Post by Steveweiser on May 31, 2005 8:35:34 GMT -5
Initial, the producer that makes Fame Academy, has joined forces with record label Polydor to create a drama series following an all-girl pop group as they attempt to hit the big-time.
Channel 4 has commissioned a 26-episode series charting the rise from obscurity to stardom of a fictional group played by four actresses who can all sing and play instruments. At the end of the run the band will launch a single on Polydor in a bid for real-life pop success.
Entitled US 4, the half-hour shows will broadcast on weekends on Channel 4 and in a peaktime slot on digital channel E4. Polydor is the label that launched Popstars winner Girls Aloud and it is expected Sugababes music producer Brian Higgins will work with the band. Initial, which is owned by independent production giant Endemol, has made pop drama shows with S Club 7.
The announcement follows chairman Luke Johnson’s comments at a recent media conference that Channel 4 needed expand beyond television alone and develop itself as an entertainment brand with investment in music, mobile phones and computer games if it is to continue to be successful. The broadcaster recently acquired a 51% stake in digital radio station Oneword and last month launched a new gossip and music website with an investment of £2 million.
Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has hinted at more acquisitions in the next few years after the channel recorded record profits of £46 million for 2004.
Credit: The Stage
Could be interesting - but if US 4 (if that's the name of the band rather than the programme) fail to take off even with a big TV series behind them, then I don't know what future girl bands have. I guess bands like The Faders, Love Bites and Bloke need this show to do well.
Channel 4 has commissioned a 26-episode series charting the rise from obscurity to stardom of a fictional group played by four actresses who can all sing and play instruments. At the end of the run the band will launch a single on Polydor in a bid for real-life pop success.
Entitled US 4, the half-hour shows will broadcast on weekends on Channel 4 and in a peaktime slot on digital channel E4. Polydor is the label that launched Popstars winner Girls Aloud and it is expected Sugababes music producer Brian Higgins will work with the band. Initial, which is owned by independent production giant Endemol, has made pop drama shows with S Club 7.
The announcement follows chairman Luke Johnson’s comments at a recent media conference that Channel 4 needed expand beyond television alone and develop itself as an entertainment brand with investment in music, mobile phones and computer games if it is to continue to be successful. The broadcaster recently acquired a 51% stake in digital radio station Oneword and last month launched a new gossip and music website with an investment of £2 million.
Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has hinted at more acquisitions in the next few years after the channel recorded record profits of £46 million for 2004.
Credit: The Stage
Could be interesting - but if US 4 (if that's the name of the band rather than the programme) fail to take off even with a big TV series behind them, then I don't know what future girl bands have. I guess bands like The Faders, Love Bites and Bloke need this show to do well.
