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De Mol sets up ‘format accelerator’

John de Mol’s recently launched Talpa Network has set up an initiative to bring international formats to the Dutch market and hired a formats veteran to lead it.

Lisette Van Diepen

Described as an “accelerator for international format creators” and branded The Fastest Way to the Screen, the concept is intended to speed up the process of launching new shows.

De Mol has appointed Lisette van Diepen, who started her career at De Mol’s Endemol International as director of acquisitions in 2004 before joining Sony in 2009, to lead the project.

Van Diepen left Sony Pictures Television’s international production unit last year and has since been operating her own consultancy firm.

Talpa Network was formed last month after de Mol brought his various media assets in the Netherlands under one company.

The Fastest Way to the Screen will capitalise on de Mol’s ownership of four Dutch TV channels, with de Mol and the channels’ commissioning team selecting third-party formats to “fast track” on to Dutch TV. In return, Talpa Network will co-own formats launched on its channels.

The initiative is open to “all kinds of non-released, new original paper formats, from any international party,” Talpa said.

John de Mol

The first format to launch as part of the project comes from WeMake, the recently formed French production company led by former Shine France chief operating officer Bouchra Rejani.

Friendly Divorce is described as “a unique social experiment” in which couples put their divorce in the hands of their friends and family. It is confirmed to go straight to series in 2018 on SBS6, Talpa Network’s flagship channel.

“I believe this new initiative creates the perfect launching pad for new and original formats. It underpins my entrepreneurial spirit by investing in new original formats I believe in,” said de Mol.

“Under this approach, we give international parties the opportunity to launch their format in our country in return for co-ownership of the format. Launching an original idea on one of our networks saves international creators time, money and risk, plus we will help shape the idea further and use our radio stations and digital channels to help market the concept.”

Talpa Network functions separately from Talpa Media Group, which is part of ITV Studios and creates, produces and distributes formats such as The Voice.

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