ITVS, Talpa sort production duties

MIPCOM: ITV Studios (ITVS) and its recently acquired Dutch production outfit Talpa have signed production partnerships in Australia, the Nordics, the Netherlands and the Middle East.

The Voice

The deals, which follow ITVS’s £355m (US$531.7m) takeover of John de Mol’s firm earlier this year, will see ITVS become the production partner for Talpa formats in Australia and The Nordics.

Meanwhile, Talpa will produce ITVS formats in the Netherlands and Middle East.

However, Talpa’s The Voice in Australia, Finland and Norway and The Voice Kids in Denmark, are covered by separate production agreements and do not form part of these new partnerships.

“A strong and vast international production network is the spine of our content strategy,” said Maarten Meijs, MD of Talpa Global.

“Utilising ITVS’s international presence in Australia and the Nordics and gaining access to their large portfolio of hit formats in the Netherlands and the Middle East enables us to expand our network even further.”

Diana Buddingh, director of global productions at Talpa, and Annelies Noes, head of global network, will oversee the firm’s day-to-day cooperation with ITVS.

ITVS Nordic is led by MD Hans Engholm and ITVS Australia by recently appointed CEO David Mott, who joins the business in November, with both working alongside Mike Beale, executive VP of global development and formats at ITVS.

Maria Kyriacou, MD of ITVS Global Entertainment, added: “This is a great opportunity for Talpa and ITV Studios to make the most of each of our strengths in the international market place.”

The biggest new highlight on Talpa’s slate this Mipcom is Dance, Dance, Dance – a format that sees celebrity dancers re-enact famous dance routines from movies, video clips and live performances.

Meanwhile, ITVS is launching Love Island at Cannes, which sees a group of single people head to a luxury villa in the sun in search of love.