Factual
Zodiak Rights expands with 3 factual series ahead of MipTV
MUMBAI: Zodiak Rights, the international division of Zodiak Media, has expanded its independent third party catalogue with very different three access-driven series.
Repo Games is a hit reality series for Spike TV, produced by 495 Productions (the company behind MTV‘s Jersey Shore), and is available as a finished programme and a format. It takes the adrenalin-fuelled actuality of car re-possession and fuses it with an on-the-spot gameshow dynamic.
In the series for Spike TV, ordinary Joe‘s who have defaulted on their car payments get the opportunity to clear their debts on the spot, or watch helplessly as their precious ‘wheels‘ are towed to the impound yard. Armed with five trivia questions, professional repo-men Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone literally doorstep unsuspecting debtors with the chance to win back their cars. Answer incorrectly however, and the vehicles are towed instantly.
Zodiak Rights is working with Spike to expand the remit of the series, localising it as a format for international territories. This will entail extending the underlying premise to include more scenarios where members of the public face repossession for non-payment from bailiffs, car clampers or other ‘officials‘ armed with authority to re-possess.
Zodiak Rights London MD Jane Millichip said, “The high-stakes that Spike brings to this reality gameshow make it must-see-TV, and we believe there will be significant demand for the finished programme. But the high concept nature of the format also allows us to adapt the notion of re-possession for local markets, giving the format flexibility in schedules and for different cultures”.
‘Desperate Scousewives‘ is the latest, and most extreme, access documentary series to lift the lid on the world of wannabees. In the world of footballers‘ wives and girlfriends, nightclubs and limos, it‘s all about having a ‘boss‘ night out on the town.
‘Scouse‘ is a term to describe people from Liverpool, but the notion of a Scousewife breathes a whole new lease of 21st Century life and lipstick into this traditional nickname. Looking good is a 24/7 job as the ladies dress to impress to bag themselves the man of their dreams, or at least a man with the bank-balance of their dreams.
At the other end of the social spectrum, ‘Sandhurst‘ offers a look at the British Army‘s legendary officer training course. ‘Sandhurst‘ is a three part observational documentary shot at The Royal Military Academy over the course of a full year. The series charts the journey of one intake of cadets, – male and female – through the 200-year-old institution: three gruelling terms that turn them from civilians into officers, from followers to leaders fit for war in Afghanistan and beyond.
Millichip added, “We are delighted to expand our third party strategy with three very different shows. 495 Productions, Splash Media and Icon Films could not have produced more varied series, yet all three series are based on excellent access, creative flair and high production values. For us, they really also highlight the level of invention in the factual community right now. Long may it continue.”
DUBLIN: Ireland is betting big on reality television. In a move that has Hollywood scouts scrambling for their passports, Dublin has unveiled Europe’s first tax credit dedicated solely to unscripted programming—think The Traitors rather than Game of Thrones.
The scheme offers producers a juicy 20 per cent rebate on qualifying expenditure, capped at €15 million ($17.5 million) per project. It’s a cultural credit with strings attached: programmes must pass a test proving they genuinely promote Irish and European culture. No word yet on whether Love Island derivatives need apply.
Ireland tánaiste and minister for finance Simon Harris says the incentive will cement Ireland’s reputation as a “centre of excellence” for audiovisual production. His colleague, minister for culture, communications and sport Patrick O’Donovan, insists Ireland has “the talent, creativity and production expertise to lead” in unscripted television. Bold claims for a nation that has spent decades exporting scripted drama.
The timing is canny. Unscripted production costs have soared globally, making Ireland’s existing infrastructure—and now its tax breaks—increasingly attractive. Fox Entertainment Studios already churns out shows like Beat Shazam and The Floor from Irish studios. Whether these American productions will pass the cultural test remains to be seen.
Producers must secure an interim cultural certificate before filming begins, allowing them to claim credits during production rather than waiting until wrap. A final certificate follows completion. The European Commission has blessed the scheme through December 2028.
Minimum thresholds apply: productions must cost at least €250,000, with eligible expenditure above €125,000. Only one season per project can claim relief in any 12-month period, though producers can juggle multiple projects.
Britain, take note. The UK industry has clamoured for similar support for 18 months, but Westminster has dithered. India’s ministry of information and broadcasting pay heed. Its incentive scheme for co-productions excludes unscripted television. To what end, no one knows! Ireland, meanwhile, is already rolling out the red carpet—or should that be green?
The message from Dublin is clear: when it comes to backing reality TV, Ireland isn’t messing about. Lights, camera, tax action.
