Israel's "Rising Star" format has been sold to US network ABC for airing in the summer of 2014. The format by Channel 2 franchisee Keshet Media Group and Tedy Productions will be produced in the US by Keshet DCP, a joint venture between Keshet and Dick Clark Productions.
"Rising Star" was unveiled at the mipcom fair in October, where it attracted considerable attention because of its innovation in the second screen genre. The format was sold to France's M6 network even before it was unveiled at mipcom, and was subsequently sold to Russia's Rossiya 1, Italy's Toro, Germany's RTL (which will produce a local version), and Scandinavia's Nordisk Film TV.
Half a season of "Rising Star" has already been aired in Israel, winning an average of 33.2% of viewers. The format is based on the viewers at home acting as judges through an innovative free app ‘TV app to you’, which is fully integrated into the show. The views vote in real time on air at every stage of the contest from the auditions onward.
The format will face stiff competition in the reality television music genre. In January, "American Idol" launched its 13th season, competing against Fox TV's "X Factor," and the fifth season of "The Voice."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 19, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013