Gold Rush THE USA
As well as US-based streamers, the long-established media giants are still fuelling their networks and there’s continued opportunity to land factual commissions with the wide range of pay- TV and cable channels.
US commissioners recognize the UK as home to some of the world’s most popular factual formats, the best natural history and specialist factual, as well as significant documentary making talent.
One UK-owned label, ITV America, had more than 50 unscripted series in production in the US in 2021, supplying 17 cable networks, four broadcast networks and eight streaming services.
The group makes Netflix series Queer Eye, History’s Pawn Stars, Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey and CBS’s Love Island.
THE NETWORKS AND BEYOND
The networks are famously ruthless with their commissioning, looking for broad shows that will pull in eyeballs across the States. But Studio Lambert’s Undercover Boss keeps going on CBS, with its eleventh season coming up and ITV Studios’ Hell’s Kitchen, starring Gordon Ramsay, is in its nineteenth season on Fox.
Meanwhile this summer, ABC and Hulu featured a natural history series from
BBC Studios, narrated by Oscar-winner Helen Mirren. When Nature Calls is based on a format where comedians provide dialogue for animals. And Bristol-based Plimsoll Productions produced a special - Women of 9/11 - as part of ABC’s commemoration of the 20-year anniversary.
While NBCU is tying with the BBC to hunt for new formats, its streamer Peacock recently commissioned a US version of Studio Lambert Dutch psychological adventure format The Traitors, to be shot in Scotland, alongside a UK version for the BBC. The show follows contestants as they move into a majestic castle and work as a team to complete a series of dramatic and challenging missions to earn money for the prize pot. Peacock’s reservoire of NBCU programming gives it a foundation in reality formats.
How Did They Build That? 26 See the Televisual Factual Films at
televisual.com
NBCU cable channel USA Network, has moved away from scripted and also found success with reality shows, including Maverick TV’s docusoap Chrisley Knows Best, which follows the shenanigans of outspoken helicopter parent Todd Chrisley and his over-the- top Southern family. Maverick TV, with
offices in London, LA and Birmingham, also produced competition show American Barbecue Showdown and DeMarcus Family Rules, both US-based for Netflix, and shows for E! and for Discovery channels DIY Network and Food Network in the States.
CABLE COMMISSIONING
Discovery’s brands in the US continue to be good customers for UK producers. Arrow Media recently landed a commission to make 26 hours of true crime for Investigation Discovery, including 20 episodes of its hit series American Monster and a new six-part series Love, Honor, Betray. Arrow has a range of returning series with the platform, including its hit series See No Evil, which has run for over 100 episodes.
Discovery Channel has worked with Raw TV on its hit Gold Rush franchise since 2010 and has produced a raft of spin-offs, the latest being Gold Rush: Winter’s Fortune, following miners working through freezing conditions. The previous incarnation, Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue coincided with the launch of the media
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