ABC readies Bachelor spin-off, hires alt VP

ABC in the US is working up Bachelor in Paradise, a spin-off to the long-running Bachelor reality series.

The news came just after the broadcaster announced it had hired Ryan Seacrest Productions’ senior VP, unscripted development Jason Sarlanis as VP, alternative for the ABC Entertainment Group.

Bachelor in Paradise will see characters from former seasons of The Bachelor reunite in an exotic location in another attempt to find love. Next Entertainment is producing in association with Warner Horizon Television. Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are executive producers.

Sarlanis, meanwhile, will oversee development and current programming for alternative programming at the network.

He will report to executive VP, alternative TV, specials and latenight programming Lisa Berger, who replaced John Saade last year.