​DRG and CME renew extensive multi-year, multi-territory deal for The Farm

DRG is pleased to announce that it has renewed its significant multi-territory, multi-year deal with CME (Central European Media Enterprises) for its successful primetime reality format The Farm.

The deal, which allows for the format to be produced for three years from 2020, covers CME channels BTV (Bulgaria), Pro TV (Romania) and Markiza (Slovakia). The Farm is already well-established in the schedules for these broadcasters, with Markiza alone having produced the show for 10 seasons. Typically, the broadcasters strip the series annually in either 60’ or 90’ primetime episodes, every day for around three months, complete with companion highlights and talk shows.

The Farm is one of the world’s most successful and enduring reality formats, with versions in more than 50 territories, many running for between 10 and 15 years. The show throws a group of men and women together on a farm in a bid to discover the simple life. They have to survive without any luxuries – including running water, electricity or mobile phones - and learn to live off the land. Each week they compete in a series of challenges and every week someone is evicted, until one person is left standing and declared the winner - Farmer of the Year. Originally created by Strix, the format touches on our rural history and focuses on human relationships to deliver a very real type of reality show. It has proved itself highly addictive, entertaining audiences across the globe since its launch in Scandinavia in 2001.

Tubi Neustad, content production director at CME comments: “The Farm continues to be the number one reality show for a number of our broadcasters in Europe, so we were keen to extend our relationship with DRG and grow the programme brand still further in these territories.”

Adam Barth, DRG’s commercial director, who looks after the relationship with CME adds: “Nearly 20 year on, The Farm still resonates with broadcasters and viewers around the world and we are thrilled that its flexible and effective format has worked so well for CME, both on-screen in terms of ratings and off-air, with the publicity and social media engagement that it always generates. We are delighted to extend this significant and far-reaching deal for a further three years and look forward to continuing our successful partnership with the team at CME.”

About DRG

DRG is an innovative, creative and fast moving business with content at its core. Starting life as a conventional programme distributor in 2007, the company has evolved into a 360-degree content business that today is involved with programme origination and development, financing, talent, production, production services and distribution. DRG also wholly owns Atrium TV, the new international drama ‘commissioning club’, focused on the development of blue chip scripted projects.

Covering scripted and unscripted content, as well as formats, DRG has built its reputation by working closely with, and investing in, a wide range of internationally recognised production companies, as well as by using its expertise in the domestic and international markets to help incubate promising start-ups. DRG has an extensive catalogue of more than 13,000 hours and 150 formats: the business has taken Doc Martin to more than 100 territories, including 7 international remakes, was a driving force in bringing Scandi Noir to the world and has nurtured The Farm to become one of the world’s most established competitive reality formats, with versions airing in more 50 territories over a 10-year period.

DRG is part of NENT Studios UK, itself part of Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group). Headquartered in Stockholm, NENT Group is a leading international digital entertainment group listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘NENT A’ and ‘NENT B’).

For further information, please contact:

Michelle Waldron, Beyond the Box

michelle@beyond-the-box.tv

+44 (0) 7768 568970