CTV has wrapped production on a new one-hour reality series pilot called Dream Funded: Let the Crowd Decide. The show gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to earn up to $50,000 by pitching an unproven business idea to a crowd of 100 consumers.
The program is produced by CTV in association with Entertainment One (eOne), United Artists Media Group (a newly created joint venture from MGM, reality show kingpin Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Hearst Entertainment) and Omnicom Media Group’s Highway Entertainment.
Announced during last week’s Prime Time conference in Ottawa, it is the first project to emerge from Bell Media’s partnership with United Artists Media Group and Highway Entertainment since the “multi-faceted” partnership between the companies was first announced last year. The partnership’s stated goal is to create new TV formats for both Canadian and international audiences.
Dream Funded: Let the Crowd Decide is hosted by TSN personality and two-time Olympic host James Duthie, while Amber Mac, president of Konnekt Digital Engagement, and marketing expert Ron Tite, founder and CEO of The Tite Group, serve as celebrity entrepreneur experts, providing guidance and feedback to the “dreamers.”
In the pilot episode, budding entrepreneurs from across Canada will present their ideas to 100 consumers, each of whom will have $250 to support the product they feel has the most potential, up to $25,000. The entrepreneur that receives the most will also earn an additional $25,000.
Highway Entertainment president and CEO Adam Ivers said the program exemplifies the company’s “laser-focused efforts” to establish Canada as the next providing ground for TV formats.
