108 Media acquires rights to Bridezillas and Marriage Boot Camp for Philippines
October 12, 2022
London/Singapore-based global media firm 108 Media has acquired the Philippine rights to produce local adaptations of the long-running pop culture phenomenon WE tv original series, Bridezillas and its highly successful spin-off, Marriage Boot Camp. Bridezillas hails from a September Films format, and Marriage Boot Camp from DCD Rights and producer Thinkfactory Media.
The deal was brokered by 108 Media’s VP, Sales & Global Partnerships, Rahul Raman and DCD Rights’ James Anderson and Rick Barker in London. Raman’s partnerships team driving distribution and revenue in Asia will be supported by Maricel Gilos, Brand Partnerships Lead (Philippines) and Creative Producer Kirstie Contrevida, both based in Manila, with Mathan Kumar, Head of Creative Marketing in Singapore. The team will be joined by Kuala Lumpur-based Jonathan Ooi, who has recently boarded 108 Media as Senior Sales Manager (APAC).
Bridezillas, the multi-series franchise has seen more than 200 episodes, for American cable network WE tv. and is one of the most successful and long-standing franchises in the history of the global reality television landscape, with library episodes continuing to license around the world. Marriage Boot Camp aired its 19th season earlier this year also on WE tv.
The shooting dates for Bridezillas: Philippines (10 Episodes) and Marriage Boot Camp: Philippines (10 Episodes) are slated for early Q2 2023 and mid-2023 respectively and will be led by local production teams for various distribution and social platforms with varying runtimes and edit versions for different audience profiles. The 108-financed productions will be overseen, and executive produced by veteran UK/Asia reality formats showrunner Jonathan Glazier (Asia’s Got Talent / AXN All-Stars) and 108 Media’s President, Justin Deimen.
The procuring of these localisation rights follows the continuing mergers and acquisitions blitz across the globe, cementing 108 Media and its intention to build a diversified and fully stocked ‘super indie’ focused on scaled-up turn-key operations of content and IP monetisation in emerging markets. Recently, 108 Media acquired the formerly AIM-listed DCD Rights and its subsidiaries; invested in Singapore-based animation IP specialists Robot Playground Media and secured a majority stake in one of Asia’s top scripted production companies Revolution Media, with more acquisitions to be announced as 2022 closes out.
As with other 108 Media acquisitions, the investment in local content and content providers constitutes another path forward for 108 Media to expand their presence and network across the region, while also supercharging its current operational framework of global resources and its deep development slate of IPs and financing infrastructure across factual and scripted programming.
“I’m very excited to kickstart phase one of our M&A integration via local-language monetisation in Asia with more versions and new formats planned in the coming months across territories. These productions of two globally recognised formats are strategically centred on universal cultural touchpoints of marriage and family and celebrity, targeting a wide range of female audiences and are highly bingeable,” said Rahul, based in 108 Media’s Toronto office.
“We have been impressed with the data on these two IPs as we lean into our entry strategy of formats in Asia by lining up our branded content verticals with a variety of unique distribution outlets, compelling local talent, and a creative mix of content marketing,” he added.
Nicky Davies Williams, CEO DCD Rights added, “Working in partnership with 108 Media has made this deal possible and demonstrates the benefits of the growing synergy between our companies. We are sure viewers are going to be more than thrilled to have local versions of two of the most enduring multiple series reality format franchises head to The Philippines.”