Eyeworks gets Anonymous tip-off

New sales operation, new slate. Now based out of London, Eyeworks’ distribution arm has unveiled seven formats for MipTV, including the company’s first third-party English-language acquisition.

Alongside six of Eyeworks’ own properties is Anonymous from Irish indies Kite and Animo. It has already aired over six half-hours on Ireland’s RTE 2, lifting the slot’s ratings by 25% in the process, according to the distributor.

The Irish duo are now developing the celebrities-in-disguise format for the UK’s Channel 4, after a deal with head of entertainment Andrew Newman, and LA indie Reveille is doing likewise for US broadcasters.

Eyeworks has now started looking for more third-party properties, not only to feed its new international division, acquired along with Touchdown TV, but also to produce itself in Holland, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and New Zealand.

Created within Eyeworks and its subsidiaries are six titles that will be shopped in Cannes next week, including Who Wants to Marry My Son, which is currently on air in Holland on public broadcaster Tros.

From New Zealand comes Shock Treatment, a detox challenge show that scored a 39% share on TV2, and Top of the Class, a celeb-driven family entertainment show. It will air in late April on TVNZ.

Superstar, meanwhile, searches for the nation’s best TV host, while SBS6 life-swap series The Tribes Are Coming is a follow-up to existing Eyeworks Belgium format Ticket to the Tribes.

Finally, Coyotes (8×60′) airs in the US on country music cable station CMT from April 10, and looks for America’s best bartender/dancers, referencing the Jerry Bruckheimer movie Coyote Ugly.

Holland’s Eyeworks relocated its distribution activities to the UK this month, following the acquisition of Touchdown Television earlier this year. What was Touchdown Distribution is now called Eyeworks Distribution.