John de Mol’s Talpa strikes exclusive format deal with Eureka in Oz

Marble Mania

Marble Mania creator Talpa has linked up with Holey Moley firm Eureka Productions to expand its reach in Australia.

The agreement will see John de Mol’s Talpa Concepts providing US- and Australia-based Eureka with exclusive rights to sell and produce all formats from the Dutch firm, including Avastars, Hunting Season, A Quiz For You, Hit The Road and Kids Buy A House. It also includes Marble Mania, which launched earlier this year on TF1 in France.

It is the latest deal struck by Talpa, which is looking for partners to expand its brands around the world. It has previously struck similar partnerships with Dok1 Media in Belgium, Satisfaction Group in France and Seven.One Entertainment Group in Germany.

Eureka was launched by Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin in 2016, and now has a slate of 35 shows in Australia, the US and Canada including Holey Moley for ABC in the US and Seven in Oz, Dating Around for Netflix, and Frogger for NBCUniversal streamer Peacock.

Culvenor, Eureka Productions co-CEO, said: “John de Mol is such a creative force, and Eureka Productions is thrilled to partner with him and the team at Talpa. We look forward to launching Talpa’s exciting and innovative pipeline of formats in Australia.”

De Mol added: “It’s creative shows like Holey Moley that immediately draw my attention. I look forward to working together with this next-generation production company. We have a similar taste for creation and distribution.”

De Mol set up broadcaster and streamer firm Talpa Network in 2017 before launching Talpa Entertainment Production, Talpa Concepts and Talpa Distribution. That followed his earn out period at ITV Studios, which had acquired his former company, Talpa Media, in 2015.

Most recently, De Mol’s Talpa Network agreed to merge with RTL Group in the Netherlands to create a unified Dutch cross-media group.