Press Releases

London, 29 March 2011. Sony Pictures Television's formats arm, 2waytraffic, will launch a strong slate of new game show and reality formats at next week's MIP TV, alongside its well established classic hits. The new offering is drawn from 2waytraffic's global network, with innovative propositions from international third party producers and Sony Pictures Television's production hubs around the world. The slate includes proven hits from as far afield as the US, Japan and the Netherlands, with formats such as Second Chance Hotel, Bangers & Cash, Power & Brain and Cover Me to debut at the Cannes market.

Cover Me is a weekly, music-based entertainment show from Tuvalu Media and has been a ratings hit for TROS in the Netherlands; it doubled its audience over an eight week, primetime run and a second season has just been recommissioned. Each episode see two music stars, worlds apart in age and taste, given seven days to bridge their generation gap and create new hits based on each other's work. Cover Me is hosted by an established rap music star who challenges contemporary performers to cover iconic pop hits by major artistes from very different eras and genres. At the same time those veteran stars are challenged to leave their comfort zones and make a musical connection with a modern day hit that is totally alien to them.

Bangers & Cash is a weekly, one-hour factual entertainment format devised by Gogglebox Entertainment. Already produced for VOX by SPT Germany, Bangers & Cash increased both daypart and individual slot averages, and skewed significantly in favour of the target 14-49 year old male demographic (63% of viewership) when it aired last December. The series reveals the secrets of the auto trade and how to earn serious cash from cars that look ready for the crusher. In charge is a glamorous, fast-talking auto-trade expert. She answers distress calls from people whose dilapidated cars (ie bangers) are ruining their lives. To succeed she needs the assistance of a team of top restoration experts, world-class bargaining skills and a friendly auto dealer. The show culminates with the owner having to spot their transformed car in a busy car park - does the final product impress or does the owner get their money back?

Second Chance Hotel is a weekly one-hour format from NieheMedia, recently broadcast on RTL4 in the Netherlands. The series sets up eight unemployed participants together to live in and re-open a run down hotel. In roles that range from barman and receptionist to cleaner, cook and marketing executive, they must re-launch the Second Chance Hotel and earn the right to carry on working there. The hotel boss and mentors offer on the job training, but stakes are high, time is short and there is plenty of pressure, making for highly charged reality television.

Power & Brain Battle is a weekly one-hour game show produced by NTV Japan, the makers of Dragon's Den. It's a high tension game show where three outstanding athletes and three super-sharp thinkers pick their partners to form teams of two - Power and Brain - and the battle begins. Based on dramatic tasks that test both brains and brawn to the limit, this game show contest depends on teamwork, skill and downright strength as contestants battle for the big cash prize.

Returning 2waytraffic hits at MIP TV will include The Sing Off, just recommissioned for a third season by NBC, as well as global hits Dragon's Den (22 local versions now broadcast in 38 territories, including a recent renewals in the UK and Canada) and Who Wants to Be Millionaire (licensed in over 120 territories).

About Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 132 channel feeds, which are available in more than 142 countries reaching more than 500 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and Sony Movie Channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, new 3D channel 3net, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

For further information, contact:
Mark Macdonald
Executive Director, Corporate Communications, SPT (EMEA)
mark_macdonald@spe.sony.com
Tel: +44 207 533 1363