Sony Pictures Assimilates 2waytraffic

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI), the international television division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), announced today that 2waytraffic will debut as an SPE company at MIPCOM 2008. Based in the Netherlands, 2waytraffic is a global leader in convergent light entertainment content. It was acquired by SPE in June 2008.

2waytraffic’s light entertainment catalogue has been combined with that of SPTI, to form one of the largest and most diverse light entertainment catalogues in the world. This catalogue ranges from game, variety and comedy shows to clip and reality formats. Among the high-quality formats being offered are Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, Dragons’ Den, 50-50, The Gong Show, Mr & Mrs, Karaoke Showdown, The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, That’s The Question, Ba Ba Boom, Power of 10, Take It Or Leave It, Brainiest and You Are What You Eat.

Under SPTI’s management, 2waytraffic is responsible for the distribution of all of the company’s light entertainment content outside the United States. In those countries where SPTI and 2waytraffic have established local production offices, these local offices will represent the catalogue and will work in concert with 2waytraffic’s sales team to deliver multi-platform programming to broadcasters.

“SPTI reaches an important milestone at MIPCOM 2008 as two separate light entertainment catalogues are officially consolidated into a formidable portfolio,” said Michael Grindon, president, SPTI. “The distribution of our combined light entertainment formats will benefit from 2waytraffic’s expertise, particularly at exploiting content across multiple platforms.”

Representing all formats on behalf of SPTI, the 2waytraffic sales team, headed by International Managing Director, Ed Louwerse, will be based in the company’s current stand in the Riviera Seaview. In addition to existing formats, a number of new formats will be revealed for MIPCOM 2008 in the coming weeks.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for 2waytraffic,” said Kees Abrahams, chief executive officer of 2waytraffic. “Our content has been greatly enhanced by our union with Sony Pictures, and Ed and his team are approaching this coming market with the greatest enthusiasm knowing they will be representing the best catalogue of light entertainment formats in the business.”