Fox Entertainment Hunts International Formats With Unscripted Format Fund

Manori Ravindran
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The hunt for hit international unscripted IP, à la “The Masked Singer,” continues apace.

Fox Entertainment and in-house studio Fox Alternative Entertainment have launched an international unscripted format fund to find IP for the global marketplace.

More from Variety

The fund will invest in and develop internationally originated unscripted concepts that range from reality-competition and variety series to dating and other genres. Both networks and platforms will be targeted by the fund, which will look for cost-effective programs.

FAE will co-produce series selected by the fund with each series’ partner. Rob Wade, president of alternative entertainment and specials at Fox Entertainment, will oversee the initiative.

Fox had a massive hit on its hands with “The Masked Singer,” a South Korean format that originally aired on broadcaster MBC and is now on its sixth season in the U.S. Fox again mined South Korean formats for its 2020 series “I Can See Your Voice,” which has also been renewed for season 2 on the broadcaster.

Charlie Collier, CEO of Fox Entertainment, said the fund presents an opportunity to find formats that diversify the broadcaster’s slate of owned content, and expand Fox internationally.

“Fox has long been a global leader in alternative programming. This enviable track record of more than three decades of success brings with it great expectations to remain as the world’s preeminent platform in the genre,” said Collier.

Added Wade: “Many of the most powerful series that have changed the face of television were unscripted formats that originated outside the United States. With a deep well of undiscovered ideas across the globe waiting to be recognized, FAE stands ready to deploy this format fund to partner with local creators and networks to develop cost-effective and innovative, broad-based programming that, in success, will also benefit Fox here at home.”

FAE recently produced the variety competition program “The Big Deal” for Ireland’s Virgin Media Television in partnership with Dublin-based BiggerStage.

The series, presented by Vogue Williams and featuring celebrity judges, included pop legend Boy George; comedian and actor Deirdre O’Kane; Aston Merrygold, formerly of JLS and recent finalist on “The Masked Singer” in the U.K.; talent show favorites Jedward; and music star Lyra. The show — which was created and is owned by FAE — marked the channel’s most successful original format launch ever.

FAE was formed in 2019 to oversee the production of Fox’s “The Masked Singer.” The division also produced “I Can See Your Voice,” “The Masked Dancer,” “Name That Tune” and “Fox’s New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2021.” FAE co-produced “Ultimate Tag.” New shows include “Crime Scene Kitchen,” “Alter Ego,” “Domino Masters” and “Next Level Chef.”

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.