News

5 February 2010

ENDEMOL WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION SECURES DEAL WITH CITYTV IN CANADA FOR JERRY SEINFELD’S THE MARRIAGE REF

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming, today announced that Citytv in Canada has become the latest broadcaster to acquire Jerry Seinfeld’s highly anticipated new show The Marriage Ref.

The Marriage Ref premieres Thursday, March 4 at 10pm ET/PT (9pm CT, 8pm MT) on Citytv, simulcasting alongside the show's transmission on NBC in the USA.

Malcolm Dunlop, Executive Vice President, Programming, Rogers Media Television comments: "Real-life relationships are fantastic material for comedy. With Jerry Seinfeld at the helm and a host of celebrities, athletes, and comedians taking part, The Marriage Ref is an exciting anchor to the Thursday night Citytv comedy line up which we are sure our audiences will enjoy."

Cathy Payne, CEO of Endemol Worldwide Distribution adds: "There is a huge sense of anticipation building around The Marriage Ref as the show's debut on NBC draws nearer.  We are thrilled to be working with Citytv to bring the show to screens in Canada alongside the US broadcast.  We're in no doubt that viewers in both countries will love it."

The deal with Citytv was negotiated by Matt Creasey, Executive Director at Endemol Worldwide Distribution.  The commision follows the run of deals that were sealed on the back of the format's international debut at Mipcom 2009 in October. Both the format and the US version of the show were snapped up by Seven Network in Australia and Abu Dhabi Media Company in the Middle East, while Telefe in Argentina commissioned a local prime time version.

The Marriage Ref marks Jerry Seinfeld's first television series since Seinfeld ended its record-breaking nine year run in May 1998. Seinfeld will be behind the camera for the US version of the show, which has been commissioned for a prime time run of eight hour-long episodes on NBC and will launch with a special preview show on the evening of February 28th after the Olympics.

Endemol is the exclusive distributor of The Marriage Ref format across all platforms outside of the USA and will produce local versions of the show around the world. Endemol Worldwide Distribution is also globally distributing the NBC series, which is being Executive Produced by Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen Rakieten whose previous credits include twenty-three years with The Oprah Winfrey Show.     

The Marriage Ref vows to look at relationships unlike anything you've ever seen on TV.   The show will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians, sports personalities and international A-list stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies to real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute. 

At the centre of the action is comedian and Hollywood actor Tom Papa ('The Informant!'; 'The New Adventures of Old Christine') who will play the role of Marriage Ref and make 'the call' determining the victor of each spat.  Papa, who has toured with Jerry Seinfeld for the past eight years, was personally chosen by Seinfeld for this role.