SPTI Scores Renewals for Dragons’ Den

LONDON, October 29: Sony
Pictures Television International (SPTI) has secured second-season renewals for
its hit business entertainment format Dragons’ Den in six territories.

Second seasons of Dragons’
Den have been commissioned by
Holland, Canada, Romania, Croatia, Ukraine and Israel. The fifth season of Dragons’
Den recently began airing on BBC
Two in the U.K, with the premiere attracting 3.1 million viewers. The format
has now been licensed to a total of 14 broadcasters worldwide.

Dragons' Den was the first-ever business entertainment format
in the market, offering aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas
to five business moguls who are willing to give them cash to start or grow
their own businesses. Each week, new contestants try to convince the ‘dragons’
that their idea can make money and be successful, in hopes of receiving funding
to get their business off the ground.

In the U.K., Dragons’
Den, which is produced by BBC
Entertainment Production, has consistently scored high viewing figures over the
previous four seasons. Season five has continued that success, with an average
of 3.1 million viewers tuning in to BBC Two for the opening episode. The fifth
season features a new ‘dragon,’ venture capitalist and multi-millionaire James
Caan, who is the founder and CEO of private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw. Caan
also founded the Alexander Mann Group, one of the U.K.'s leading HR outsourcing
companies, and co-founded an executive headhunting firm, Humana International.

Dragons’ Den has also been licensed to Seven
Network in Australia, TNT in Russia, Holland’s KRO, HVT in Croatia, TVR in
Romania, Finland’s MTV3, Ukraine’s ICTV, TVNZ in New Zealand, Future TV in the
Middle East, India’s SET, Israel’s Channel 10, CBC in Canada and
Nigeria’s NBA.

—By Kristin Brzoznowski