Outright Inks Central, Eastern European Deals Ahead of DISCOP

LONDON, June 18: Ahead of DISCOP this week, Outright
Distribution has licensed a range of formats into Central and Eastern European
territories.

The deals stem from Outright’s representation deal with
ALL3MEDIA International for formats in the Eastern European market. CTC Russia
has picked up an additional eight episodes of Your Wedding in Their Hands after the success of the initial acquisition of 13
episodes earlier this year. Produced by Lion Television and ALL3MEDIA, the
series features one couple each week who gives total control of their wedding
plans to their respective, very different families. A host of new deals have
also been secured for I Want My Mummy, a series from Lion Television and ALL3MEDIA in which three mothers pack
up their things and move out of the family home for a week, leaving three
fathers to look after their rowdy kids. Romania’s Prima TV has acquired 10
1-hour episodes of the series, and the format has also been optioned into
Spain, Australia, France and Finland, through ALL3MEDIA International. Two
seasons of the series have already been broadcast in the U.K. on ITV1. The show
has also aired in Italy on Sky Vivo and in Slovakia on JOJO TV.

The 25-minute game show format Lingo, originally produced by idtV, has been licensed to the
Polish independent production company ATM for broadcaster TV4. The game show
combines guessing five-letter words with the principles of the game
"bingo.”

The fifth season of 13 episodes of the Japanese format Fidelity
Test, from Asahi TV, has been picked up by
Muz TV in Russia. An additional 30 episodes of the finished Russian version of Fidelity
Test has also been sold to TET, who had
previously licensed 78 episodes of the series. The format gives young people
the chance to find out whether their partner has been less than faithful.

The second season of 60 episodes of Cash Cab has been licensed to Viasat in Hungary, while the
first season of 40 episodes went to LNK in Lithuania. Czech TV also picked up 26
episodes of the series, and Hidaisej Production has optioned the format for a
potential 64 episodes each in Slovenia and Croatia.

Jess Khanom, the VP of sales, commented: “As an established
distribution outfit we have a solid business base in Eastern Europe. We have
strong product which is reflected in the renewals we currently have of our
shows in this region. We are active in all areas selling both established and
new formats, finished and documentaries. In addition we can now offer new
products from Ricochet and Shed which helps expand our business into the drama
arena. At DISCOP, I will be presenting our scripted dramas in addition to our
other shows as this is currently what the market is demanding. With our
business in the format division thriving, we want to use this as an example of
how we wish to move forward with the wealth of scripted formats available from
the group.”