format, which was originally produced for TLC. Further sales for the U.S. version of Four Weddings include broadcasters in Poland, Romania and Hungary.

David Wilcox, the senior sales executive at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, commented, “Reminiscent of the success we have achieved with Hell’s Kitchen and Come Dine with Me, today’s LIVING deal showcases how ITV Studios creates formats for domestic broadcast, launches international versions in similar markets and then brings that foreign version back to the original domestic broadcaster. This makes great sense to our programme buyers, giving them even more volume, value and opportunity to grow the show’s brand with its audience.”