Fox & ITV in "Revolutionary" Deal

[Bob The Skutter]

ITV and Fox have apparently signed a new deal, where they can pick and choose from each other's back catalogue, and share formats.

From Digital Spy

The production arms of ITV and Fox have agreed a "potentially revolutionary" deal to share formats and develop new series together.

The agreement, which comes shortly after former Fox executive Lee Bartlett was named head of global content at ITV, could see British and US versions of new series produced at the same time.

An early product of the deal will be a UK series based on culture-clash comedy Dharma And Greg, originally made by 20th Century Fox TV for ABC.

Each company will pick programmes from the other's catalogue for redevelopment and ITV is said to be looking specifically at two additional Fox titles.

New series will be developed, either separately for each market or as one project, under a co-funded Shared Development Group.

Bartlett, describing the deal as "potentially revolutionary”, added: “We could actually create scripted formats that could be produced in both countries at the same time.

“There could be differences - the cast for the British version could be more British than for the American version - but you could be making two series on top of each other, if I can put it like that. That could get you some pretty good production synergies."

TCFTV joint chairman Dana Walden, who agreed the deal with her co-chairman Gary Newman and Bartlett, said: "The goal is to be as nontraditional as possible in the development process and have as many avenues for experimentation open as possible."

John Whiston, director of ITV Productions, added: "If you are going to partner up with a US company then you should go for the one whose programming you most watch and whose creativity you most admire. For UK creatives, Fox is the best sweet shop in the world and we are very excited about being let loose in it."

 

[Hermiod]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Erm... Since this is production arm deal, and ITV news isn't an ITV production, I'm gonna say no.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Erm... Since this is production arm deal, and ITV news isn't an ITV production, I'm gonna say no.

A loss to them both, the news shows on either channel are reputedly crap, the potential for sharing is vast

The Dharma bits of Dharma and Greg were alright, but I can't think of anything else special related to Fox other than Cops (that's Fox right?)

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Erm... Since this is production arm deal, and ITV news isn't an ITV production, I'm gonna say no.

A loss to them both, the news shows on either channel are reputedly crap, the potential for sharing is vast

The Dharma bits of Dharma and Greg were alright, but I can't think of anything else special related to Fox other than Cops (that's Fox right?)

Just think of all those reality TV formats they can share though.
But really there's plenty of good shows produced by Fox, even if they're not aired on Fox.

 

[Hermiod]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Erm... Since this is production arm deal, and ITV news isn't an ITV production, I'm gonna say no.

That was a joke.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Erm... Since this is production arm deal, and ITV news isn't an ITV production, I'm gonna say no.

That was a joke.

Can you imagine the legendary badness coming from such a thing though?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

For an ignorant American, what notable shows have ITV done?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

For an ignorant American, what notable shows have ITV done?

Nothing, ever.

Nah, just kidding. Depending on if you follow British shows, or are talking about American remakes there's a few.

Inspector Morse
Touch of Frost
Cracker
Spitting Image
Primeval
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Midsomer Muders
Foyle's War
Sharp
Pop Idol/Pop Stars/X Factor

they did the first series of Men Behaving Badly
They're doing the British version of Law & Order

There's probably tons more I'm forgetting, but I barely watch ITV.

~edit~
Oh I just thought of another one
Secret Diary of a Call Girl... which apparently just got the highest rating for the first episode of a new series on Showtime.

The launch of Billie Piper's Secret Diary Of A Call Girl has scored a ratings record for Showtime in the US.

The racy drama - based on the Belle du Jour novels - premiered to 949,000 viewers on Monday night. The figure is the largest on record for a new series opener on the cable network, exceeding 936,000 for The L Word in 2004.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I was just asking about the British originals. Thanks for the list.

I would hate to see what Fox would do to Poirot or Foyle's War. *shudder*

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Here's the A-Z list on ITVs site. I think this is just stuff that's currently showing on ITV's channels.

 

[Captain Shaw]

ITV have made some good shows in the past but theses day they are crap.
The last good show i can remember is prime suspect they have even ruined Taggart.
I wounder if we get a UK version of house.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

ITV have made some good shows in the past but theses day they are crap.
The last good show i can remember is prime suspect they have even ruined Taggart.
I wounder if we get a UK version of house.

I believe House is produced by Universal.

ITV still have the occasional good show. Moving Wallpaper was good, even if Echo Beach was just a bad rip off of Home and Away. Primeval is enjoyable Saturday evening fluff. I hear Midnight Man was good.

 

[BrotherBenny]

The Fixer - a hitman with a conscience - could work really well in the US if done well

 

[wamdue]

I wouldnt mind seeing a US based spin-off of Primeval

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Fixer - a hitman with a conscience - could work really well in the US if done well

There's something very familiar about that - I have a feeling I've heard about that concept actually being in the works. Or maybe I'm just thinking of Dexter (the same idea, except sub "serial killer" for "hitman," which is loads more fun! )

I wouldnt mind seeing a US based spin-off of Primeval

I know the show is about a team chasing down prehistoric critters (which could be fun assuming you have a Spielbergian budget to make the critters look good) but otherwise, what do they do?

 

[Aragorn]

So Inspector Morse will be the bad guy for season eight of 24?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

So Inspector Morse will be the bad guy for season eight of 24?

Considering he died a few years ago... probably.

 

[Ethros]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Well ITV News already is the UK version of FOX News.
It's a joke, like watching The Day Today. And I'm pretty sure Tonight With Trevor McDonald is based on Brass Eye

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^So, basically, ITV News is going to become the mouthpiece for the Conservative Party ?

Well ITV News already is the UK version of FOX News.
It's a joke, like watching The Day Today. And I'm pretty sure Tonight With Trevor McDonald is based on Brass Eye

I wouldn't quite say ITV News is like Fox News, for one ITV closed down their news channel over low ratings.