Media Ranch Secures Sales for Horsepower Formats

Media Ranch has confirmed deals for a pair of formats that were developed by participants in its Horsepower format incubator.

Wheelhouse Entertainment has signed on to adapt and produce House Party: Just Dance, inspired by the Ubisoft music video game franchise. Based on early developments in the Horsepower incubator, the series was further developed in collaboration between Ubisoft and Media Ranch, which is executive producing the series.

The eco-competition format Racing to Survive was a finalist in the MIPFormats 2020 International pitch competition before going into development at The CW. Media Ranch will executive produce this series as well.

Additionally, Love Van, the Horsepower season three winner that is in co-development with TF1 and Quebecor Content, was named as one of The Wit’s Fresh Picks at MIPCOM.

Sophie Ferron, president and founder of Media Ranch, said: “Media Ranch is thrilled to announce our Horsepower-developed format deals, showcasing talented young producers who developed these shows within the incubator. We are very excited to partner with Wheelhouse on the format we developed with Ubisoft, House Party: Just Dance; and to partner with The CW for an amazing eco-focused competition format—Racing to Survive. And we are honored that our Horsepower 3-winning format, Love Van, was chosen by The Wit as one of their top trending fresh formats to watch, which will be co-developed with TF1.”

Scott Lonker, chief creative officer at Wheelhouse Entertainment, said: “Just Dance is so ripe for TV and streaming development; all of us at Wheelhouse can’t wait to harness the fun that dance music and the whole Ubisoft game series inspire and to collaborate with the great team at Media Ranch.”

Julien Degroote, executive VP of content development of the TF1 Group, added: “TF1 was so inspired by the Horsepower project and the wonderful shows we discovered by nurturing new talented producers, such as Alexandra Paquin, who created Love Van. We are seriously developing the project.”

Yann Paquet, VP of Quebecor Content, said: “As a partner of L’Écurie since day 1, we are very pleased to see Québec talent shine on the most prominent international platforms, such as Fresh TV Formats. This year, L’Écurie has once again produced projects of impressive creativity and quality.”