Primitives


Opinion: Who cares about your content?!

In the first instalment of a monthly column, Siobhan Crawford, head of sales and acquisitions at Benelux format distributor Primitives, walks through the process of partnering with a reliable distributor. At a time when original formats are needed more than ever, we have a deluge of derivatives filling our inboxes and recommissions filling our screens. So one […]

TBI Weekly: For the love of God, buy a format!

Back in August, Siobhan Crawford, head of sales & acquisitions at Belgian distributor Primitives, questioned if the format business had a future in a world dominated by derivative, talent-led ideas. Ahead of MIPCOM, she returns to discuss the industry’s response to the article and to offer an alternative approach for those heading to Cannes with […]

Where the hell are all the formats?

Siobhan Crawford, head of sales and acquisitions at Belgium’s Primitives, the distributor of The Mole and Reputation Rehab, asks what the future holds for formats in an increasingly talent-led business. The words “creative renaissance” were uttered this week at the Edinburgh TV Festival, referring to the positive impact of Covid on creativity in our industry. […]

Show of the week: Reputation Rehab

This ‘name and shame’ factual format takes on the negative headlines in the media in an attempt to redeem the reputations of reality TV villains, bad boy sports stars and others in need of an image rehabilitation. The show features a panel filled with everyday people, who vote to decide who is worth a second […]

Germany’s Sat1 orders local version of ’99 To Beat’

German FTA network Sat1 has ordered a local adaptation of Belgian family entertainment format 99 To Beat. Fabiola will produce the 3 x 150-minute series, which will launch on 9 July and be known locally as 99 – Einer Schlägt Sie Alle!. This will be the third local adaptation of the format, which is distributed […]

Discovery+ digs up ‘The Mole’ for Sweden

Discovery+ has revived The Mole adventure competition format for Swedish audiences. Originally broadcast on local network Kanal 5 from 2000-2004, the show, known locally as Mullvaden, will now return on the streaming service later this year, with the 8 x 60-minute revival series produced by Warner Bros. International Productions Sweden. The Mole format, which is […]

TBI Weekly: Embracing autism & disability representation

To mark World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April, TBI deputy editor Mark Layton talks to producers from around the world, and across a range of genres, about their neurodiversity and disability-focused shows and what best practices can be learned from how they brought them to the screen. Authentic on-screen representations of disability and neurodiversity are, […]

Belgium’s Primitives launches spring format slate

Belgian format distributor Primitives has unveiled its spring slate, adding five new reality and entertainment formats to its catalogue, taken from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Among the company’s new offerings is The Brigade, which was created by Robert Cohen and produced by Media Headquarters in Canada for The Outdoor Channel USA. Described […]

TBI Formats: Fighting for your format

Mark Layton talks to format rights holders from around the world about what they can do if they believe their IP has been copied and explores how a damaged reputation may be the best weapon in their arsenal. There are few things more coveted than a great piece of original IP that has the legs […]