X Factor


ITV’s Kevin Lygo admits risk-aversion in “brutal” industry

ITV’s director of television Kevin Lygo has admitted that the industry has become more “brutal than ever” on shows that do not immediately perform and admitted it is becoming tougher to take programming risks. Speaking on the first day of the Royal Television Society (RTS) event in Cambridge, Lygo told delegates that there “is a […]

Discovery orders Celebrity Fat Fighters

TLC has greenlit a new reality series in following celebrities in an extreme weight-loss boot camp. Celebrity Fat Fighters will run to three parts on the Discovery net, with UK indie Chalkboard TV making the show. The format sees a roster of celebs enter the boot camp and then undergo a strict training regime while […]

X Factor struggles down under, Dancing cancelled

Two of the biggest entertainment formats in the world, Dancing with the Stars and the X Factor, face an uncertain future in Australia. Both have run on free TV broadcaster Network Seven, which cancelled BBC Worldwide-distributed series Dancing with the Stars last week. Whether it ultimately comes back on Seven, or elsewhere, remains to be […]

BBC buys into South Africa’s Rapid Blue

BBC Worldwide has bought into Rapid Blue, the South Africa-based production company that makes regional versions of Dragon’s Den (pictured), Got Talent and X Factor and BBC series Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off. Established in 1993, Rapid Blue is the top formats producer in Africa, making the local versions of a slew of well-known international shows. Worldwide, […]

American Idol hits Fremantle profits

Profit was down across the first nine months of the year at FremantleMedia, with the company blaming reduced returns from American Idol and an increased spend on content. The RTL-owned producer and distributor, which did register an uptick in revenues for the first three quarters, saw EBITDA profit decline 19% to €64.8 million (US$70 million) and EBITA […]

Ex-FremantleMedia UK boss joins All3

Former FremantleMedia UK CEO Sara Geater is joining another UK-based production giant, All3Media, as COO. Since leaving FremantleMedia’s British arm in 2014 after seven years, she has taken on the chairmanship of indie body PACT, and will joins Gogglebox firm All3 with immediate effect. This comes after All3’s former COO, Jane Turton, secured the CEO […]

Buyers Briefing: Devi Noviana, RCTI (Indonesia)

Name: Devi Noviana Title: head of international acquisitions Ahead of the ATF market in Singapore, TBI spoke to key buyers in the region about their acquisitions strategy Describe the profile of the channel for which you are buying? RCTI’s target audience is Male/FemaleABC 5+ and most of our programming is general entertainment with local drama […]

FremantleMedia forms Indian drama JV

FremantleMedia Asia is creating a drama production joint venture with DJ’s Creative Unit that will make scripted shows for the Indian market. DJ’s Creative Unit is a husband-and-wife owned prodco that is behind major Indian TV dramas such as Just Mohabbat, Left Right Left, Chhoti Bahu and Parvarish, and the country’s first teen soap Banegi […]

TV growth swings Seven back to profit

The parent firm of Australian broadcaster Seven Network has swung back into profit after reporting growth in its TV business. Full-year revenues at Seven West Media’s broadcast unit, which includes Seven and its affiliated linear and on-demand channels, has grown 3% year-on-year to A$1.3 billion (US$1.2 billion) – 70% of entire group sales. Earnings before […]

X Factor ratings, currency issues weigh on Fox results

Poor X Factor ratings, extra programming costs and currency issues in several international markets have weighed on 21st Century Fox’s latest results. Internationally, Fox said that weak currencies in some its emerging markets will impact the results at its channels unit and the company said it now anticipates an adverse impact of US$50-US$75 million more […]