Brand new reality genre format deals closed in Asia-Pacific and Europe

MTV’s Disaster Date, Punk’d & Room Raiders and BET’S Pay It Off debut as formats at MIP-TV

MTV Networks International (MTVNI), owned by Viacom Inc (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), has closed six new deals which will see hit reality shows from its dedicated formats catalogue adapted and localised for broadcast in key markets such as Australia, France, Italy and Spain. The news, announced ahead of Reed MIDEM’s inaugural MIP Formats conference by Caroline Beaton, Senior Vice President, Programme Sales, MTVNI, follows last year’s agreement with CCTV for Nickelodeon’s Global GUTS which marked the launch of the first-ever kids’ format in China.

In Europe, dating shows continue to attract huge interest with MTV’s quirky, controversial format, A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila, being picked up by one of France’s leading creative television producers, Banijay Entertainment, who have already secured the French version of ‘Tila’. The format of Room Raiders, an MTV classic, is airing on Spain’s Antena Neox as a result of a partnership with Abril Productions, and following an agreement with broadcaster, LNK, local production house Betabu will produce the format in Lithuania. In addition, Italy’s number one terrestrial broadcaster, Mediaset, has closed a deal for Spike’s record breaking reality parody, The Joe Schmo Show, for potential broadcast on one of its local channels later this year.

In Australia, the format of Hell Date, BET’s unique twist on a dating show, has been optioned by Victory Hill Entertainment and Screentime will adapt make-over reality series, From Gs to Gents, originally executive produced by Oscar-winner, Jamie Foxx, into a local format for the market.

“We’re in the hugely fortunate position of being able to exploit MTV Networks’ unique and unparalleled library of content across all genres & brands and as a result, our formats business is booming,” commented Beaton. “Our production and broadcast partners around the world know that our iconic hit shows travel well, are easily localised and bring with them a caché and contemporary edge that’s unique to our brands.”

Format highlights at MIP-TV include BET’s one-hour topical game show, Pay It Off, which gives contestants the chance to change their lives by paying off their mounting debt, as well as two of MTV’s most addictive reality dating shows, blind date format, Disaster Date and Room Raiders, which takes viewers on a voyeuristic ride through the bedrooms and private belongings of three singletons. Breakout hit, Punk’d, originally created and executive produced by Ashton Kutcher, set the new standard by which other hidden-camera shows are judged, is now also available as a format.

Formats expert and industry veteran Caroline Beaton will participate in the opening session – Formats Futures 2010 - of MIP Formats on Sunday 11 April at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

A long time home of ground-breaking formats such as Pimp My Ride and the Real World, MTVNI’s format catalogue comprises more than x50 potential format hits from its vast content library. Programming available as formats includes MTV’s Punk’d, Room 401 and Boiling Points, Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues and GUTS, Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers and The Joe Schmo Show from Spike.