Harry King TV’s Nicholas Sercombe

Earlier this year, Harry King TV launched its new unscripted division, Harry King Unscripted. The aim is to create and produce formats, designed for digital and linear TV, for broadcasters, streamers, digital platforms, FAST channels and YouTube. The talent- and format-first model will take advantage of the new production landscape and traditional commissioning slowdown. Nicholas Sercombe, CEO and founder of Harry King TV, tells TV Formats about setting up the new unscripted division and the initial format focus.

TV FORMATS: What led Harry King TV to set up an unscripted division?
SERCOMBE: We need more variety in the international unscripted market, particularly more unique and outlandish unscripted content for audiences worldwide. In my opinion, formats—both scripted and unscripted—are the future of the entertainment industry, as they allow content to travel and be adapted for different demographics, territories and platforms.

My experience is as a comedy producer, but I started in entertainment—light entertainment, as it was known—and I worked with some of the great talents. I created the TV formats of Top Tips with Reeves and Mortimer, Two Old Farts in the Night with Barry Cryer and Willie Rushton and Bob’s Fab Ads with Bob Monkhouse.

We wanted to introduce our unscripted division with a slate of original content that combines comedy, new ideas and exciting formats designed for both digital and linear TV, which will be made for broadcasters, streamers, digital, YouTube and FAST channels.

TV FORMATS: What are the current opportunities you see in the format landscape?
SERCOMBE: Fresh, unique concepts are new opportunities. Formats that move away from spin-offs and reboots have the potential to connect with new audiences and build organic loyalty. This was our approach with Curiosity, an original idea set in a shop that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and curiosities.

Engaging with new audiences means finding the right partnerships that can bring new unscripted formats to people where they can cut through, whether on linear or across digital platforms. The rise of FAST channels, AVOD platforms and digital-first distribution presents fresh opportunities for unscripted formats that may not require traditional network green lights.

And, of course, the right talent can elevate an idea into a tangible and marketable format and allow it to travel across borders. The talent can then be replaced with the optimum local talent to help cut through across territories. The right format that can be adjusted for broadcasting rules and tone, depending on where it might sit, is key. It is also hugely opportune that, through unscripted, the new generation of digital and influencer talent can be a part of these formats too, finding them homes on YouTube and TikTok and freeing them from traditional commissioning structures if that’s what they need.

TV FORMATS: What impact are digital platforms having on the format commissioning space, and how will the new division tap into the opportunities there?
SERCOMBE: In the last few years, there’s been a huge surge of unscripted formats and series landing on digital platforms—from Channel 4’s digital news series UNTOLD to the new digital version of the beloved old-school format Supermarket Sweep hosted by a troupe of YouTube influencers. These bring in huge audiences and engagement, and showcase the innovation and agility online broadcast can provide versus linear.

It is also a great way to springboard format ideas for growth—for example, Netflix’s pickup of The Sidemen’sformat [Inside], a popular IP driven by major global talent that originated online. Talent and influencers are extremely appealing to streaming platforms because of the fans and audiences they bring, who are already used to seeing them on their phone screens.

Of course, the type of talent attached to a format appeals to different audiences. Curiosity is a unique concept fronted by comedian Henning Wehn and TV presenter and antiques expert Raj Bisram. This was a choice to ensure Curiosity is attractive to all ages because streaming and digital platforms aren’t made for one age group, and they’re experts in unscripted presenting and comedy.

TV FORMATS: What makes Curiosity the perfect title to meet the moment of where the marketplace is at?
SERCOMBE: At its core, Curiosity blends discovery and entertainment, making it the perfect watch for audiences looking for escapism and engaging and clever content. It is a unique format set in a shop that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and curiosities. In each episode, celebrity guests visit the emporium to find trinkets, curios and gifts from the Curiosity shop owners, Henning and Raj. It has the comfort of delving into interesting artifacts and mementos and is filled with humor and personality from the amazing comedic talent of Henning and Raj together. As Curiosity combines feel-good watching with discovery, we see it as a huge opportunity for brands and digital as well as linear because of its adaptability; it works as short-form and long-form and would work in other territories.

TV FORMATS: What are your goals for the unscripted division in the year ahead?
SERCOMBE: Our objective is to establish a strong creative identity by being stylish, moving away from CGI sets and proving that we can deliver innovative, talent-driven formats. Curiosity is the first example of what our unscripted division reflects; it is shot in anamorphic in a beautiful location, embodying the type of smart, entertaining and adaptable content we want to be known for.

Beyond Curiosity,the goal is to create formats that work in today’s evolving production landscape—ones that are scalable, adaptable and primed for both long-form and short-form distribution models and partners.

We’ll focus on projects that can be talent-led and concept-driven to ensure engagement across all audience demographics. Our talent- and format-first model will take advantage of the new production landscape and traditional commissioning slowdown with agile concepts and forward-thinking. Our vision is to position Harry King TV’s unscripted division as a bold, innovative player in the unscripted space, capable of delivering smart, scalable and commercially viable formats that work across traditional and emerging platforms.

TV FORMATS: What other types of formats will you be focused on?
SERCOMBE: The format-first model means we’ll focus on a variety of unscripted formats—from shiny-floor contestant-based shows to location and talent-focused concepts.

Having worked with many of the funniest and most creative talents out there, we thought it was the right time to bring that attitude from the world of scripted to the land of formats and docs. All the shows we develop have heart, humor and a bit of cheekiness. After all, the world needs more laughter. And the Curiosity format, our new unscripted division,and our scripted slate exist to subvert the “traditional” model and bring things to digital, streaming and linear with a raft of excellent talent attached right from the start.