MIPCOM: RTL and SBS both marrying strangers.

It hasn’t happened for a while that channels or production companies accused each other of stealing formats; although there has been the official accusation and legal action of Banijay towards Eyeworks regarding Celebrity Splash and Talpa might face legal action over ‘The Voice’ from an Irishmen. But locally, it has been quiet for a long time until this MIPCOM. A report from De Telegraaf suggest SBS can expect legal action from Red Arrow and RTL over its latest announced format involving strangers getting married.

Update 31/10: The Dutch judge has ruled in favour of SBS and Talpa. According to the verdict both formats did have similar themed elements, but there is no reason to prohibit the idea of SBS6. The judge stated that the idea is not unique enough to protect, additionally the execution will be different enough to allow both formats to exist. More importantly, it has been proven that Talpa was working on the idea before they had knowledge of the Danish format.

According to the article, the Danish format ‘Married at first sight’ attracted interest from both SBS as well as RTL. After three weeks of negotiating over the rights, Red Arrow – the international distributor – decided to close a deal with RTL, Shortly after SBS heard the news, they released a press release about ‘Yes! I want to marry a stranger’.

The difference between the two formats? Limited. In Married at first sight, the ‘original’ format, a team of experts match two singletons with each other, whom will meet for the very first time in church, just moments before saying ‘I do’. They will move in to a house and be followed by camera’s and analysed by the team of experts to see how the marriage develops. Can love be treated as a scientific experiment?

The format of SBS, developed in-house by Talpa for months, is the same, however – they added 5 ‘normal’ couples to the equation as a control group. Is there any difference between people matched-up by experts or fallen in love ‘naturally’?

RTL responded to the news by stating there is a little bit too much coincidence in the origination of the other format, and this might be a reason for them to not continue and executing the format option. According to SBS there are many formats similar to each other, while Talpa stated they have been developing the idea for months. However, Red Arrow has announced they will take legal action. Will be continued.

In other news, The WIT Fresh TV has announced it’s top 25 most noteworthy formats for this year, also including Married at first sight. Additionally, they included quite some Dutch formats in their list: Utopia from Talpa will air in January. The Kamaras Love You from Eyeworks will première 26th of October on SBS6, a hidden camera show in which celebs spend time with an African tribe, however, these are actually actors playing the tribe. Buddy For Hire is a RTL5 show based on the film ‘Intouchables’, produced by ‘No Pictures Please’, but distributed by Talpa. This will also premiere at the end of October. And ‘Wishing Well’, which is the Ali B and 40 wishes format from TV Lab. Ali B and a former ‘criminal’ help the elderly enjoy a lovely day, this is distributed by North Sea Camel.