ITV Studios Unveils 11 New Formats at Mipcom Amid Sale Talks

ITV Studios arrived at Mipcom in Cannes on Monday representing 11 fresh original formats — a slate the company presented at a breakfast event despite a global downturn in traditional series commissioning and ongoing disruption among large production groups.

Ruth Berry, ITV Studios' president of global partnerships and its Zoo 55 digital content arm, told journalists the company remains undaunted. "We're feeling very positive about what it means for the evolution of both studios," she said. Asked whether the M&A fever gripping the global content marketplace had affected ITV's operations, she answered flatly: "In a word, no." She called the lineup "absolute corkers."

What is happening to ITV itself?

The company is being split in two. NBCUniversal's Sky is in the process of acquiring ITV's broadcast and digital platform, while ITV Studios will remain a standalone entity — though acquisition rumors persist. ITV Studios enters this moment from a position of strength: Berry noted that the U.S. edition of "Love Island" ranks as the most-watched program ever on NBCUniversal's Peacock streamer.

Mike Beale, managing director of creative networks at ITV Studios, said the company is "pairing broadcasters and streams to co-commission" new shows, which he said opens opportunities for fresh formats.

Which titles headlined the slate?

The session put forward two scripted dramas in particular:

• "First Woman" stars Andrea Riseborough as the first woman to walk on the moon — and the first to go missing on the lunar surface.
• "Number 10" offers a soapy look behind the scenes at the personal and political pressures surrounding the occupants of 10 Downing Street. Series creator Stephen Moffat joked: "Every other country is run from big palace or a big building — ours is run from a house on a shabby little street with a big black door."

Jeremy Wade, host of "River Monsters," is also returning. His new video podcast series, "Fish On! With Jeremy Wade," launches Oct. 20 on Patreon and via RiverMonsters.TV, recounting tales of his fresh-water exploits. The original "River Monsters," which premiered on Animal Planet in 2009, has found new life on social media with younger viewers.

"You'll hear that young people don't want to watch long-form content — not true," Berry told the crowd, citing an average watch time of 90 minutes for "River Monsters" episodes on YouTube.

What else was announced?

The hourlong session produced a string of deal news:

• "The Voice" has reached its 80th territory commission through a deal in Estonia.
• ITV has picked up distribution rights to Channel 4's unscripted series "Incognito," which brings 10 strangers together in an institutional setting for seven days, each trying to guess the others' true occupations while hiding their own identity.
• ITV has struck a deal with former Endemol Shine Australia executive Sara Richardson to launch a drama label. She will work with the existing Lingo Pictures to develop projects for Australia and beyond.
• The cold case drama "Karen Pirie" has been renewed for a third season.
• "Line of Duty" will return for Season 7 next year.

The breadth of the slate signals that ITV Studios intends to keep selling aggressively while its corporate future is decided — and the 80-territory reach of "The Voice" suggests its format machine still has traction well beyond the pending Sky deal.