WBITVP Negotiates Seven More Local Production Deals Around the Globe for #1 New U.S. Hit Unscripted Comedy/Variety Series "Little Big Shots"
(May 13, 2016 – London and Burbank, CA) – The “Little Big Shots” are now taking on the world. Following the successful launch of the local production sales campaign at MIPTV last month that saw Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) strike deals with ITV in the U.K. and Mediaset in Spain for local versions of the breakout #1 new U.S. hit “Little Big Shots,” the momentum continues with a further seven international deals confirmed for the unscripted comedy/variety series. More than 100 episodes are now projected to be produced in territories around the world. “Little Big Shots” debuted in March on NBC in the U.S. and was the most-watched alternative show launch on American television in more than six years. Executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres along with Steve Harvey, who serves as host, the U.S. version has averaged nearly 13 million viewers per week and ranks as the #1 new show of any kind — scripted or unscripted — of the 2015–16 season. “Little Big Shots” was quickly renewed for a highly anticipated second season.
- • In Germany, an agreement has been reached with ProSiebenSat.1 for “Little Big Shots,” with WBITVP Germany to produce the show.
• European local production deals for the U.S. hit also extend into Belgium, with VTM commissioning six episodes to be produced by WBITVP Belgium, as well as Greece, with Star TV commissioning 12 episodes.
• Significant episode-count deals have also been reached in Southeast Asia, with TV3 in Thailand and ABS-CBN in the Philippines, where the series will be slated for primetime.
• In the Middle East, WBITVP has confirmed a deal with MBC to produce 13 episodes of the series, as well as a second season.
• And in Latin America, WBITVP has confirmed a deal in Colombia, with RCN to commission 13 episodes of the comedy/variety show.
Andrew Zein, Senior Vice President, Creative, Format Development & Sales, at WBITVP, said: “We are thrilled to see seven more local production deals for ‘Little Big Shots’ and expect the success of the show to continue, with several major territories such as Australia and Italy showing a keen interest.”
The March 8 debut of the show in the U.S. was the highest-rated alternative series premiere in nearly five years among Adults 18–49 and in more than six years among Total Viewers. Its time period premiere on March 13 was the most-watched regular time period debut of any new show of any kind (scripted or unscripted) on any network for the 2015–16 season, and it was the most-watched regularly scheduled Sunday entertainment program on its U.S. network (NBC) since 2005 (excluding sports). The show was renewed for a second season after only two telecasts.
The U.S. version of “Little Big Shots” finds two of the biggest names in comedy, Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Harvey, teaming up to showcase some of the smallest talent in a hit unscripted comedy/variety series featuring the world’s most extraordinary kids. Serving as host, multitalented entertainer, bestselling author and popular TV host Steve Harvey brings his distinctive comedic flair to showcase young musicians, singers, dancers and every form of wunderkind in the world, and goes toe to toe with them, with hilarious results. The phenomenal kids awe viewers with their talents, slay us with their cuteness and wow us with their accomplishments, showing once and for all that talent is born, not made.
“Little Big Shots” is executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Harvey, Jeff Kleeman, Gerald Washington, Robin Ashbrook, Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner. Alison Holloway is the co-executive producer. The series is produced by Warner Horizon Television, East 112th Street Productions and A Very Good Production. The finished program is distributed around the world by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, with local production and format sales handled by Warner Bros. International Television Production.
About Warner Bros. International Television Production:
Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) aims to establish or acquire production companies in major television territories around the world in order to become a leading producer of local scripted and non-scripted programming.
In those territories where WBITVP establishes a production base, it operates by developing and producing original programming and also producing local versions of formats owned and controlled by the Warner Bros. Television Group, such as “The Bachelor,” “Little Big Shots,” “500 Questions,” “Impractical Jokers” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” Where WBITVP has no local production capability, it licenses Warner Bros. formats to third parties.
WBITVP has already taken significant steps by acquiring a majority stake in both U.K. production group Shed Media, one of the U.K.’s largest and most successful independent production companies, which operates both in the U.K. and the U.S., and in BlazHoffski Holding B.V., a leading independent television producer in the Netherlands and Belgium. In 2014, Shed Media Group was re-branded as Warner Bros. Television Productions UK. Also, in 2014, Warner Bros. Television Group acquired Eyeworks’ businesses outside the US, in 15 countries across Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand, adding 13 new territories to its international network of production companies with the majority of those territories now Warner Bros. branded, to further strengthens WBITVP’s capabilities.