Press Releases

LONDON, UK (September 28, 2011) - Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announces several new deals for its key music formats ahead of MIPCOM next week.

SPT's 2waytraffic has sold its cross-generational format, Cover Me, for the first time to TV4 in Sweden, while SPT Productions Germany is now producing a first time German series following a deal struck with VOX.

In the Netherlands, public broadcaster Nederland 3 has confirmed a second Cover Me series, with a launch expected in November. Series one was a social media hit, trending on Twitter and local social media sites, outperforming the network's primetime average by 46% amongst 20-34 years olds. In addition, a live tour based on the Dutch production is now in development following this success. The format was originally developed by SPT's Dutch production company, Tuvalu Media.

The Sing-Off makes its French debut following a licensing deal between SPT's French production subsidiary, Starling, and public broadcaster France 2. Production in France is now underway on 4 x 110 minute primetime shows. Previously in Europe SPT also licensed the format to SBS in the Netherlands.

In the US, NBC commissioned a third season of The Sing-Off from SPT earlier this year, with the show promoted to a primetime slot for the new Fall season. Now two weeks into the new series, it is NBC's highest rating evening show across all demographics.

Also available at MIPCOM from 2waytraffic's music offering is Dancing Nation which has previously sold in Brazil (TV Globo), Ukraine (1+1) and the Philippines (TV5).

Ed Louwerse, managing director, 2waytraffic International, said, "The success of these formats demonstrates how SPT's music shows strike a chord with audiences and producers around the world. They are innovative, entertaining and uplifting, providing compelling viewing for people from all walks of life."

Cover Me is a weekly entertainment show where each episode sees two musicians, worlds apart in age and taste, given seven days to bridge the generation gap and create new hits based on each other's work.

The Sing-Off is a unique reality competition show in which the best a cappella groups from around the country compete to win a recording contract. The series features contestants performing popular, contemporary songs without backing tracks or a band.

Dancing Nation is an uplifting dance competition that unites people nationwide in a collective effort to raise money for local charities and organisations. Men and women of all ages and backgrounds join forces in a unique display of solidarity as teams perform routines and are cheered on by the cities they represent. In a movement that grips an entire country, Dancing Nation illustrates how hundreds of people can come together to dance for a worthy cause. The show first aired in Argentina in May 2010 on Channel 13 and SPT acquired the format from Ideas Del Sur.

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 120 channel feeds, which are available in 159 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
Email: mark_macdonald@spe.sony.com
Tel: +44 20 7533 1363

Kerry Parker
Email: kerry.parker@premierpr.com
Tel: +44 20 7292 8346