Industry

ITV Studios is expanding its unscripted development pipeline through two new strategic partnerships: the launch of a development pod with Great Shout and a first-look agreement with Belfast-based independent producer Afro-Mic Productions. The move, spearheaded by Tim Carter, Managing Director, ITV Studios, UK Unscripted, and Mike Beale, Managing Director, Creative Network, ITV Studios, is aimed at developing innovative, high-quality and scalable entertainment formats for the UK and international markets.
Tim Carter said: "These strategic collaborations will add range, diversity and surprise to our unscripted development pipeline. They complement our production labels' best in class development teams, while allowing us to remain agile and maintain our position as a leader in returnable IP.”
Mike Beale added: "We are thrilled to welcome Great Shout and Afro-Mic Productions to the ITV Studios family. These partnerships represent our commitment to fostering relationships with creatives and third party producers across the UK and internationally."

Great Shout will operate as a standalone development label led by producers Patrick Carr and Bob Fletcher, who together bring more than 30 years of experience across prime-time entertainment and comedy entertainment. The duo, who join with immediate effect, will focus on originating returnable reality, game and quiz formats. Under the development pod model, Carr and Fletcher will pitch directly to networks and buyers while using ITV Studios’ infrastructure, combining Great Shout’s ideas and agile development process with the group’s UK and international production companies and distribution network. Patrick Carr and Bob Fletcher, Founders of Great Shout, commented: “We’re beyond excited to join forces with ITV Studios and start turning great ideas into formats that give people something to shout about.”

Alongside the Great Shout partnership, ITV Studios has signed a first-look deal with Afro-Mic Productions. The Belfast-based producer specialises in factual entertainment and formatted content, with credits including three series of Will & Ralf Should Know Better for U&Dave and How To Sleep Better for Channel 4, both recently nominated for an RTS Award. Through the agreement, Afro-Mic will have access to ITV Studios’ infrastructure, including its format catalogue, market intelligence and global distribution business. The partnership will also provide opportunities to exploit content through digital labels Zoo55 and Studio55. Emma-Rosa Dias, MD of Afro-Mic Productions, said: “We’re delighted with this creative partnership which feels like a collaboration genuinely tailored to where we want to take Afro-Mic next. We're ambitious about creating original IP with a Northern Irish heart that can travel globally. Access to ITV Studios' infrastructure allows us to think bigger from the outset, and we're excited about what we can achieve together.”