FOX REALITY ACQUIRES SEVERAL UNSCRIPTED SERIES NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN IN THE U.S. PLUS TOP INTERNATIONAL SHOWS BASED UPON HIT U.S. FORMATS
New shows includes "The Villa," "Treasure Island," Australia's "Temptation Island" and many more
LOS ANGELES � Fox Cable Networks' newly launched Fox Reality has acquired several never-before-seen unscripted series from around the globe and key international series based upon hit U.S. formats, it was announced today by Fox Reality Chief Operating Officer and General Manager David Lyle.
The new programming helps to fulfill two of Fox Reality's cornerstone programming strategies � "Reality Redeye" and "Reality Imports" � in which the network provides reality fans opportunities to see hit unscripted programming from around the globe, as well as imported series based upon hit formats they've become familiar with in the U.S.
"Every one of these new series is a strong example of compelling reality television likely to satisfy our early fans' growing interest in how reality television is made in other parts of the world," Lyle said. "Our audience responds to human drama whether it takes place among Americans cavorting around a Honduran resort, Brits living it up on the Costa del Sol and � coming soon � New Zealanders racing about on a remote Pacific Island."
Series involved fall into two primary camps. The first are programs originally created by burgeoning local production communities in Canada, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand that have never been seen in the United States. The second include shows produced by top U.S.-based format suppliers like Fox Television Studios' unit Fox World that are international versions of top series that first achieved success on U.S. networks.
Fox Reality continues to add to its growing program portfolio, thanks to earlier agreements spanning virtually all of the major U.S. broadcast, cable and satellite and domestic first-run syndication suppliers. Producers behind this latest wave of acquisitions include Touchdown Productions, Target Entertainment, Bullseye Entertainment, Southern Star International and Lone Eagle Entertainment, as well as Fox World.
Among the new international programs never before seen in the U.S. are:
� Australia's "Treasure Island"; New Zealand's "Treasure Island"; and "Treasure Island Extreme" (Touchdown Productions) that pits contestants on an uninhabited island in search of buried treasure.
� "The Villa," (Target Entertainment), a U.K. series in which participants living together seek out among their housemates a future romantic interest.
� "Renovation Rescue," (Southern Star International), an Australian series where the host surprises a family by transforming their home and life in just two days.
� "World of Stupid," (Bullseye Entertainment), produced in the U.K, the series celebrates the crazy capers of daredevils who are prepared to risk life and limb in an array of outrageous stunts.
� "The Call," (Lone Eagle Entertainment), produced in Canada and featuring would-be actors and actresses competing in auditions.
New Fox Reality international shows based upon hit formats created in the U.S. include:
� "Joe Millionaire," UK (Fox World)
� "Temptation Island," Australia and UK (Fox World)
� "Playing It Straight," Australia (Fox World)
� "Million Pound Hoax, UK (Target Entertainment)
Fox Reality is currently seen in more than 18 million households and is pacing to surpass 20 million homes in its first year; one of only six new networks in cable and satellite history to ever achieve that feat. Fox Reality is quickly becoming a first destination for unscripted programming, and www.foxreality.com is an online hub for reality television fans, offering daily in-depth news, current events and commentary focused on the world of reality television.
Fox Cable Networks, a unit of the Fox Networks Group, a wholly owned division of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS), includes 30 domestic programming services in which News Corporation holds interests. Together these networks reach more than 335 million subscribing television homes and represent one of the media industry's largest and most diverse groups of programming operations. Those networks and related video-on-demand or high-definition extensions include general entertainment service FX; FSN and its 14 owned-and-operated regional sports networks; Fox College Sports; National Geographic Channel; SPEED Channel; Fox Soccer Channel; Fox Sports en Espa�ol; Fox Movie Channel; action sports network FUEL TV and Fox Reality. FCN also includes Fox Sports Enterprises, which manages interests in sports franchises and leading statistical information provider STATS, Inc.
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