U.K.'s 'Loveland' lures Fox

Net in talks to pick up dating show

By DOMINIC SCHREIBER

Fox is in talks to pick up the format rights to ``Loveland,'' a U.K. dating format with a virtual reality twist.

Project comes from Standing Stone Prods., the U.K. shingle launched by former FremantleMedia North America CEO Tom Gutteridge last year.

Gutteridge said Fox reality chief Mike Darnell expressed interest after watching the pilot. Skein has been picked up by satcaster BSkyB's entertainment web Sky One.

Devised by Jo Pine, Standing Stone's senior VP of development, the show offers a new spin on the dating format by combining computer-generated animation with a studio-based show.

Using technology developed by Antwerp animation house Nazooka, contestants pick their own animated characters, much as users of virtual worlds like Second Life create their own avatars, which then interact with the real contestants in the studio.

``Instead of going into a virtual world, you bring the avatars live into the studio,'' Gutteridge said. ``You can become whatever you want in `Loveland.' ''

The show concludes with the studio contestant picking which animated character they prefer before meeting the person in the flesh for the date.

The series is the first new show to come from Standing Stone, although Gutteridge said the company is close to securing a second U.S deal.

Standing Stone also plans to license the technology to international broadcasters in conjunction with the ``Loveland'' format. A Web-based version of the format is planned to launch alongside the television series.

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