Singapore/Australia – Award winning television producer activeTV has announced the launch of a new content division – activeTV Originals. The division aims to address the need for more original content creation across the Asia-Pacific region, and develop world-class formats that have international appeal. More than 50 industry executives and channel heads were given a taste of the current slate of programmes and pilots under the Originals division, spanning a range of genres, at the launch event last week. 

The slate includes Singapore character comedy Taxi Chronicles for Yahoo!; Next Please!; food entertainment pilot Progressive Dinner Wars for a Malaysian broadcaster; epic Antarctic adventure Race to the South Pole; twisted travel show That Geeky Guy and The Look, which goes in search of a real-life My Fair Lady. In the reality/factual genre, there’s new pan-regional treasure hunt series Treasure Trail and Snake Wars, which pits man against reptile in the wilds of suburban Australia. Additionally, for kids TV, activeTV is in development on an exciting pan-regional reality series with an Australian broadcaster.

Michael McKay, activeTV’s President, said during the event, “We feel the time is ripe to ramp up the development and creation of our own international formats for local, regional and international audiences. Broadcasters are beginning to look to this part of the world for new formats. It’s a natural progression and we are able to take advantage of this trend with an amazing creative team along with regional talent and partners.”

Originals is a collaboration between the Asian and Australian businesses, spearheaded by activeTV’s President Michael McKay and supported by Marc Checkley, Head of Development (Asia) and Amanda Peppard, Vice-President of Development (Australia). Working hand in hand with the team is Priscilla Yeo, head of casting.