ITVSGE signs Korea format deal

The Secret Life of Students

MIPCOM: ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE) in the UK has signed a format collaboration agreement with South Korea firm CJ E&M here at Mipcom.

The deal will see ITVSGE take two of CJ E&M’s Korean formats to UK broadcasters, while CJ E&M will look at two of ITVSGE’s formats for its family of channels. The companies will also work together to develop the formats for interested broadcasters.

ITVSGE MD Maria Kyriacou and CJ E&M media division CEO Lee Deok Jae signed the agreement in Cannes yesterday.

Maria Kyriacou

Kyriacou said: “This agreement will give us the chance to extend our formats into each other’s markets, in order to achieve even greater global success for both companies.”

Initially, CJ E&M will take The Secret Life of Students from ITVSGE’s format catalogue. Created by Raw TV, the observational documentary format uses innovative new technology to track contributors’ digital lives.

ITV Studios’ culinary format Come Date With Me will also be taken.

Meanwhile, ITVSGE will acquire From Start to Clear and The Genius Game from CJ E&M’s catalogue. CJ E&M’s longest-running entertainment show, From Start to Clear sees a celebrity host and his guests play a computer game – but the twist is they can’t stop until they finish the game.

The company will also take The Genius Game, which sees 13 players from different backgrounds, from poker champions to CEOs and politicians, compete in a battle of wits by playing 12 strategic games.