ITV agrees Babyfoot development deal

ITV Studios has agreed a development deal with independent production firm Babyfoot, maker of shows such as US reality series I Survived A Japanese Game Show.

Under the multi-year deal, ITV Studios will get first-look rights to develop UK versions of all new formats produced by the Scandinavian company.

Led by David Sidebotham, Babyfoot makes a range of programmes for international TV networks, including ABC's Rose D'or winning I Survived A Japanese Game Show, in which American people appear on Japanese gameshows, and European reality series Gay Army, in which nine effeminate gay men are put through their paces by a drill sergeant.

The firm also makes Bingo Banko, a bingo programme co-produced with TV2 Denmark's Keld Reinicke.

"We are delighted to secure this first look deal. Babyfoot is behind some of the wildest and funkiest ideas around at the moment," said ITV Studios creative director John Whiston.

"Combine that with our expertise in development and production and who knows what wonderful TV will come out of this innovative collaboration."

Babyfoot managing director David Sidebotham added: "We can't wait to get started! The deal throws the door wide open for us to work with some of the best and brightest in format development and production.

"Matching this with ITV Studios' ambition to bring unique and exciting entertainment to the global market means exciting times ahead."

The development deal covers all international territories apart from Scandinavia, which is Babyfoot's domestic region.