EXCLUSIVE: Norse Key Studios has made one of its first acquisitions, grabbing global distribution rights to Harry King TV‘s format Curiosity.
Jewellery expert Izzie Balmer and art valuer Bee Harford from BBC1’s The Travelling Auctioneers have also joined the format as co-hosts, adding to a line-up already comprising antiques expert Raj Bisram and comedian Henning Wehn.
Set in an emporium that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and other items, the collectibles-themed Curiosity will see celebrity guests visiting to find trinkets, curios and gifts. British indie Harry King TV launched the format at MIP London earlier this year. Bisram and Mark Turner created the concept, with Harry King’s Nicholas Sercombe and Ian Bailie developing it as a linear and digital proposition through the newly-launched Harry King Unscripted.
Norse Key has swooped for rights six weeks after we revealed former YLE exec Maria Kivinen had launched Norse Key as a distributor and international production finance business.
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“It is a privilege to be collaborating with Harry King TV on taking Curiosity to the rest of the world,” said Kivinen, Norse Key CEO. “They have a great vision for the format, and I know it will go down a storm within the international market, particularly in time for the major events like MIPCOM and Content London this year.”
“Curiosity is a format that will work with audiences all over the world,” added Sercombe, whose operation has bases in the U.S. and UK. “With Maria’s fresh approach and commercial specialism, we have a brilliant partner in Norse Key Studios to make that happen. Our two new, amazing hosts Izzie and Bee joining comedy legend Henning and TV favourite Raj create an ensemble of contributors to appeal to a very mixed audience.”