Media Ranch Picks Up Pair of New Korean Formats

Media Ranch has taken on representation for Wonwoo Park’s shingle DiTurn on two new formats: Round Table and Love Maze.

Round Table is a singing game-show format created by Park that was a hit in Korea on KBS 2. Love Maze, co-created by Park and Something Special CEO Jin Woo Hwang, is a matchmaking game show where an elaborate maze stands in the way of two people falling in love.

It marks the first deal between Media Ranch and DiTurn, with the goal to build a collection of IP by format creator Park, who is behind the global megahit The Masked Singer and Lotto Singer. It marks the fifth joint venture for Media Ranch with Hwang, former head of formats at CJ ENM and current chairman of the KFA (Korean Format Association, a division of KOCCA) and produced hit shows Better Late Than Never (aka Grandpas Over Flowers).

Philip Kalin-Hajdu, head of content and storytelling at Media Ranch, will lead development on both formats.

Media Ranch’s president and founder, Sophie Ferron, said: “Media Ranch is thrilled to be able to partner with two of the most talented Korean format producers around. Jin and Wonwoo have such fantastic successes under their belt, and we can’t wait to present Love Maze to our broadcast partners. And we are excited to bring Round Table to new audiences.”

Hwang stated: “Something Special is excited to further our relationship with Media Ranch by sharing Love Maze. We feel Sophie and Phil and their team will add an extra element to bring the show to production in the West.”

Park added: “DiTurn is excited to join forces to work with Media Ranch. We look forward to developing Love Maze as well as furthering the reach of Round Table.”