TV2 plants Garden Masters

MIPCOM: A Norwegian broadcaster has picked up Garden Masters, a gardening competition format from Elk Entertainment.

TV2 has ordered 10 episodes of the show, which will be produced by Nordisk Film TV, part of Banijay Group. The format follows amateur gardeners who must transform a patch of wasteland into a verdant garden.

“In Norway, we spend eight-digit amounts each year on creating beautiful outdoor environments,” said TV2’s programme director Rolf Wenell. “Whether we live in the city or in the countryside, this is something that means a lot to us.

“The TV format has many strong drive motors that makes it exciting to follow the 10 couples during the season until one winning couple is chosen.”

Garden Masters is the first Elk format that has been sold to a Norwegian channel since the company was founded by former Friday TV execs Jock Millgårdh, Mattias Olsson and Estelle Bodén a year ago.

Elk has a distribution deal in place with Banijay. Friday TV was responsible for formats such as Minute to Win It and Clash of the Choirs, which sold to broadcasters around the world.