Warner Bros. International Television Production Brings to Market BBC One’s Brand New Quiz Show “The Link”
March 6, 2014 – London) – Warner Bros. International Television Production has acquired the format rights to distribute BBC One’s brand new quiz show, “The Link”.
BBC One has commissioned 25 episodes for a daytime slot. The show is being produced by STV Productions in association with LTV with production starting later this month.
Over the course of 45 minutes, “The Link” sees three teams race against time to find the link between questions. It’s a game that rewards daring, strategy and teamwork - guess the connections, break the links, win money – it’s simple.
“We know that great game shows are back at the top of broadcasters’ wish lists. ‘The Link’ is that rare thing — an original new quiz show with a strong identity in terms of both its game play and visual elements, commissioned in a key market. Our excitement is shared by Mike Darnell and his team at the Warner Bros. Television Group, who will be bringing it to market in the U.S.,” commented Andrew Zein, SVP, Creative, Format Development and Sales, Warner Bros. International Television Production.
Alan Clements, director of content for STV Production, said: “STV Productions has a proven track record in entertainment and we are excited to be partnering with LTV on ‘The Link.’ It is both STV’s and LTV’s first opportunity to work with BBC Daytime in this genre. This exciting new format rewards strategy, teamwork and quick thinking, and will keep both contestants and viewers on the edge of their seats. We are also thrilled to be working with Warner Bros. International Television Production in a deal that brings a fantastic opportunity for ‘The Link’ to reach new audiences worldwide.”
Controller of BBC Daytime Damian Kavanagh, who commissioned the series, said: "‘The Link’ appealed to us because of its innovative question style and challenging game play. Mark Williams will give the show a different flavour which we hope will delight the audience."
The UK version of the show will be presented by actor Mark Williams (“Harry Potter” franchise).
Gary Chippington is executive producer for STV Productions, Jo Street is executive producer for BBC and Paul Johnson is executive producer for LTV and Tuvalu Entertainment Ltd.
STV developed the format with LTV, a partnership of Paul Johnson from Tuvalu Entertainment and former ‘Ad Men’ turned game developers, Tristan Hyatt-Williams, Ben Drummond and Dean Tempest – the team behind one of the UK’s most innovative new board games, Linkee.
Warner Bros. International Television Production:
Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) aims to establish or acquire production companies in the major television territories around the world in order to become a leading producer of local scripted and non-scripted programming. In those territories where WBITVP establishes a production base, it operates by developing and producing original programming and also producing local versions of formats owned and controlled by the group such as “The Bachelor,” “The World’s Strictest Parents” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” Where WBITVP has no local production capability it licenses Warner Bros. formats to third parties. WBITVP has taken significant steps by acquiring a majority stake in both UK production group Shed Media, one of the UK’s largest and most successful independent production companies which operates both in the UK and the US, and in BlazHoffski Holding B.V., a leading independent television producer in The Netherlands and Belgium. STV Productions:
STV Productions is one of the UK’s leading content businesses, with ambitious plans for growth and expansion in the UK and overseas. The company has a record of success across a range of genres including drama, factual and entertainment, producing a wide range of programmes for a variety of networks, including “Catchphrase” and “Fake Reaction” for ITV and ITV2. Further commissions include ratings success “Antiques Road Trip,” including a celebrity version, for BBC One and Two and drama “The Poison Tree” for ITV1. In 2013, STV Productions was awarded Best Single Documentary by BAFTA Scotland for “Fire in the Night,” a feature documentary for BBC Scotland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster. Upcoming productions include new entertainment show “Let Me Entertain You” for ITV and quiz show “The Lie” for STV and TV3. STV Productions also works in partnership with US production company, Kinetic Content, licensing original formats in their respective companies and developing new formats, such as the “Perez Hilton Super Fan” entertainment series for ITV2. LTV Ltd.:
LTV is a Brighton based production company and is a joint venture between Tristan Hyatt-Williams, Ben Drummond and Dean Tempest, the former ‘Ad Men’ behind Linkee, one of the UK’s most innovative new board games, and Tuvalu Entertainment. It’s a happy meeting of minds between TV and game specialists. Tuvalu Entertainment Ltd.:
Tuvalu Entertainment is a British production company based in Brighton. Tuvalu Entertainment specializes in all forms of premium entertainment on all screens. Ten percent of the net profits of Tuvalu Entertainment go to a charitable trust that focuses on building a better life for the population of Tuvalu – the smallest country in the world and a proud member of the Royal Commonwealth - as well as combating the forces of Climate Change for the population on the South Pacific islands.###
Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) aims to establish or acquire production companies in the major television territories around the world in order to become a leading producer of local scripted and non-scripted programming. In those territories where WBITVP establishes a production base, it operates by developing and producing original programming and also producing local versions of formats owned and controlled by the group such as “The Bachelor,” “The World’s Strictest Parents” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” Where WBITVP has no local production capability it licenses Warner Bros. formats to third parties. WBITVP has taken significant steps by acquiring a majority stake in both UK production group Shed Media, one of the UK’s largest and most successful independent production companies which operates both in the UK and the US, and in BlazHoffski Holding B.V., a leading independent television producer in The Netherlands and Belgium. STV Productions:
STV Productions is one of the UK’s leading content businesses, with ambitious plans for growth and expansion in the UK and overseas. The company has a record of success across a range of genres including drama, factual and entertainment, producing a wide range of programmes for a variety of networks, including “Catchphrase” and “Fake Reaction” for ITV and ITV2. Further commissions include ratings success “Antiques Road Trip,” including a celebrity version, for BBC One and Two and drama “The Poison Tree” for ITV1. In 2013, STV Productions was awarded Best Single Documentary by BAFTA Scotland for “Fire in the Night,” a feature documentary for BBC Scotland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster. Upcoming productions include new entertainment show “Let Me Entertain You” for ITV and quiz show “The Lie” for STV and TV3. STV Productions also works in partnership with US production company, Kinetic Content, licensing original formats in their respective companies and developing new formats, such as the “Perez Hilton Super Fan” entertainment series for ITV2. LTV Ltd.:
LTV is a Brighton based production company and is a joint venture between Tristan Hyatt-Williams, Ben Drummond and Dean Tempest, the former ‘Ad Men’ behind Linkee, one of the UK’s most innovative new board games, and Tuvalu Entertainment. It’s a happy meeting of minds between TV and game specialists. Tuvalu Entertainment Ltd.:
Tuvalu Entertainment is a British production company based in Brighton. Tuvalu Entertainment specializes in all forms of premium entertainment on all screens. Ten percent of the net profits of Tuvalu Entertainment go to a charitable trust that focuses on building a better life for the population of Tuvalu – the smallest country in the world and a proud member of the Royal Commonwealth - as well as combating the forces of Climate Change for the population on the South Pacific islands.