Corus Entertainment’s W Network announced today an agreement with Mark Burnett, United Artists Media Group, Omnicom Canada Corp.’s Highway Entertainment and Insight Productions to develop a new series format and pilot episode of the travel-reality series, Destination Detour. The format is being developed for Canadian and international markets and will air on W Network in 2016. Production of the one-hour pilot, begins in August in Ontario, Canada.
“With an innovative format and a production partnership with visionary television producer, Mark Burnett, we are thrilled to work on this new project,” said John MacDonald, Vice President, Television, Head of Corus Women & Family, Corus Entertainment. “This project continues our strategy to develop new unscripted-reality series and strengthen our relationships with other best-in-class producers to develop content that engages audiences in Canada and viewers around the world.”
“Destination Detour is a unique and fun format that takes people out of their comfort zone and reminds us that trying new things can be a real eye opening experience,” said executive producer Mark Burnett. “We have been looking for the opportunity to expand our Canadian production relationship and working with the teams at Corus, Highway and Insight Productions made this a very easy project to say yes to.”
“Highway Entertainment is thrilled to be expanding its relationship with UAMG to Corus Entertainment and Insight Productions,” said Adam Ivers, Highway’s President and CEO. “With Destination Detour, we have another really exciting format from the mind of Mark Burnett to hone in Canada with a roster of great Canadian partners.”
“We are looking forward to working together with UAMG, Highway and Corus on Destination Detour,” said John Brunton, Executive Producer, Insight Production Company Ltd. “This is a really challenging and engaging fish out of water format and we see this as an incredible opportunity to create and produce a brand new show alongside format icon Mark Burnett. With Insight’s track record of producing numerous successful formats in Canada, we are thrilled to be a part of this team.”
Destination Detour takes three couples on what they expect will be their own meticulously planned, once in a lifetime dream vacation but throws a major curveball into their plans. The three couples from vastly different walks of life, personal interests and temperaments must face this massive detour head-on. The couples will be immersed in worlds they never dreamed of entering and face challenges that will scare, excite and ultimately redefine them. Only time will tell if the couples embrace this Destination Detour or if it will turn out to be a holiday from hell.