Russian nets buy formats from Fox, Armoza

With Russian TV in the spotlight at Mipcom next week, TV channels there have been stocking up on scripted and unscripted formats for local production.

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution has signed four deals with three of the country’s broadcasters – TNT, CTC and TV3 – for local productions of its scripted series. TNT has a local take on FX laffer It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia underway. Casting is underway with actor Konstantin Kryukov the first confirmed name.

CTC, meanwhile, has pacted with the US studio for local productions of two more scripted series, this time from the Fox network: Malcolm in the Middle and Bones. Both programmes will be adapted for Russian audiences and are now in development.

Over at TV3, 20 episodes of a local version of Fox series Tru Calling have been okayed. Elena Pirogova (Wild River) has been cast in the title role and the series is scheduled to premiere in 2012.

These moves come after the US studio last year sealed deals with Russian nets Channel One and CTC for local adaptations of its series Prison Break and How I Met Your Mother.

Meanwhile, CTC has picked up local production rights to an Israeli format called Comedians at Work. The agreement marks distributor Armoza Formats’ first deal with a Russian broadcaster.

The agreemrnt guarantees the production of a pilot. The format has been commissioned for its 7th season on Israel’s Reshet Channel 2 and has also been produced locally in Germany.