Italy’s Rai2 unveils daytime feelgood format from Roth, Casta Diva, Small World IFT
La Porta Magic (The Magic Door) with Andrea Delogu
Italian public broadcaster Rai2 has greenlit a new daily show La Porta Magic (The Magic Door) based on a format created by US producer JD Roth and produced in Italy by Casta Diva Pictures and Rai’s daytime entertainment division.
The Italian broadcaster has ordered 100 episodes of the feelgood show, which will air from next week, filling the Monday-Friday 17.00 hour. The Italian pubcaster unveiled the show at a press conference earlier today.
The Magic Door format is being distributed here at Mipcom in Cannes next week by US-based Small World IFT.
Each episode sees host Andrea Delogu present three stories of people with different life experiences, and she and her team find ways to make their dreams come true or resolve an issue. The show gets its name from a portal that each story’s protagonists pass through at the end of their journey, signifying their transition to a new life.
“The Magic Door is not just a television show but also a window into Italy and Italians — who they are, how they see themselves, their successes, and the times when things didn’t go as planned. These are people who are looking for someone to listen to them and help them,” according to Rai2.
The format was created by Roth, best known for US hits such as NBC’s weight-loss show The Biggest Loser, ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss and The CW’s Beauty & the Geek. Roth previously owned and ran 3Ball Productions before selling it to Dutch group Eyeworks in 2006.
Roth now operates via his new shingle Good Story Entertainment, which he co-founded with former 3Ball and Maverick TV exec Adam Greener. Good Story’s shows include Metal Shop Masters (Netflix), Karma (HBO Max) and Moving the Needle with Dr Woo (Roku Originals).
“Who doesn’t want to change something about themselves? Especially if given the resources to make that change in your life for the better,” said Tim Crescenti, CEO at Small World IFT. “For me, launching a new show in Italy one week, after premiering another show in Spain two weeks earlier certainly changes my life for the better.”
The Italian deal comes two weeks after TVG in Spain ordered its own version of Romanian gameshow format Win Your Country following a deal with Spanish producer Miraveo and Small World IFT.