MUMBAI: GSN, the network for games, has signed a three-series commitment deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) for Who Wants to be a Millionaire executive producer Michael Davies, to develop game-related product.
The announcement was made by GSN president and CEO Rich Cronin at the Television Critics Association's Winter Press Tour.
The deal includes a first look at cable game shows developed by Davies under the three-year agreement he and his company, Embassy Row, recently signed with SPT. GSN sees Davies as a source of many types of competition-related programs and anticipates its first production by year end.
"We are thrilled to begin an association with Michael Davies, who is one of the top creative minds in TV games. His mega-hit game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire continues to be one of GSN's most popular series, and we are eager to work with SPT and Michael on the next generation of interactive game and reality programs," said Cronin.
"The entire team at Embassy Row has been energised for months at the prospect of securing a deal at GSN. We are enormous fans of the channel and we are very much looking forward to creating dynamic and innovative new concepts that will appeal to their passionate audience," said Davies.
Davies remains executive producer of ABC's Wife Swap and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, now in its fourth year of first run syndication.
Over the last 12 months, Davies' New York-based company, Embassy Row, has significantly increased its production output in its core game and reality businesses with multiple UK based partners.
In 2006, powered by the new deals with Sony and GSN, Davies expects to rapidly expand Embassy Row's core business and extend the company's expertise into sports, comedy, documentaries and new media.