MIPCOM: The Week in Formats

Despite the deluge of high-profile dramas drumming up buzz throughout the Palais, there were some entertainment formats that managed to make noise at MIPCOM—though few were brand-new entrants to the formats fray.

The successful long-runner Survivor, for example, is headed to a new market: Germany, where Banijay Productions is doing a version for Vox and TV Now. Talpa’s The Voice showed its persisting popularity, with PPTV HD 36 in Thailand inking a three-year deal for the entire franchise, encompassing the flagship original plus the kids’ and senior versions. Armoza Formats’ The Four—which was named among the top formats of 2018 in one of the ever-popular Fresh TV sessions—continued to notch up deals, landing adaptations in Brazil and Greece. This Time Next Year, which also made the Best of Fresh TV list, landed a new commission in Lithuania and recommissions in Israel and Belgium (distributor Twofour Rights also saw traction on its new format What Would Your Kid Do?).

Among the newer formats in the marketplace, Endemol Shine’s Big Bounce Battle is headed to the U.S. with FOX, marking the second adaptation for the physical game show outside of Germany. BBC Studios scored its first international format licenses for No Kitchen Required and Astronauts: Toughest Job in the Universe, which are both headed to the Middle East. Inter Medya, a relatively new player in the format arena, added to its catalog in a pact with Acun Medya to represent such formats as Exathlon.

Fremantle, meanwhile, entered into a partnership with Fuji Television to represent Little Presenter, a comedic entertainment format that shows the world through the eyes of children. In other partnership news, Endemol Shine China and Hunan TV have aligned to co-develop new original formats, while BBC Studios and Lionsgate Television are joining forces to identify, co-develop and co-fund scripted formats and original IP for the U.S.

Speaking of scripted remakes, a U.S. version of The Last Cop is in the works from Red Arrow Studios International and Universal Television. Doctor Foster is traveling to South Korea, while Broadchurch is set for a Chinese treatment. As Japanese dramas have proven popular in their Turkish remakes, Medyapim signed up to adapt its fourth Nippon TV drama. The producer secured rights to make a Turkish version of Oasis—A Love Story, following on its success with Mother, Woman—My Life for My Children and My Son.

In other format news, Media Ranch and Quebecor Content revealed the Horsepower French-Canadian format incubator program in an effort to bolster the creation of original, exportable TV formats by nurturing local talent in Quebec and creating new local expertise. Armoza launched the brand-new dance show Dance Revolution to the market and alongside it introduced a new monetization model to facilitate funding for the format, in partnership with Highway Entertainment and Canadian broadcaster TVA.

There is sure to be more news of innovative funding models and partnership pacts looking ahead, as players in the unscripted format business continue to compete for slots occupied by stalwart entertainment hits and buzzy dramas. Eyes are also firmly fixed on the FAANGs, as entertainment commissions from streamers—like the one all3media international recently secured with Netflix for The Circle—stir things up.

Catch up on these stories and more on TVFormats.ws.