For VideoAge‘s Water Cooler, Ellen Lovejoy, SVP, Head of Sales, Americas and Formats, for A+E Networks, prepared a first look at the company’s format focus at MIPCOM, and its diverse slate of formats across entertainment, survival, and competition that have proven appeal to global audiences.
According to Lovejoy, “A+E Networks continues to transform into a global IP powerhouse by partnering with local producers and broadcasters to bring hit formats to our partners around the world.”
Below is Lovejoy’s rundown of the formats news coming to MIPCOM from A+E Networks:
ALONE
“We are expanding The History Channel’s hit self-shot survival competition format, Alone, to premium partners around the world. Currently in season 9 on History in the U.S., we are thrilled that Alone was recently commissioned by Channel 4 in the U.K., for a version of the series produced by The Garden. This follows a commission by the Australian network SBS, for a version produced by ITV Australia.
These are only the latest pickups for Alone, as Alone has experienced years of critical and ratings success over seven seasons in Denmark, and also boasts successful franchises in Norway and Sweden. The simplicity of the format, watching everyday people survive in extraordinary circumstances, coupled with the psychological impact of isolation and innovative survival skills required to stay alive, captivates global audiences. There are no gimmicks and no crew, only 10 participants bringing 10 items, self-shooting alone in the wilderness, fighting to survive and ultimately, win.
Given the time the world has spent indoors and isolated during the pandemic, viewers have really responded to the extreme locations around the world and the connection to nature, the power of the human spirit, and the psychological challenges of isolation. It’s the ultimate, authentic survival competition format.”
TOP DOG
“Top Dog capitalizes on the global trend for fun, feel-good, prime-time family entertainment. A+E Networks has a long history of creating formats that appeal globally and tap into the zeitgeist of the moment. The format features extraordinary dogs and their owners competing nose-to-nose on a supersized canine obstacle course. The teams are tested on their speed, agility, and teamwork by completing a series of fun challenges against the clock, and the trusting interaction between humans and animals is crucial. The series celebrates everything that makes dogs so beloved.
Top Dog has enjoyed two successful primetime seasons on RTL in Germany by producer RTL Studios Germany, regularly ranking as the number one show in its time slot across all German TV in multiple demos, including ages 14-49. The first series performed so well that RTL produced a Celebrity Special that drew in 1.98 million viewers. Top Dog is family entertainment at its finest!”
THE RAP GAME
“The Rap Game has enjoyed season after season of critical and ratings success, reaching a young, diverse audience by delivering engaging entertainment. The Rap Game premiered on A+E Networks’ U.S. channel Lifetime, and its success soon led to a partnership with the BBC and production shop Naked Television in the U.K. Four seasons and counting later, The Rap Game U.K. has been honored with multiple award nominations, including a BAFTA, a Rose D’or, a Grierson Award, a C21 International Format Award, an RTS Award, and multiple Broadcast Digital and Edinburgh TV Awards, winning Best Entertainment Program at the Broadcast Digital Awards in 2020 and Best Entertainment Series at the Edinburgh TV Awards that same year. This format attracts a young, diverse audience, and features exceptional local talent and invested mentors.
Earlier this week at MIPCOM, we announced that we have partnered with RaiPlay and the production company Yam112003 to bring The Rap Game to Italy early in 2023. The Rap Game boasts a blend of authenticity, strong storytelling, humor, and epic MC showdowns that will find an audience in any territory that embraces hip hop — which is pretty much everywhere in the world at this point. We’re proud of these formats and so many others in our catalog, and can’t wait to see them continue to find new audiences around the world.”
Pictured above, Ellen Lovejoy, and the set of Top Dog
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