Real Housewives


NBCU licences Real Housewives format to M-Net South Africa

NBCUniversal International Formats has licensed its Real Housewives format to leading South African broadcaster M-Net. The partnership is the thirteenth international format deal for the reality franchise. Produced by independent production company RHOSA, the 12 x 60 minute series will mark the first official version of the show across South Africa and will premiere on […]

Formats exec joins NBC after DRG exit

Formats executive Albertina Marfil has joined NBCUniversal International Studios after leaving rival distributor DRG, TBI has learned. Marfil had been with DRG since 2013, having previously worked at Cineflix Rights and IMG Media. She was most recently sales manager for North and South America and the Asia Pacific region. She has joined NBCU’s formats division […]

NBCU formats director exiting

NBCUniversal International Studios’ director of formats and production is leaving the company after four years, TBI has learned. Jonathan Tuovinen is exiting his post at the Comcast-owned company’s London office. His next move is unknown, but it is understood he will remain in London. An NBCU spokesperson confirmed his departure today. Tuovinen joined NBCU from […]

Marvista hires Real Housewives producer

US-based producer-distributor Marvista Entertainment has hired a former senior producer from the Real Housewives Larry Grimaldi has been named VP, development and production, and will report to executive VP, development and production Robyn Snyder. Grimaldi is best known as a producer on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Real Housewives of Orange County. As an […]

Ob doc formats dissected

The observational documentary – or docu-soap – has brought big characters and weird and wonderful occupations to screens around the world. But how formattable are these shows – and is the genre on the wane? New research conducted by Eurodata TV for TBI helps to dissect the ob-doc genre Observational docs have provided broadcasters around […]

Ex-Target sales boss lands NBCU formats role

Former Target Entertainment head of sales Hannah Worrall has joined NBCUniversal’s international formats team, TBI has learned. Worrall has landed the new role of VP, format sales at NBCU International Production, the Comcast-owned company confirmed this morning. She will report to NBCUI’s senior VP, formats and production Yvonne Pilkington, who recently returned from maternity leave. […]

Spotts takes Bravo role as Cohen launches prodco

Lara Spotts will become US cable channel Bravo’s head of development with current incumbent Andy Cohen exiting to launch his own production company. Cohen, executive VP of development and talent and also a late night talk show host often referred to as the ‘face’ of Bravo, has launched prodco Most Talkative. This means VP, development, […]

Fox Intn’l poaches programming boss from Bravo

Fox International Channels has hired Christian Barcellos as its executive VP, lifestyle and reality programming. In the newly-created role Barcellos will oversee all original development, production and acquisitions in the unscripted space and develop a long term strategy for FIC in the reality and lifestyle category. He joins from NBCU-owned cable net Bravo where he […]

‘Real Housewives SA to go ahead’, Barbie manager claims

The manager of a woman who claims she has the right to produce a South African version of reality show Real Housewives… has said shooting on “totally different” style of format is moving ahead. This comes despite Housewives’ international format owner NBCUniversal stating it has had no contact with the woman, named Barbie Brazil, nor […]