Avi Nir - P 2012
Fresh on the heels of its breakout success with Homeland, Israeli-based Keshet Broadcasting’s dating show, 3, has been scooped up by CBS.
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The network has ordered the series, which centers on three women of different ages and life experiences who audition hundreds of men on their journey to (hopefully) find their soul mate. Based on the original Israeli format originally produced by Kastina Productions, 3 is set to premiere this summer with U.S. reality heavyweights The Magical Elves (Top Chef, Fashion Star) attached as producers.
The Israeli version, which launched last summer, became the No. 1 program in Israel for five of its eight airings, and the country’s biggest reality launch in four years. What’s more, its finale was the highest rated non-live reality program since the Israeli ratings system was created in 1999.
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To hear Keshet chief executive Avi Nir tell it, the goal with this series was to move away from the artificiality of many of the genre’s other shows, which he describes as “slick, predictable, very well produced.” With this series, his team was looking to capture raw emotions and moments more often seen in documentaries.
“We set out to achieve real emotions, love affairs and that idea of falling in and out of love. And we allowed the men to say no to the women,” added Nir, who through his WME agent Rick Rosen met with CBS’ entertainment chief Nina Tassler about the idea when she led a trip to Israel in November.
Joining Nir as executive producers on the U.S. iteration are the Elves founders Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth, along with 1942 Television’s Chris Columbus.
Keshet, the Magical Elves and Columbus are all repped by WME.
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