In an interesting move for US TV, The CW network are planning to broadcast two major UK reality series this summer. There's speculation these could be Big Brother 11 and The X Factor, although "non-live" formats like Britain's Next Top Model and Pineapple Dance Studios are apparently more likely. Whatever gets picked up, it's rare for a US network to show UK reality shows, despite the fact the UK are the global leader when it comes to selling reality formats abroad. American execs usually prefer to buy a format and make their own version. The CW undoubtedly have an eye on saving money by broadcasting readymade shows, of course.
Anyway, I thought this was worth a mention here. Here in the UK we get plenty of US reality shows (America's Got Talent, Dancing With The Stars, American Idol, etc), but it's always been something of a one-way street. So I'm glad that, for whatever reason, Americans may get to see something with a different flavour to it. Everyone knows The X Factor's superior to the dross of American Idol (hence Simon Cowell's decision to ditch Idol and start a US X Factor), and Britain's Got Talent is definitely more entertaining than its US namesake (giving the world Susan Boyle just last summer -- er, thanks.)
Which UK reality series do you hope The CW broadcast this summer? Is it true that the British versions tend to be better, or are some American versions an improvement on the originals?
