RTÉ has commissioned two new original format series, ‘The Takeover’ and ‘Six in the City’, which derived from pilots that initially aired as part of its Format Farm scheme last year.
Both pilots were chosen from hundreds of applicants to enter production and air on RTÉ Two back in 2012, and have now been commissioned as two six-part series by commissioning editors Eddie Doyle and Tonyia Dowling.
‘The Takeover’, an entrepreneurial-based format in which employees take over the day-to-day running of a company without the aid of their managers, is already half way through production of the series.
The original pilot was set in Dublin-based bakery Tea Time Express, and saw staff from the office and the bakery take over the running of the factory and implement a new marketing campaign.
The format, developed by Louth-based Toto Productions, has Sony on board as a distribution partner, with the global company planning to sell the format internationally.
Ruth Roden and Eoin Kavanagh of Toto are producing the series, with Grainne Ahern (Off the Rails) directing. Production on episodes one and two is now complete, with production originally starting back in November 2012.
While the filming locations cannot be disclosed due to the nature of the ‘takeover’ format, Roden said the premise of the show remains the same as the pilot, with original presenter Norah Casey returning to the helm.
Windmill Lane will look after post-production on the series, which will air six hour-long episodes in March 2013.
The second format picked up for series by RTÉ is ‘Six in the City’, a Waka TV production which originally aired on RTÉ Two last September.
'Six in the City' has been commissioned as a series for RTÉ Two |
The series has been in production since the start of January, using locations all around the country.
The format sees 18 couples in total, three per episode, battle it out to host the perfect night on the tiles. The original pilot saw three couples from Dublin, Galway and Limerick take part, with five-star restaurants, burlesque shows and karaoke on the agenda.
Warren Meyler is producing the six one hour episodes with Marion Cullen and Trevor Keegan. Peter Murphy and Graeme Wells are directing.
Midas Productions is looking after post on the series, while Fremantle is the international distributor on board planning to sell the format.
RTÉ meanwhile is calling for ideas for a second round of Format Farm pilots, with the deadline to submit February 8. The broadcaster is holding a briefing session for independent producers on Wednesday January 16, where a number of distributors from Warner Brothers, Fremantle, Sony, Endemol and more will attend.
Once a pilot is chosen to air on RTÉ, the broadcaster will put up €25,000 in production costs, with an international distributor matching the funds. For more information on Format Farm 2, click here.
