RTÉ Commissions Two New Formats

LONDON: RTÉ in Ireland has commissioned Rival Media to produce two new factual-entertainment formats: The Shrinks and Band from School.

The Shrinks watches as four children, aged 9 to 14, tackle personal adult issues, taking a child’s-eye view of grown-up problems. Band from School takes four Irish bands back to the schools they attended as children. The rockers reminisce about their roots, while viewers get insight into the band’s old teachers, childhood sweethearts and reports, finding out what they were up to in school.

Howard Myers, joint managing director of Rival Media, commented, "As a company, it’s always been important for us to focus on developing and pitching shows all over the world, so it’s a fantastic coup to be working with RTÉ and we look forward to a creative and rewarding relationship."

Steve Wynne, joint managing director of Rival Media, added, "We are very excited to be working with the team at RTÉ and we know their viewers will really want to interact and engage with these two entertaining and informative new series."

"RTÉ Two’s Den Tots, The Den and TTV form the core of Ireland’s only dedicated channel for young people," said Sheila de Courcy, the commissioning editor for RTÉ Young People’s. "RTÉ Young People’s produced 797 hours of indigenous output last year, keeping us at the forefront of content and format innovation. “I am delighted to announce these original and topical programs for RTÉ’S The Den. The Shrinks is a novel way of engaging younger viewers with life-issues, while Band from School ensures that music is kept at the heart of RTÉ Young People’s schedule."