The deal with Universal Studios is to be announced this week, according to reports in the Financial Times, and will see BBC Worldwide working with Reveille, the film and production arm of Universal for two years, creating drama and comedy shows. Reveille is behind US shows such as 'Law & Order', 'Blind Date' and the notorious talk show 'The Jerry Springer Show', which has inspired an opera.
The companies will work on up to six projects together a year, with the BBC Two comedy 'Coupling' being the first programme in line for a US remake as part of the deal. It has been sold to NBC, the home of 'Friends' and 'ER'.
Export revenues earned by BBC Worldwide through exports to the US rose by 25% last year to £91m.
This year the three major US networks will each have a new show from BBC Worldwide - hidden camera show, Sack Race and dating show, Nice Package - will be piloted by CBS and ABC, respectively, whilst NBC's version of Dog Eat Dog continues its successful run with a new primetime 13-part series.
The BBC said the new deals form part of BBC Worldwide's innovative investment strategy, which has boosted the company's foothold in the North American TV market and contributed substantial financial growth in the last five years.
It has also been heavily pushing its BBC America cable channel, which shows a range of BBC programming including dramas 'Red Caps' and 'Spooks'.
At the same time, the race to buy Universal Studios' parent company Vivendi Universal is down to three companies, according to reports. Liberty Media, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Viacom are tipped as the likely bidders for the troubled French media giant.
Vivendi Universal is labouring under debt of over $4.5bn (£2.7bn), and is in the process of selling its US media properties, which include Universal Studios as well as music interests.
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