Mexican producer El Mall and Zodiak Latino, the South American arm of Zodiak Media Group, have signed an agreement to produce Zodiak formats for select Mexican broadcasters, including Televisa.
El Mall, headed by Pedro Torres, is one of Mexico's leading media and production companies. Best known for TV skeins "Mujeres asesinas," "El equipo" and "El encanto del Aguila,".
Zodiak Latino, which is behind hit reality show "La expedition," and El Mall have already agreed on a slate of formats to pitch to the main Mexican broadcasters.
"Latin America is a key market because it has a population totalling a few hundred million who (mostly) speak the same language. Also it's got strong ties with the U.S. Hispanic population — which is the biggest, fastest growing minority in the U.S. And consumption-wise, they're going up the social ladder," Zodiak Latino COO Nicola Drago told Variety.
El Mall is particularly interested in talent shows, including "Sing If You Can," Drago said.
"The main challenge for producers is that there are still lots of territories in Latin America where most of the channels have their own production infrastructures, so they want to use it. But little by little these broadcasters are recognizing that we bring value because we know the formats better," Drago said.
Also, TVN Chile is picking up the format rights to True Talent andTV Globo in Brazil has acquired the hidden camera game show format Oblivious. SBT Brazil meanwhile has ordered another season of Sing if You Can.
