SPT Heads to MIPCOM with Music Formats

LONDON: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has inked a range of new deals for its key music formats, including Cover Me and The Sing-Off, which will be highlighted at MIPCOM.

SPT’s 2waytraffic sold its format Cover Me to TV4 in Sweden and SPT Productions Germany is also producing a German series following a deal with VOX. Pubcaster Nederland 3 has confirmed a second season of the series to launch in November. The format was originally developed by SPT’s Dutch production company, Tuvalu Media. Cover Me features two radically different musicians given seven days to bridge the generation gap and create new hits based on each other’s work.

The Sing-Off will debut in France following a licensing deal between SPT’s French production subsidiary, Starling, and France 2. NBC in the U.S. commissioned a third season of The Sing-Off from SPT and the show airs on a prime-time slot. The show was also previously licensed in Europe to SBS in the Netherlands. The Sing-Off is a reality competition show featuring the best a cappella groups from around the country competing to win a recording contract.

Dancing Nation, which has previously sold to TV Globo in Brazil, 1+1 in Ukraine and TV5 in the Philippines, is also available at the market. Dancing Nation is a dance competition that raises money for local charities and organizations. SPT acquired the format from Ideas Del Sur.

Ed Louwerse, the managing director of 2waytraffic International, said, “The success of these formats demonstrates how SPT’s music shows strike a chord with audiences and producers around the world. They are innovative, entertaining and uplifting, providing compelling viewing for people from all walks of life.”