ITV, Korea’s CJ E&M ink two-way format deal

UK broadcaster ITV and its South Korean counterpart CJ E&M have inked a format deal. Under the terms of the agreement ITV formats will launch in Korea and ITV will take CJ E&M shows back to the UK.

ITV’s content and distribution arm, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, agreed the deal with cable channel operator and content company CJ E&M.

The shows travelling from Korea to the UK are CJ E&M entertainment series From Start To Clear and computer game gameshow The Genius Game .

ITVS GE’s managing director, Maria Kyriacou, and Lee, Deok Jae, CEO of CJ E&M’s Media Division, signed the agreement on Monday at MIPCOM.

Maria Kyriacou said: “ITVS GE is one of the UK and Europe’s foremost format creators and distributors, while CJ E&M is a leading formats player in Korea. This agreement will give us the chance to extend our formats into each other’s markets, in order to achieve even greater global success for both companies.”

Lee, Deok Jae added: “Korea and the UK are two of the most creative territories for formats internationally, but this is the first time that producer-distributors from both countries have worked together in this way. It is an exciting opportunity for us to exchange fresh ideas and present them to new audiences in our respective regions.”