Warner and talpa team up for format adaption in the u.s.
Talpa Media, the Dutch holding company owned by media entrepreneur John de Mol, and Warner Horizon Television (WHTV), the U.S.-based alternative and cable series production unit of the Warner Bros. Television Group, are teaming up to develop new television series for the U.S. television marketplace, based upon successful formats created and owned by Talpa. The joint announcement was made today by Talpa's John de Mol and Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television, who also oversees Warner Horizon Television for the Studio.
Under terms of the agreement, WHTV will have the exclusive right to develop and produce new programming, jointly with Talpa, for cable and broadcast networks in the United States, based upon reality and game show formats created by Talpa which have already been telecast in the Netherlands and other countries. This initiative will capitalize upon the strengths of both companies, giving Talpa an entrée into a new marketplace for its expansive slate of programming in combination with WHTV's established development and production expertise in the U.S.
WHTV is one of the leading producers of alternative programming for network and cable, as well as scripted series for cable, in the U.S., with such long-running hits as "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" franchises. It has produced series for all four major U.S. broadcasters, as well as The CW and cable networks such as TNT, MTV, TV Land, E! Entertainment Television and more.
Current formats available in Talpa's collection as of first quarter 2010 include "Dating in the Dark" (recently renewed for a second season in the U.S. on the ABC Television Network), "The Golden Cage," "Viper's Nest," "Pretty Smart," "Guesstimation," "I Love My Country," "Divided" and "Know Your Nation." For more information on Talpa's formats, please click here
For Talpa Media, the pact with WHTV continues the company's strategy to establish relationships with renowned production companies in interesting television markets around the globe, aimed at exploiting its formats and finished product. In December 2009, Talpa announced a deal with Shine France for the French market.