Belgium Commissions 'Come Dine With Me'

SBS Belgium, one of Europe's most watched broadcasters, has announced two major format commissions from ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
They have secured the break-out format Four Weddings and the long-running Come Dine with Me for the local market.
SBS Belgium has secured all new Four Weddings, the hugely popular factual entertainment format which follows four competing brides and their different nuptials.
Production will soon begin on its first eight episodes, and is set to air this autumn. ITV Studios launched Four Weddings in 2009, where it was commissioned by Living in the UK and quickly established itself as one of the best performing new formats in UK primetime television.
The deal adds to the international commissions of Four Weddings by TLC in the USA (produced by ITV Studios USA) and ZDF Neo in Germany, produced by Granada Germany.
SBS Belgium additionally confirmed the significant commission of 52 new episodes of the phenomenally popular format Come Dine With Me.
SBS is currently airing its second season of the format and its new instalments will premiere Autumn 2010.
ITV's Come Dine with Me is recognized by the television industry as one of the UK's most successful TV format exports, as it is currently produced locally in 16 countries, including Australia, Germany, France and Spain.
The SBS deals were brokered by Andre Renaud, Sales Executive at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, who commented: "SBS Belgium's clever adaptation of Come Dine with Me rightly continues to wow the Flemish audience.
"I am thrilled to be continuing our good relationship with them and I can't wait to see SBS Belgium work the same magic on another strong ITV Studios format."
Remy Blumenfeld, Director of Formats at ITV Studios said: "Four Weddings is relatable, instantly gettable and extremely fresh which is why the format is already starting to prove itself around the world.
"We're delighted that audiences in Belgium will not be deprived of this delicious treat for a moment longer."
(BMcC/GK)