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First reality format for LivingTV

In the UK, female-skewing cabsat channel Living TV is ramping up its entertainment offering with its first imported reality format, following a deal with Distraction and TWI Entertainment.

The Flextech/Telewest-owned channel has picked up the StripSearch format from distributor Distraction, and has ordered eight hours from indie producer TWI's six-month-old entertainment arm. The show goes into production this summer for an October airdate.

Devised by Screentime, the Australian outfit behind Popstars, the StripSearch format involves a nationwide search for the country's seven sexiest men to form a real-life male revue troupe – á la The Full Monty.

{We know our viewers have an insatiable appetite for reality and a few naked torsos thrown in always helps,{ said LivingTV's channel controller Richard Woolfe. The show will be exec produced by Living's commissioning editor Jane Millichip and TWI's Bob Massie. Series producer is Martyn Redman.

After picking up distribution rights to the format last March, Distraction has so far placed it in three territories: as well as this UK deal, a Canadian sale was inked with Chum's Bravo channel last week, and Endemol France produces it for TF1.

{We've always believed in StripSearch and it's the nature of the business for formats to steadily gather momentum before the international sales really start to clock-up,{ commented Arabelle Pouliot, Distraction's vp of sales. {LivingTV attracts the ideal StripSearch audience.{

Meanwhile, Screentime's version is due to air in Australia on Nine Network this summer. The company also made a New Zealand version for TV2 in 2001.

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