All3 & Japan’s TBS strike format pact, ‘Lovers Or Liars?’ first to emerge

Lovers Or Liars? (Source: All3Media)

All3Media International has struck a deal with Japan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) to co-develop new entertainment formats.

The first show to emerge is from All3-owned North One Productions (Fifth Gear) developing Lovers Or Liars?, a new studio entertainment format in which a celebrity panel must try to identify the real (married) couple from amongst other couples that have only met for the first time that day.

The pilot series premieres in Japan on TBS on 23 March and the show will be launched and presented at a Showcase at the upcoming MIPFormats.

The collaboration has been initiated by Nick Smith, EVP of formats & licensing at All3Media International, and is part of its strategy to expand and diversify its formats line-up.

All3’s sales arm will distribute all of the co-developed titles, with its APAC office in Singapore leading on sales across Asia (outside of Japan).

Shunsuke Fukaya, head of format development, said the pact would bring together “two companies with totally different TV cultures” while Smith added that he hoped Lovers Or Liars? would “be the first of many collaborations”.