At the recent Eurovision TV Summit in Lucerne, Eurovision TV (a brand of the European Broadcasting Union) launched a publication called Trading TV Formats. This exclusive reference book outlines important guidelines for the format business.
“Our book will help broadcasters manage formats with confidence,’ said Bettina Brinkmann, Head of Formats at Eurovision TV and Editor of the book.
There is little doubt that new original formats are pulling in huge audiences worldwide. Examples of success stories include: Strictly Come Dancing, with exceptional ratings on the BBC, the American version Dancing with the Stars on ABC, which drew in 22 million viewers for the season one finale, and Dancing with the Stars, the highest rated show in Australia in 2005.
As the concept of formats is still fairly recent, rules and regulations have not yet been clearly defined. The format business involves either scanning markets in search of new formats to license or licensing already existing formats in international markets. Most importantly, the book offers guidance about intellectual property rights for broadcasters seeking to acquire formats as well as for those developing new programmes.
Trading TV Formats provides guidelines on:
- How to prevent illegal copying of formats
- How to protect your programmes from unsubstantiated ownership claims
- How to avoid pitfalls with option and license agreements of new format options on international acquisition tours
- How to maintain control of a successful licensee programme
- How to resolve conflicts with production companies, format distributors, licensees, or creators
The book was launched during the first Eurovision TV Summit in Lucerne Switzerland in front of an audience of over 600 television broadcasters. Distinguished guests attended the Common Focus Day, including, Istvan Szabo, Robert Thirkell, Ennio Morricone (via video), Rick Senat, Peter Thorsboe and Mai Brostrom.
Trading TV Formats will be available from the EBU (for members). It will also be distributed on a wider scale by the media publication C21 (www.c21media.net).
