RT & NRK Norway announce winner of Format Pitching Forum

RT & NRK Norway announce winner of Format Pitching Forum RT and Norwegian national broadcaster NRK have announced today the winner of a 10,000 development fund to create a pilot of a brand new television format for both the Norwegian and Irish domestic markets.

The pitch was held yesterday at the Celtic Media Festival in Dungarvan, Co Waterfordwith Bucking the Trend, an original idea by Dublin based Sideline Productions emerging as the eventual winner in a closely fought contest. The format looks to change the lives of families with long term problems and change habits.

A call was put out in February for an impactful format to be pitched at the festival to a prestigious panel comprising Adrian Lynch, Channel Controller, RT One; Janet Frawley, Head of Formats RT ; Steiner Igdun, Commissioning Editor NRK; and Unni deg rd, Commissioning Editor independents for NRK. The idea needed to work for broadcast in both territories and five finalists got their chance to present their ideas to the panel at the culmination of the festival yesterday.

The other four finalists were Bees Nees Media from Scotland with No.1 Lonely Detective Agency, where two real private detectives track down the old friends, colleagues, schoolmates and lovers of two desperately lonely and connectionless older people. Irish entrants WAKA TV pitched Trading Faces, a beauty-swap' format which sees one extreme beauty addict swap beauty regimes with a makeup averse, low-maintenance fashion-phobe.

From Norway, Tom Erik Ruud - Billy Budd Sam Muir Studio pitched Eye Candy the show that aims to bring art back to the people and Rubicon TV AS pitched White Sails, a youth challenge format where ten arrogant, spoiled and lazy youngsters sail across the Atlantic to New York on a large sailing ship.

Sideline Productions now has 10 weeks to deliver a sizzle tape and full treatment to pitch back to the relevant channel controllers at RT and NRK. This inaugural event, RT s Format Farm Development Pitch is open to any production company or format creative house or individual in any country with a track record in format development. The aims of the Format Farm development pitch is to support and inspire creativity and innovation.

RT and NRK are looking for an original format which has not been previously commissioned/produced and exploited on any platform (linear or non linear) and for which all worldwide rights are available. The format should be innovative, original, be able to travel, be returnable and creatively distinctive.

The panel was adjudicated by Michelle Spillane, Director of RT Global. Michelle said: The response from to this first International Format Farm pitch run in partnership with NRK has been phenomenal. Supporting creativity and innovation is at the heart of Format Farm's philosophy as a development initiative, so the collaboration with NRK is a significant and exciting extension to the scheme which will open up more International opportunities for production companies to bring their formats to new markets. Once again we would like to congratulate Billy McGrath and Sideline Productions on their win.'

Unni deg rd NRK head of factual entertainment said: We are very happy about our collaboration with RT on format development, and the format pitch in Dungarvan has been an exciting process with an overwhelming response from production companies in both countries. Now we look forward to continue the process and hope it will result in a great format for both our markets and beyond.'

In further news from RT 's Format Farm, Scorchio, distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television, has been greenlit by Channel Controller Bill Malone and has gone into production for RT 2. Irish indie WAKA is collaborating with the UK's Sharpjack Media on the new character led hidden camera show which pranks young people on holiday. Commissioned by Eddie Doyle, RT s Head of Comedy, Talent Development and Music, the show is executive produced by Warren Meyler for Waka TV and Elliot Johnson and Amanda Wilson for Sharp Jack Media.

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2016/0422/78359...
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