The seductive singletons are switching to Peacock.
The dating show Love Island, which is based on the British mega-hit, is switching networks from CBS to Peacock. The NBCUniversal streaming service has handed the ITV America-produced series a two-season, 80-episode deal.
It follows the three-season run on CBS of the youth-oriented programme.
Although unscripted formats moving networks isn’t uncommon — American Idol, for example, moved from Fox to ABC – it’s still unusual, especially for a program that hadn’t been canceled at its previous home.
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Given the show’s prominence on CBS’ summer schedule, we realize that the formula had to be retooled in order for it to continue ahead. Because the network refused to commit to the same number of episodes, producers ITV America brought it to NBCU and received a large order.
With a season shot in California, the sitcom will premiere on Peacock this summer. It’s unclear whether Arielle Vandenberg, the host and Matt Hoffman, the narrator, will stay on the show.
As a fresh set of singles searches for love in a gorgeous villa, the streamer claimed that “several episodes” will launch “weekly in real time.”
The candidates will also engage in “naughtier” games and “steamier” tasks, according to the show.
ITV America’s ITV Entertainment produced the show, which is based on a format created by ITV Studios and Motion Content Group. It’s based on the ITV2 smash success, which has generated seven seasons since its retooling in 2015.
Love Island was always a difficult show for CBS; the first season did well enough to warrant a second season, which was canceled because of Covid-19. Following that, it was relocated from Fiji to Las Vegas, with the third season shot in Hawaii. While it helped the network attract a younger audience, it never had the same success as its British equivalent and may be better suited for a streaming service.
Tiffany Haddish’s Kids Say the Darndest Things, which formerly aired on ABC, was a recent example of CBS taking over a show from another network; it aired for one season on CBS with no intentions to return.
The network has also been bolstering its own unscripted pipeline; it was reported on Tuesday that it had ordered Superfan, a musical spectacle turned game show, and it has Come Dance With Me, exec produced by LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell, coming up alongside its staple of evergreen shows like The Amazing Race, Big Brother, and Survivor.
ITV America CEO David George thought that this really is an unprecedented deal for an unscripted brand, Peacock and NBCU are the perfect home for Love Island because of their growth plan, which includes using the NBCU television portfolio and other channels to help catapult the series. They are ecstatic to enhance the show with a daring new partnership.
