{"id":7566,"date":"2020-03-30T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev2.worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/worldscreen.com\/"},"modified":"2020-03-31T09:59:13","modified_gmt":"2020-03-31T13:59:13","slug":"viacom-international-studios-targets-social-issues-diversity-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/viacom-international-studios-targets-social-issues-diversity-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Viacom International Studios Targets Social Issues, Diversity & Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Laura Burrell, head of formats at Viacom International Studios, talks to <\/em>TV Formats about the company’s format catalog, which includes such global hits as <\/em>16 and Pregnant, <\/em>Teen Mom and <\/em>Ex on the Beach.<\/em><\/p>\n

The format catalog from Viacom International Studios (VIS) contains a number of titles that may seem cheeky and salacious on the surface\u201416 and Pregnant <\/em>and Ex on the Beach<\/em> among them\u2014but at their core have deeper themes that touch on societal issues and feature the type of inclusive casting that very much needs to be seen on screen.<\/p>\n

16 and Pregnant<\/em>, for example, launched on MTV in the U.S. in summer 2009 and was one of the first reality shows to tackle the issue of teen pregnancy. The show quickly became a hit, successfully shining a light on the harsh realities of being a teenage mom in an authentic way that resonated with MTV\u2019s young viewers. Teen Mom<\/em> followed shortly thereafter, focusing on a group of cast members and their families from the original series and the challenges they faced. This gave way to Teen Mom OG<\/em> and Teen Mom: Young & Pregnant<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat unites the four are the recurring themes of navigating unexpected motherhood, support (or lack of it) from the father or their families, and the impact on their relationships and everyday lives,\u201d says Laura Burrell, head of formats at Viacom International Studios.<\/p>\n

\u201cFast forward to today, and the series continues to shine a stark light on new challenges as their kids have grown older,\u201d she adds. \u201cFor example, having another child with a different partner and the pressures of fame while bringing up a young family.\u201d<\/p>\n

The format 16 and Pregnant<\/em> (or in its Teen Mom <\/em>guise) has been adapted in eight territories, including the U.K., Italy, Russia, Australia and South Africa, and many of these have spawned multiple seasons and ongoing productions. Each local version has stayed true to the original format while allowing for different cultural or socioeconomic conditions. The South African version, for example, is produced in conjunction with MTV\u2019s Staying Alive Foundation\"***Image***\" and raised awareness of HIV, featuring a young mother whose partner was HIV positive.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the enduring appeals of the format is the way that it allows for a number of social and topical issues to be explored in an honest and authentic way under the overarching theme of young motherhood,\u201d says Burrell.<\/p>\n

The U.K. version, now in its sixth season, is a resounding success for MTV. The Russian treatment has proven popular for Channel U, which is launching the second season this spring.<\/p>\n

Are You the One?<\/em> and Ex on the Beach<\/em> are two of VIS\u2019s biggest dating franchises, with multiple seasons produced in a host of territories. \u201cWhile both started by featuring a traditional heterosexual cast, over the years the casting has become more diverse and inclusive,\u201d Burrell points out. \u201cIncidentally, the most recent season of Are You the One?<\/em> in the U.S. broke new ground by having all the contestants identify as sexually fluid. This changed the dynamic of the game because anyone in the villa could be a \u2018perfect match\u2019 for anyone else, rather than just girl\/boy couples.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ex on the Beach<\/em> has also evolved in its casting approach. Contestants who are gay, bisexual, trans or drag queens, of all different ethnicities and ages, have featured in the various local versions, and \u201caudiences around the world have embraced this inclusive casting,\u201d Burrell says.<\/p>\n

Similarly, True Love or True Lies?<\/em> and Finding Prince Charming<\/em> have diversity rooted in their core DNA. Finding Prince Charming<\/em>, which premiered on Logo TV in fall 2016, was the first fully same-sex dating show. The inaugural international adaptation recently launched in Germany on RTL\u2019s SVOD service TVNOW, with its strong performance earning it a second-season commission and a coveted Grimme-Preis 2020 award. \u201cWe anticipate that this success will only help to drive new sales of the format,\u201d says Burrell.<\/p>\n

True Love or Trues Lies?<\/em> is a competitive reality show that poses the question: What makes the perfect couple? Diversity is fundamental to how the game works, as the real couples must work out who the pretend couples are among them\u2014a task that becomes even more difficult when couples seem an unlikely match on the surface. \u201cQuestioning common preconceptions about gender, disability, age gaps, religion and race, this highly addictive format was a game-changer for MTV UK when it launched in the summer of 2018,\u201d Burrell explains. \u201cCritically praised for its inclusion, it attracted new audiences to the channel, over-delivering in its target audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

New to the catalog, the Comedy Central format Gods of the Game<\/em> pits everyday \u201cmortals\u201d against sporting \u201cgods\u201d in fantastical versions of the gods\u2019 sports. The format features a number of sporting legends, including Paralympic champion Hannah Cockcroft and British track star Mo Farah. \u201cSpanning all ages, shapes and sizes, the irreverent format uses inclusive casting to empower audiences and prove that anyone can take part, enjoy sport and (potentially) beat an Olympic champion!\u201d says Burrell.<\/p>\n

\u201cVIS has a proven ability of creating powerful and entertaining content that speaks to kids and young adults in a way that few others can,\u201d she adds. \u201cFrom the pioneering days of The Real World<\/em> and later 16 and Pregnant<\/em> and Catfish: The TV Show<\/em>, these formats resonate with young audiences around the world because they shine a light on the social issues affecting them in a non-judgmental and entertaining way. The Real World<\/em> was one of the first platforms to enable young adults to discuss a broad range of issues from religion, race, and class, to HIV, pregnancy and coming out. Our recent global deal with Facebook Watch for new seasons only demonstrates that the format is as relevant today as it was 25 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

A more recent example is the investigative series Ghosted: Love Gone Missing<\/em>, which explores the phenomenon of \u201cghosting\u201d and helps people reconnect with their loved ones, giving them a chance of resolution. The series launched in the U.S. on MTV last summer, and VIS is in the process of negotiating multiple option deals in international markets.<\/p>\n

At the younger end of the age spectrum, there\u2019s Nickelodeon\u2019s Dream Rooms<\/em>, an aspirational format that sees kids nominate deserving best friends to have their bedroom redecorated. \u201cThe original Dutch series was able to successfully highlight social issues facing kids today,\u201d Burrell says. \u201cFor example, one child was nominated because he is a carer for his disabled mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

These formats and the topics they touch on help to reflect the audiences watching them in all their diverse glory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Laura Burrell, head of formats at Viacom International Studios, talks about the company’s format catalog, which includes such global hits as 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom and Ex on the Beach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":7567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,69],"tags":[1076,1567],"class_list":["post-7566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-profiles","category-top-stories","tag-laura-burrell","tag-viacom-international-studios","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\nViacom International Studios Targets Social Issues, Diversity & Inclusion - TVFORMATS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvformats\/viacom-international-studios-targets-social-issues-diversity-inclusion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Viacom International Studios Targets Social Issues, Diversity & Inclusion - 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