Small World unveils Japanese formats

LA-based format broker Small World IFT is bringing two new Japanese shows to Cannes as well as agreeing a number of deals and options with US and UK producers on other formats.

Silent Library and Uta Suta both originally aired on Nippon TV and have already sold in the US to the Fred Silverman Company. Uta Suta features aspiring singers and bands, and combines their new talent with well-known veteran songwriters for a chance to win a contract with a major recording label.

Small World will be stepping into worldwide distribution with a new partner, Shankly Productions, in time for MIPCOM. Together they have acquired My Workout, which airs every morning in the US on Lifetime Television, produced by Podfitness.

With more than 100 finished episode available, the series features Hollywood's top celebrity trainers, who have worked with stars like Brad Pitt, Demi Moore, and Jennifer Garner. There is also an interactive component - a programme called Podfitness, which creates a personal workout for viewers directly from the trainers, via your iPod.

Small World and NTV have also tallied a number of deals since Mip TV. The ink is almost dry on options with Granada USA and Australia for Train of Thought; North One UK and Fremantle USA for Old Enough; and Vin Di Bona Productions for Masquerade.

The NTV sales team in Tokyo has also recently finalised deals with Italy's Endemol Italia and France's Coyote for Train of Thought, and with Blue Circle (Holland), Kanakna (Belgium), Europroduzione (Italy) and Europroducciones (Spain) for Old Enough. Endemol France has renewed its option for World Records - a Japanese format that aired on ABC in the US as Master of Champions last summer.

Small World has also licensed an untitled format from Danish producer Babyfoot to ABC, and the US network is now in pre-production. Small World is headed by former Sony and Fox World format exec Tim Crescenti.