Galleon’s Chelsea FC football format picked up by ESPN Star

Super Soccer Star, the football entertainment format in which contestants compete for the chance to train at English club Chelsea, has been picked up by News Corp-backed Asian broadcaster ESPN Star Sports.

ESPN and Media Star Global will produce the show, which will air on ESS channels throughout India and the Indian sub-continent.

ESS has the TV rights to the upcoming soccer World Cup in South Africa and will transmit the show on Saturdays and Sundays during the tournament. The reality series will seek out the best footballers between 13 and 16 years old and two winners will travel to London to train with Chelsea.

Media Star Global licenses the Indian rights to the format from UK-listed media company Galleon. The UK company produces the show with and for Chinese broadcaster Guangdong TV Sports Channel and the format has proved popular in China.

Media Star Global also licenses the soccer show in the Middle East, having struck a US$375,000 deal with Galleon early last year.

Galleon is extending the Super… Star franchise with the launch of a fashion-based format Super Fashion Stars. It is teaming up with IMG to make and distribute the show.