The worldwide intellectual property rights and UK programme library of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? have been put on the market. It is thought to be the first time that TV show format rights have been put up for sale.
The quiz show format was first launched in the UK in September 1998 on ITV1, and quickly became a ratings phenomenon.
Since then the format has won over 60 awards globally and been licensed to 105 countries. Now in its 19th season in the UK, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is a mainstay of ITV1’s Saturday night schedule, still regularly attracting audiences of over seven million viewers.
But now Complete Communications Corporation Ltd (CCCL), parent company of media firms Celador Productions and Celador International, wants to sell the format. It explains that the sale would assist in arranging management buyouts of both firms, which it would encourage and support.
Yvonne Dunn, a media law specialist with Pinsent Masons, the international law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM, said: "This is a fascinating development in the area of TV formats, and will be watched with interest by many companies who own successful formats, since it represents another means to exploit them."
She added that the valuation attached to the format by prospective buyers, and the methods they use to value it, will be of particular interest.
