Content strikes format deal with Small World

International TV and film producer and distributor Content Media is expanding into the formats business after striking a strategic deal with Small World IFT.

Content has inked a formats deal with the company, which is run by Tim and Colleen Crescenti, and has also agreed the right to take up an equity stake in the company at a future date.  

Small World IFT, which is based in the United States, is known for finding international formats and bringing them to the US and Western Europe. Formats have included Dragon’s Den, I Survived a Japanese Game Show and The Kitchen Musical, which it is working on with Ben Silverman’s Electus. The company recently hired former CBS Studios International formats exec Karla Burgos from as head of sales and development.

This deal comes a month after Content acquired a stake in Alex Gibney’s production company Jigsaw Productions.

Content CEO John Schmidt said, “We are big fans of Tim and Colleen, and we really admire how they go about their business.  They have terrific relationships around the world with many production companies and networks, and we are excited to begin working with them to grow their business, work on the format rights that Content is acquiring, and tie in with our production businesses at Collins and Jigsaw.”