Sales round-up: Poland’s TVN returns to ‘Big Brother’, Ovation adds detective drama ‘Maigret’

Poland’s TVN returns to Big Brother

Polish broadcaster TVN is to air another season of Big Brother (pictured) just three months after the show returned to screens following a 10-year break.

The Endemol Shine Group format was produced by the production giant’s Polish division and debuted in March, running for 13 weeks and ending in June. TVN has now ordered another series, which will start in September.

Endemol Shine said Big Brother became the most engaging format in the history of Polish social media with 58,000 likes on Facebook, 140,000 followers on Instagram and more than 1m,000 clips cut by fans and posted on Polish social platform Mikroblog. Its finale was watched by 1.15 million viewers.

The Polish show is the first version of the reality format to be filmed in an existing house, rather than a studio set. It also implemented tech innovations with a fully connected house that could limit access to rooms, fridge and even the coffee machine for housemates.

Ovation adds Miagret

US cabler Ovation has picked up rights to Maigret, the Paris-set detective drama starring Rowan Atkinson. The show’s first two seasons will air on Ovation from the end of August.

It is produced by Ealing Studios and Maigret Productions, with ITV in the UK the original commissioner. ITV Studios Global Entertainment sells the show globally.

The show had its US debut on ITV- and BBC-backed North American SVOD service service BritBox, which retains streaming rights.