Tag Archives: Format

EbonyLife, Sony agree drama pact

Nigerian broadcaster and producer EbonyLife has linked up with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) to co-develop three scripted projects.

Mo Abudu

The three-project deal, the first of its kind between SPT and a Nigerian television company, will include a TV series inspired by the Dahomey Warriors.

The action series, based on true events in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey, will tell the story of the all-female warriors. Details of the two additional projects will follow later this year, with SPT set to distribute all three internationally.

Mo Abudu, CEO at EbonyLife, said the partnership would allow it “to bring the fascinating story of The Dahomey Warriors, and many others like it, to audiences around the world.”

Wayne Garvie, president of international production at SPT, said: “Our aim is to help EbonyLife create a portfolio of African content that will fulfil their aim of being one of Africa’s prime creators of premium content.”

EbonyLife TV launched in 2013 and produces over 1000 hours of original programming each year, 80% of which belongs exclusively to the network.

Last month, the broadcaster commissioned a local version of SPT’s relationship format The Dating Game. It has also picked up a raft of programming from distributor TVF and last year started production on Castle & Castle, which it claims to be Nigeria’s first legal drama series.

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Family Feud heads to Nigeria

Lagos-based production company Ultima has picked up rights to long-running US gameshow format Family Feud and plans to launch a Nigerian adaptation.

Ultima is the company behind the Nigerian version of popular TV gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Project Fame West Africa, but said its adaptation of Family Feud will gain more success than its previous shows.

“Ultima is ready to launch the format for Nigerian audience later in the year, and this move promises to be another success, even bigger than Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Project Fame West Africa and any other from our stables.”

The Nigerian version of Millionaire has aired on NTA since 2004, while talent show Project Fame West Africa, an adaptation of Fame Academy, has aired since 2008 in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone on broadcasters including TVC, MITV, DBN, SoundCity, ONTV and GetTV.

Family Feud, distributed by FremantleMedia International, is a gameshow in which two families of five contestants compete to name the most popular responses to survey questions in order to win cash prizes and goody bags. The original version premiered in 1976 on ABC in the US.

Ultima has yet to announce when Family Feud will be premiered or on which channels it will air. Ultima is one of the leading media production companies in sub-Saharan Africa, delivering end-to-end TV programmes, post-production facilities and multi-platform distribution channels.

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Genesis Studios picks Price is Right

A Lagos-based studio has licensed the rights to US gameshow format The Price is Right in Nigeria through a deal with global production giant FremantleMedia, reports Gabriella Opara.

Frank Edoho

Genesis Studios, the prodco behind So Wrong So Wright, Tales of Eve and talkshow Chat Street, is developing a local version of the format.

The company has announced that TV personality Frank Edoho, former host of gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, will host The Price is Right alongside Emmanuel Essien (aka Mannie of Cool FM), who will act as the announcer.

“This is a show bursting with energy from start to finish and that force is transmitted right out of your TV monitors and into the homes of viewers. We can’t wait for it to get started,” said Edoho.

At the launch event last Friday, thought leaders, captains of industry, communications experts, figures in the entertainment industry and news gathers looked on as a demo of the gameshow was screened.

The Price is Right is one of the longest running TV series in the US, airing for more than 8,000 episodes since its inception in 1972 on CBS. The show revolves around contestants competing to identify accurate pricing of merchandise to win cash and other prices.

Speaking about having the show in Nigeria, Genesis CEO Olatubosun Olaegbe said: “The Price Is Right is a world-class gameshow that will engage and entertain the entire family. It is the perfect format for us and we know it will be a massive success in Nigeria.”

Abraham Praise, project director and producer of The Price Is Right Nigeria, added: “After the huge success of Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor in Nigeria, there are high hopes that Genesis Studios would bring The Price is Right Nigeria to life – especially as the legendary US version attracts over 5.4 million viewers per episode.

“The Price Is Right is quick from start to finish. It is openly transparent, the prizes are so diverse and anyone can get on the show regardless of background or qualifications. It’s truly for every Nigerian.”

The Price is Right was originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman and created by Bob Stewart. The format has been produced locally in 43 territories.

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