Viasat strikes pre-MIP deals with Endemol

Pan regional European broadcaster Viasat has inked a raft of deals with formats giant Endemol across Central and Eastern Europe.

Viasat is launching a regional production hub in Estonia to launch a raft of local versions of gameshow The Money Drop. It will produce versions of the format in  Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Bulgaria, where it will run for 24 episodes.

The broadcaster has also extended reality series Big Brother for two more seasons on Nova channel in Bulgaria following the success of the current, sixth season.

Separately, TV3 (Lithuania) has renewed My Kitchen Rules for a second season and 16 new episodes.

Marina Williams, CEO of Endemol’s Central and Eastern European operations, said: “These latest deals are further testament to the popularity of Endemol’s entertainment formats in the CIS. Furthermore, The Money Drop production hub will allow us to deliver the highest production value to Viasat’s viewers across the region. Closing these deals now is great timing as we prepare for MIPTV 2012.”