Lineup’s Bullying Format Expands Global Presence

AMSTERDAM: Lineup Industries’s social-justice format The Bully Project is slated for broadcast on ABC in Australia, where the show will be presented by Olympian and former Young Australian of the Year Ian Thorpe.

The Bully Project sees young bullying victims secretly film their day-to-day lives in an effort to understand bullying and achieve resolution. The 3×60-minute Aussie version, which films this year in Queensland, is produced in partnership with KEO Australia and Lune Media. In addition, Finland’s YLE has ordered the Lineup Industries format, while Spain’s Cuatro optioned the rights to develop its own local treatment.

The Bully Project originally comes from Dutch producer Skyhigh TV. The format has already aired on RTL in the Netherlands and is currently being produced by Fresh One for ITV in the U.K., where it will be hosted by Diversity street dancer Ashley Banjo.

Julian Curtis, co-founder of Lineup Industries, said: “We are excited to see this format spreading globally, and getting the recognition it deserves as a powerful tool to tackle an issue which is rife in societies the world over. Lineup is committed to working with partners who are able to expertly and sensitively handle the production of this format, and we have been delighted to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the ABC, ITV, YLE, Cuatro, their on-screen talent and their production teams.”

Thorpe added: “More than a quarter of children of school children in Australia claim to have been bullied on a regular basis, which is unacceptable. I’m passionate about shining a light on this issue. I have some personal experience around the issue of bullying so I want to share my insights to help Australian kids.”