Q: Which genres of formats do you feel will still be popular/ less popular this year?

A: Clients no longer approach us requesting specific genres any more; instead broadcasters are looking for something smart and cost-effective with an unusual twist to the concept, which will receive good ratings and sponsorship.

Q: Which genre of formats do you see increased interest?

A: As societies become more complex and people’s lives become complicated, a lot of people are becoming interested in the ideas of healing and therapy. The Audience (from The Garden) is about 50 ordinary people advising a person who is looking for advice on a dilemma. Also, Real Life: The Musical (ITV Studios America) is a format that helps people to re-connect with their loved ones by singing songs which best reflect their situation, such as “I love you” or “I want you back”.

Q: Comment on the volume of format sales in the past year and whether you think there will be more or less interest this year?

A: We had a huge success with format sales last year, including ITV Studios formats Come Dine With Me premiering in India, Popstar to Operastar Korea series 2 and Popstar to Operastar launching in Vietnam, as well as optioning a number of our formats to production companies in the region. This year, we expect to see these optioned titles being pitched to the market and getting produced.

Q: What is the biggest opportunity for the formats business this year?

A: As Asia is becoming more focused on local production/ content, we predict that we will have a better and bigger format sales opportunity this year.

Q: What key challenges do you face in adapting your formats for Asian buyers?

A: Celebrity reality and talent shows can be very popular and help bring an audience to the channel. Whilst celebrity participants can be more expensive, the value they bring in the right format can easily outweigh the financial cost.

The key to making these shows a success is to place the celebrities into formats where their presence is organic and real. For example, in shows like Popstar to Operastar or Born To Shine the celebrities are genuinely challenged with a new style of performance. This is also experienced with ITV Studios’ I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! where celebrities have to survive on very basic terms.

Asia has a lot of experience with high concept shows like The X Factor and The Amazing Race now so many territories can adapt these large-scale shows even with celebrities.

Q: Which countries have produced formats that have interested buyers in a big way?

A: Countries in Asia really influence each other – meaning that if something gets produced well in Korea or Japan or Taiwan, all the countries in the region watch very closely. For example, Popstar to Operastar was produced by Korea and therefore it was picked up in Vietnam. There is continued interest in this title in the region.

Q: Which countries are acquiring new formats in a big way?

A: India and Vietnam and we anticipate Thailand will be the next big market.

Q: How do you differentiate your formats over others’?

A: ITVS GE is able to launch 10 – 12 new format titles at every MIPTV and MIPCOM. This is a fortunate situation to be as a distributor as we can cater to everyone with our wide range of format titles.

Q: What key titles are you pushing at MIPTV this year?

A: ITV Studios’ Saturday Night Takeaway is a feel good, fun, studio-based primetime entertainment show. It has already proven a major ratings success around the world and is returning to screens in 2013.

Food businesses today have to achieve great food and service, effective marketing and a good profit with limited budgets and time, whether it is a five star hotel restaurant or a small street stall owner. Cook Me The Money (ITV Studios) is a cooking format in which contestants battle from street stalls over lunchtime to prove they have the best food, prices and marketing to bring in the most money. The winner is able to take the money that all the contestants have made that day as a prize!

In Pissed Off (ITV Studios Nordic), five celebrities who have short tempers and negative thinking reveal how everyday setbacks make them so angry. The show follows the highly entertaining journey of these celebrities to see whether they can overcome their pessimism with the help of professional mentors who look at their health and attitude to life in order to reduce their gloominess. Viewers can take the same virtual health and mental coaching program online and share their experiences on social media outlets. This is a multimedia format that not only interacts with the audience, but also challenges the nation to reduce its negativity!

ITV Studios Global Entertainment brings Saturday Night Takeaway back for MIPTV

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is bringing a refreshed version of ITV Studios’ hit primetime entertainment format Saturday Night Takeaway to MIPTV 2013, after the show successfully returned on ITV in the UK on February 23 with a peak audience of 8.1 million, averaging 7.1 million across the show, making it the most watched programme of the night and ITV’s highest rating Saturday night show so far in 2013.

Saturday Night Takeaway is a proven international hit, having aired in nine territories worldwide, including China (Hunan TV), where it premiered to 55 million viewers and Finland (MTV3) and Belgium (VTM), where it was one of the top-rating shows in both countries.

Mike Beale, Director of International Formats for ITV Studios, said: “Saturday Night Takeaway is a proven international hit format which offers a real alternative to the talent shows. The UK ratings success demonstrates that there is still an appetite for a feel-good, family primetime entertainment show and we look forward to presenting the refreshed show to buyers at MIPTV.”

The new series of Saturday Night Takeaway, presented by Ant & Dec in the UK, premiered on ITV on 23 February. The show originally launched on the channel in 2002 and was a ratings success, running for nine series and outperforming the ITV primetime average across all demographics.

Hosted by a well-known entertainer/s, in Saturday Night Takeaway, everyone becomes part of the show, with audience members chosen at random to participate in challenges and fans at home receiving surprise visits with the chance to win great prizes. Celebrity guests are often put in funny situations, whether it’s embarrassing themselves in a task or being pranked by the host, all making for great TV.