Arthur Essebag’s Satisfaction Gathers Yes Yes Media, Keshet, Fulwell 73 Producers at Inaugural Creative Alliance Days in Paris (EXCLUSIVE)
A raft of high-concept unscripted formats from the likes of Yes Yes Media, Keshet International and Fulwell 73 were informally presented this week at the first edition of the International Creative Alliance Days hosted by Satisfaction Group, the Paris-based outfit founded by entrepreneur and famed TV host Arthur Essebag.
The two-day event brought together creatives and industry players who are either part of Satisfaction or doing business with the company, notably acquisition executives from M6, France Televisions and Amazon Prime Video, among others.
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Richard Bacon, whose banner Yes Yes Media welcomed Satisfaction as a shareholder last year; spoke about several music-themed talent shows, including “Who’s in the Band” which he said will “search for the new One Direction or BTS, involving a new way to vote and a new way to audition.” There will be five candidates who will audition at once, all singing the same song at the same time. The show, which is being co-developed by a powerful producer whose track record includes “X Factor” and “Got Talent,” will have three judges and its own version of the spinning chairs.
Another buzzy format in Yes Yes Media’s pipeline is “My Fictional Father” (also called “The Inheritance”) which has already been picked by a U.S. streamer and is available internationally. Riffing on HBO’s hit show “Succession,” “My Fictional Father” follows candidates who move in together in a mansion owned by their fictional – and dying — wealthy redneck father and must embark on a journey to convince him by every mean that they should inherit his fortune. Bacon, who founded Yes Yes Media alongside Elisabeth Murdoch’s banner Sister, said a 75-page bible has been written for the show.
Aiming to generate new revenue streams, Yes Yes Media is also developing “A Minute Ago,” an action-packed survival reality game show that will unfold in real time and simultaneously with a video game. The banner is in negotiations to enlist a famous action star to host the show.
Fulwell 73, meanwhile, is developing a singing competition show with Talpa, while Keshet is seeing a revival in their iconic formats such as “Boom” and “Deal With It,” on top of developing a new physical comedy show called “Stuck!”
Satisfaction, on the other hand, discussed its new primetime format, “1 to 10, how well do you do?” which has already been picked up by TF1. A strategic quiz show, “1 to 10” will gather 10 celebrity contestants who will compete in a general knowledge trivia and will be required to self-evaluate their knowledge with precision to win.
Speaking to Variety at the event, Essebag pointed out the International Creative Alliance Days underscore the global expansion of Satisfaction within the last year. “We have expanded in Spain, Portugal, South America, and we’re also in English-speaking markets through our partnership with Yes Yes Media,” said Essebag. The outfit has also formed a joint venture with Fulwell 73, the U.K.-based production company behind “The Late Late Show With James Corden,” Talpa in the Netherlands and it recently launched Satisfaction Iberia with Daniel Domenjo, a well-established Spanish producer and host. Satisfaction most recently signed a multi-territory deal to co-develop and co-produce non-scripted formats with Keshet International (“Trust No One” across its hubs in France, Germany, Israel, the U.K. and the U.S.
Essebag said the Creative Alliance Days are “like a real-life, giant zoom” that’s focused on the development of IP’s rather than active dealmaking. “It gives us the opportunity to see our partner with whom we’ve forged strong bonds and present what everyone is working on.” The second day of the event was dedicated to workshops where producers brainstormed on how to adapt select formats for specific territories.
“The big markets are good to make the deals, but here the idea is to put our brains together and help each other find the best ideas and come up with the most innovative formats,” he said, adding that he hopes Satisfaction will one day launch the same event for scripted IP’s.
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