TruTV’s ‘Storage Hunters’ Gets British Adaptation
“Storage Hunters,” the TruTV reality series about storage locker bidding, is heading across the pond, as UKTV’s entertainment channel Dave has commissioned a British version of the series that’s created and produced by T Group Productions in the States.
UKTV has licensed the U.S. format from T Group Productions in a deal negotiated by UKTV’s head of acquisitions and co-productions, Alexandra Finlay. North One Television will produce the series in the UK. Catherine Catton, UKTV’s senior commissioning editor, is exec producing the series for UKTV, along with Jenny Daly for T Group Productions and John Quinn for North One Television.
“The U.S. version of ‘Storage Hunters’ is currently UKTV’s highest rating program on Dave, consistently attracting nearly one million viewers and regularly securing the top slot on Dave on Demand,” said Catton. “Put simply, our viewers love it and we are delighted to be able to bring such a successful brand to the channel and put Dave’s own unique stamp on it. This commission is another example of UKTV investing in Dave’s expanding slate of home-grown content, which has helped position the channel as the most watched non PSB channel in the UK.”
While the British version will stay true to the predecessor’s format of focusing on fortune hunters who blind bid on abandoned storage lockers, it does promise to add “a distinct air of Britishness.” The series will be filmed in a variety of locales, some of which are unique to the UK. The show will also add a “Dave-esque voiceover” to the narrative.
“Nothing is more satisfying than seeing your series adapted for another territory,” said Daly, president of T Group Productions. “We’ve had a wonderful relationship with Dave with our finished version and know the new and original episodes will have the same intensity, humor and downright crazy moments that has made the show a hit worldwide.”
“Storage Hunters UK” will bow with 10 30-minute episodes at the end of 2014.
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