iVillage Inks Television Series Deal

Posted on July 4, 2003

iVillage Inc., a women's media company and website, announced that it has signed an agreement with Berman/Jacobs Media to develop a proposed television series. The program was presented to iVillage through the William Morris Agency, Inc. The planned series will focus on the phenomenon of Internet dating.

Tentatively called iDate, the program will bring together for the first time on national TV two people who have met online. The show plans to follow the couple's relationship from the beginning, starting with their first exchanges to their chat room dialogue to meeting face-to-face. iDate will select contestants from entries made on the iVillage website and via phone and mail.

"This project confirms the strength and power of the iVillage brand," said Doug McCormick, iVillage Chairman and CEO. "iVillage can be part of the TV production universe with no significant out of pocket costs to us. We already have a strong team in place with extensive experience in the television industry and who know how to make programming work. We believe the iVillage team and brand coupled with top producers and the William Morris Agency, gives this show a competitive edge."

Berman/Jacobs is run by Marty Berman, a multi-Emmy Award winning television producer, and Bob Jacobs, a former senior executive at King World Productions, Inc. and a pioneer in syndication.

Marty Berman said, "We have developed a half-hour strip that will be fun and exciting. Two people that have enjoyed a relationship on the Internet and think they know each other will meet face to face on our show. iVillage has built a fantastic website with nearly 15 million unique visitors each month. For the first time, we have developed a program that incorporates the Internet into a television show."