Press Releases

LONDON, UK (September 23, 2011) - Sony Pictures Television (SPT) today announced several format deals for its medical talkshow hit, The Dr Oz Show, following agreements in Latin America, Russia, France, Armenia and the Middle East.

Represented internationally by SPT's format licensing arm, 2waytraffic, The Dr Oz Show format will be locally produced in Armenia for the first time following a 60 episode deal with Shant TV. The format is also being produced in France this Autumn, where TF1 has ordered 25 episodes following a deal with SPT Production France.

In Latin America, Colombia will soon have its own Dr Oz Show following a 120 episode deal between 2waytraffic and national broadcaster RCN. The series will be produced locally by SPT's Latin American joint venture production company, Teleset. Separately, Chilean broadcaster, Mega TV, has now commissioned an additional 70 episodes from 2waytraffic, building on their initial 65 episodes.

Russian public broadcaster Rossiya, where the local version rates first in its timeslot against other networks, has ordered a further 195 episodes, bringing the total number in Russia to 490. While in the Middle East, pan regional broadcaster MBC has greenlit a second season, with a deal to produce a further 32 episodes.

Ed Louwerse, managing director, 2waytraffic commented: "There's a real sense of fun and discovery with this format no matter where it's produced - its winning formula harnesses our natural curiosity about health issues and engages audiences across any cultural boundary. Covering a wealth of topics from weight loss and nutrition to relationships and stress, The Dr Oz Show format connects with people's desire to live life to the fullest."

Other territories to develop a series based on the format of The Dr Oz Show include Brazil (TV Record), with SPT's joint venture production company Floresta, producing and China (Zhejiang TV), produced by Huaso Productions, SPT's joint venture in the region, with further discussions underway in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

The Dr Oz Show is an entertaining, high octane, multi topic hour-long series hosted by trusted health expert, best-selling author, and world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz. Dr Oz originally found fame on The Oprah Winfrey Show as a regular guest and his show, which has been a ratings hit in the US, is co-produced by Winfrey's Harpo Productions and SPT.

ENDS

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 MORE INFORMATION:

Mark Macdonald
Executive Director, Communications
Sony Pictures Television
Email: mark_macdonald@spe.sony.com
Tel:+44 (0)20 7533 1363