MipFormats
A good reality format becomes literally a license to print money (J. Coad)
Formats are to television what ready-to-wear is to fashion : ready-to-broadcast TV shows that please an always larger audience. After the excitement of reality TV, producers want to find more open-minded ideas. Virginia Mousseler from TV observatory The WIT said : «Many of the shows have heavy notes of altruism or emphasize the importance of survival, thinking of others besides yourself, or helping your families. Several shows also seem to manifest a desire for many to escape to simpler lives: lives on farms, or in small villages.»Formats creators’ issues are now cuts in budget, find fresh ideas to seduce the viewers, and at the same time, avoid being copied.
Formats business continues growth
America is challenging France on gastronomy.
The cooking TV show France Chef America has been launched at the Gand Hotel during MIPTV. The idea of the show is to oppose the best chefs of both countries (all Michelin starred). The original rules have been created to bring the fight to the highest level of gastronomy. It’s a team game where the two opponents have to struggle to share a very large basket of 70 secret ingredients chosen by a third great chef. They must use everything to make a three-course meal for 26 judges who will savor the dishes and tell who gets the honor.
The show was presented at the Grand Hotel on the invitation of TV Only - Only Lifestyle and the concept was illustrated by a competition between chef Laurent Peugeot (Le Champagne in New York) and Sebastien Broda, two star-chef of the Grand Hotel restaurant, the Park 45, over a 35 ingredients basket selected on the very morning at Cannes Marché Forville by the Oasis chef, Stephane Raimbault.
The first episode of France Chef America has been presented during the guests were savoring the different dishes from the two competitors. Producer Olivier Viatour intends to make twelve episodes with six French and six Americans chefs.
On the picture (from left to right) chefs Laurent Peugeot, Stephane Raimbault, Sebastien Broda and producer Olivier Viatour.
