Talpa Media Group Launches New Online Community

LOS ANGELES, June 17: John
de Mol’s Talpa Media Group has launched TalpaCreative.com,
an online community offering members the opportunity to create and sell their
original non-scripted television show ideas.

Members of
TalpaCreative.com can submit original format ideas, or respond to more focused
creativity assignments posted by de Mol and his creative team. The company will
examine each submission’s production feasibility and international distribution
potential. The best ideas submitted to the site will be developed by de Mol and
his creative team, and may be produced and distributed internationally by Talpa
Media Group and Endemol.

TalpaCreative members also
have access to the site’s exclusive newsletter and an array of online media
resources to help them stay up-to-date on recent trends that may inspire new
ideas for non-scripted programming. Users are encouraged to post relevant
trends to TalpaCreative.com, with the most prolific trend spotters eligible for
cash prizes.

De Mol, the co-founder of
Endemol, has created formats such as Fear Factor, Big Brother and Deal or No Deal,
among others.

“I am certain that someone
with little connection to the TV industry is sitting on a truly great
nonfiction show concept,” said de Mol. “TalpaCreative.com offers that person a
direct line to my development team, which could be all it takes to make their
dream into our next reality hit. We are ready to take creative and financial
risks, to bring some of these ideas to life.”

“The collective creativity
of viewers is really an untapped resource when it comes to generating
innovative television ideas,” added Stéfanie Gélinas, the managing director of
Talpa Content USA. “Unlike almost every other TV production company in the
world, we are opening our doors and telling aspiring TV creators that we want
to create the next international hit with them.”

The Talpa Media Group encompasses
Talpa Content, a creative unit designed to develop television and multimedia
formats, and Talpa Productions, the group’s television production company.
Talpa Content USA was launched in January 2007 and is headquartered in Los
Angeles.

—By Irene Lew