19.08.02
Dog
Eat Dog beats Pop Idols to #1 in US
Two
British TV formats are slugging it out at the top of the US ratings.
Dog Eat Dog is this summer's No. 1 reality series, averaging 11
million viewers and beating Fox's American Idol (US version of Pop
Idols) in the ratings.
US
network NBC has now renewed the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Dog Eat Dog for an additional
13 episodes for broadcast later this year. The extra episodes of
the hour-long shows - hosted by ex-Baywatch star Brooke Burn - bring
NBC's current raft of shows to 25 episodes. The re-commission of
the US version follows the huge ratings the show has attracted since
first broadcast on 17 June 2002.
Rupert
Gavin, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide's Chief Executive said; "We are delighted
the show has been such a hit for NBC and has become an important
part of their schedule. It is great to see another Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ game show
adapted so successfully for the US market."
The
game show is the latest Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ format to prove a smash hit in the US.
Its transmission on August 13th marked the ninth time in nine telecasts
at the top of the ratings in its time slot (9pm-10pm), dominating
the evenings' ratings for NBC and beating its major-network competition.
This
summer marks the first time ever that two Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ game-shows - Dog Eat
Dog and The Weakest Link - will be aired on network TV in US simultaneously.
The
US version of Dog Eat Dog pits six players against one another in
tests of brawn and wit for a $25,000 prize. Brooke Burns introduces
a variety of tests such as being hung by the ankles and dropped
into the show's swimming pool, hanging on a pole and running on
a treadmill over the pool.
Strong
format sales of shows helped boost Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide's television programme
sales business by 15% in 2001/2. The Weakest Link has become one
of the most profitable formats ever for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. Aired in 25 languages
in 75 countries, the show accounted for Β£10 million in sales.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Worldwide negotiated the Dog Eat Dog production deal in the US with
NBC Studios Inc., via the William Morris Agency.
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