MUMBAI: The Montreal-based format distribution specialists Distraction Formats has announced that it has agreed with the French production company Ardisson et Lumieres that it will represent worldwide the popular talkshow Tout le Monde en Parle.

Tout le Monde en Parle - also called Talk of the Town - thrives on confrontation, controversy and scandalous gossip. Many guests do walk out of the studio during their interviews, and two lawyers are present at every recording to ensure that nothing libellous is broadcast.

The format, which has been a smash hit for France's F2 for six years, debuted just last month on the Radio Canada TV Network in Quebec where it has already grabbed a 46 per cent market share in its prime time slot, informs an official release.

Distraction Formats president & CEO Michel Rodrigues has been quoted in the release as saying: "We're very much looking forward to launching the format at MIPCOM 2004. The phrase 'water cooler television' could have been invented for Tout le Monde en Parle/Talk of the Town. It's a format that will work just as well in other languages as it does in French. It's the sort of concept that most buyers will recognise as a winner straightaway, but we have the French and Canadian ratings to prove its worth. They show that this is a concept with mass appeal, but also that it attracts the demographic groups that advertisers love most."

Meanwhile the company has sold an option for UK broadcast rights for The ? Show format to Hat Trick Productions, arguably Britain's most successful independent producer of comedy programming. The ? Show is already a big hit in its native Finland where it is titled The Wickstroem Show - The Making Of, adds the release.

Distraction Formats represents more than 40 international producers and broadcasters with 100 formats that cover a wide selection of format genres including gameshows, scripted comedy, entertainment and variety.