A TV format is the overall concept and branding of a copyrighted

television show A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming platf ...

. The most common type of formats are those in the television genres of

game show A game show (or gameshow) is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment where contestants compete in a game for rewards. The shows are typically directed by a game show host, host, who explains the rules of the program as well as commentating a ...

s and

reality show Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...

s, though other genres (e.g.,

sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

s) are also adapted. TV formats may be viewed as a form of

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...

(IP), and are regularly bought and sold, though TV formats are not generally protected under

copyright A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive legal right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, ...

law.

Description

A TV format is the overall concept and branding of a copyrighted

. A format is licensed by TV networks, so that they may produce a version of the show tailored to their nationality and audience. Formats are a major part of the international

television market A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television and radio station offerings, and may also incl ...

. Format purchasing is popular with broadcasters, due principally to the lower risk associated with an already-proven idea and the preference of audiences to watch programming tailored to their locality.

Examples

The most common type of formats are those in the television genres of

s and

s, many of which are remade in multiple markets with local contestants. Examples include ''

Survivor Survivor(s) may refer to: * one who survives Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Survivors, characters in the 1997 KKnD series#Armies, ''KKnD'' video-game series * ''The Survivors'', or the ''New Survivors Foundation'', a fictional ...

'', '' Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', '' Pop Idol'' and '' Big Brother'' that have all proven successful worldwide. Such types of formats are also known as franchises, since rights to the format are usually handled with licenses. Particular models in the genre of

s are often sold as formats, enabling broadcasters to adapt them to the perceived tastes of their own audience. An example is ''

The Office ''The Office'' is the title of several mockumentary sitcoms based on a British series originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as '' The Office'' in 2001. The original series also starred Gervais as manager and primary charac ...

'', a

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

sitcom which got adapted as ''The Office'' in the United States, in Sweden, ''

HaMisrad ''HaMisrad'' (, "The Office") is an Israeli television sitcom, that aired on the Yes Comedy channel. It is a version of ''The Office'', a 2001–2003 British sitcom that had already been remade in nine other countries. ''HaMisrad'' is a mockumen ...

'' in Israel'','' ''

Le Bureau ''Le Bureau'' is a 2006 French television show written and directed by Nicolas & Bruno. It is a French adaptation of the popular British television series '' The Office''. ''Le Bureau'' adapted the scripts of the original British series, chang ...

'' in France, ''

'' in India'', Stromberg'' in Germany, ''

La Job ''La Job'' is a Canadian French-language comedy television series set in Montreal, Quebec. It is an adaptation of the British show ''The Office''. Produced by Anne-Marie Losique's Image Diffusion International, it has been broadcast for a lim ...

'' in Quebec, Canada and ''

La Ofis ''The Office'' is the title of several mockumentary sitcoms based on a British series originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as ''The Office (British TV series), The Office'' in 2001. The original series also starred Gervais ...

'' in Chile.

Companies

Leading companies that handle the creation and sales of programming formats include Warner Bros. International Television Production,

ITV Studios ITV Studios Limited is a British multinational television media company owned by British television broadcaster ITV plc. It handles production and distribution of programmes broadcast on the ITV network and third-party broadcasters, and is ba ...

, Talpa, Endemol Shine and

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia located at the mouth of the Swan River (Western Australia), Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australi ...

Legal issues

TV formats are viewed as a form of

(IP), and are regularly bought and sold by TV producers, distribution company and broadcasters. For example, '' Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' has been recreated in 108 territories, while local versions of ''Idol'' have aired (over 129 series) in 42 territories receiving about three

billion Billion is a word for a large number, and it has two distinct definitions: * 1,000,000,000, i.e. one thousand million, or (ten to the ninth power), as defined on the short scale. This is now the most common sense of the word in all varieties of ...

votes, most notable being ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

''. However, TV formats are not generally protected under

law.Legal Protection
, Bournemouth University.McInerney, Peter
and Rose, David. ''Television formats and copyright protection'' in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', 2 March 1999, p.41 (Law page). As a result, copycat formats are sometimes created, which seek to duplicate the success of an original format without paying the person who came up with it. Format developers seek to prevent this by various means, including the use of trademarks or withholding distribution of other shows. Establishing "Proof of Review" and exposure to companies reviewing new TV formats is one important aspect of protection by the industry at the Television Writers Vault. The Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA) aims to protect rights to formats and lobbies for legal protection.

References

External links