Discovery UK ready to push entertainment credentials
Posted under: Discovery UK is kicking off a hunt for more entertainment-based formats and has invested
development funds in fledgling indie Nerd’s underground gameshow as it bids to broaden its output.
The broadcaster has not yet greenlit any entertainment projects but is understood to have put development funds into The Assassin (working title), formerly known as The Lung, with a view to potentially securing the show.
The Assassin is a physical gameshow based around a maze, filmed in an abandoned 35-acre complex 200 ft underground near Corsham.
Discovery UK has bought exclusive rights for six months and is hoping to secure additional funding from the US, having ordered a promo tape to showcase the idea.
Simon Andreae, who was hired in May as Discovery’s senior vice-president of development and production for the west coast, is believed to be a fan of edgier content and is keen to ramp up the channel’s entertainment output.
Discovery UK would not comment on the development deal, but speaking at The Media Festival in Manchester last week, UK head of programming Dan Korn said it planned to look for more entertainment shows, with the launch of TLC in 2011 providing an ideal platform.
“We’ve had success with acquisitions such as Wife Swap and Supernanny and would love to have some home-grown formats,” he added. “We have rolled out TLC in Europe this year and it allows us to take some risks and develop new formats.
“We’ve got strong factual franchises that work internationally and we want to develop the same reputation in entertainment.”
