Korean formats go global

A Ukrainian broadcaster and producers in Europe and Latin America have acquired format rights to competition shows and drama series from South Korean media group CJ E&M.

In Europe, Endemol Italy has bought remake rights to the revenge drama Ice Adonis, which will also be remade by Kanal Ukrainia. The drama, which Sparks Echho Group has acquired for distribution, tells the story of a woman whose step sister betrays her, causing her to lose her family and lover.

Elsewhere in Italy, the quiz programme Crazy Market, which tests contestants’ knowledge of food, will be produced by Ballandi Multimedia after the prodco struck a deal with CJ E&M for the format.

Meanwhile, in Latin America, Latin Media Corporation has picked up the romantic drama Crazy Love and plans to remake the series, about a woman abandoned by her rich husband who finds love again, in Mexico.

Latin Media Corporation has also taken the format Super Diva, in which housewives compete to transform themselves into divas, for production in Spanish-speaking countries in South America.

All the series were originally broadcast on CJ E&M-operated channels in Korea. In 2013, CJ E&M sold format rights to programmes including Superstar K, Super Diva, and The Romantic to China, as well as Nine: Nine Times Time Travel to the US.