Media Ranch offers Verdict on Demand

Canada-based producer and distributor Media Ranch has acquired rights to a Dutch format that sees a presenter mediating disputes and legal conflicts in just twelve hours.

The acquisition of Verdict on Demand is compounded by a deal for a spin-off show, Legal House Call, and launch of in-house ‘emo-tainment’ format Save the Date.

Verdict on Demand is currently in its third season in peak on SBS6 on Dutch television. The reality show comes from Vincent TV Producties, and sees a presenter hear cases from both sides of local debates in a neutral location before handing down a legally-binding verdict.

The series’ second season outperformed its time slot by more than 30%, leading to the spin off, which launched in January.

Legal House Call aired in the same slot, which saw a legal expert making house calls to desperate people who can’t resolve legal issues themselves and providing advice in their living rooms.

The acquisition of Dutch formats comes after Media Ranch hired Tanja van der Goes as senior VP of new division Media Ranch Europe, based out of Amsterdam.

Media Ranch’s original, Save the Date, features “emotionally-charged real life stories that play out over the national holidays”. Participants present a range of circumstances such as family disputes, celebrations and work situations.

Also on the Media Ranch slate is Thunderstruck, Tipsy Recipes, The Couple and True Sex Confessions.

“Our strongest ever format distribution slate for MIPTV features established international shows and original formats, so we’re naturally excited to showcase them,” said Media Ranch president Sophie Ferron.