ABY Media takes rights to Blind Dating

MIPTV: Ivory Coast-based ABY Media has picked up the format rights to studio-based dating gameshow Blind Dating from GRB Media Ranch, the companies announced on the first day on MipTV in Cannes.

Founded last year by former Côte Ouest Audiovisuel executives Kimberley Azria and Bernard Azria, Abidjan- and LA-based Aby Media has bagged right to the format for “many African territories,” the companies said.

On air in French-Canada, Blind Dating sees single men and women try to win a date without seeing each other while digging for clues about their prospective partners on social media.

“ABY Media is very happy to have acquired this special format from our partners at GRB Media Ranch. We know it will be a popular show in Africa with many audiences,” said Kimberley Azria.

GRB Media Ranch, the distribution joint-venture between GRB Media of LA and Media Ranch of Montreal, has also picked up four-time Emmy-winning docuseries Medical Stories for international distribution.

Launching the show in Cannes this week, GRB Media Ranch said the show has 39 half-hour episodes currently available. It is produced by Miami-based Inventi Media Group for public broadcaster PBS in the US.

GRB Media Ranch president Sophie Ferron said: “The format sale of Blind Dating is especially meaningful to me. I grew up on the set of this series, as my father created and produced it in Canada.”

The acquisition of Medical Stories “underlines our commitment to delivering diverse and compelling narratives,” she added.