Warner Bros. Discovery, Singapore’s IMDA Partner on Unscripted Formats
Warner Bros. Discovery and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority have joined forces to collaborate on the development of original unscripted entertainment formats that will have a global appeal.
The partnership kicks off with a masterclass series scheduled for December 3-4 at the Asia TV Forum & Market, which is part of the Singapore Media Festival 2025. The masterclass will be led by content executives from Warner Bros. Discovery’s Global and APAC Networks, as well as Warner Bros. International Television Production. The sessions will cover various aspects of unscripted content development, storytelling, and format globalization.
Following the masterclass, IMDA and Warner Bros. Discovery will be accepting submissions from Singapore-based production companies. The selected projects will have the opportunity to participate in an unscripted bootcamp in early 2026, with the potential for co-production and premier opportunities across Warner Bros. Discovery’s international networks in 2027. Successful formats may also be included in Warner Bros. International Television Production’s sales portfolio for wider distribution.
Yvonne Tang, assistant chief executive of IMDA’s Media Industry Group, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “This is where Singapore’s creative talent meets international expertise. The masterclass will fuel innovation and create co-production opportunities that showcase Singapore’s storytelling power to the world.”
Myriam Lopez-Otazu, senior VP of international unscripted content and global networks for EMEA at Warner Bros. Discovery, highlighted the company’s impressive unscripted slate, which includes popular shows like “Deadliest Catch,” “Property Brothers,” “Border Control,” and “First Man Out.” Lopez-Otazu mentioned, “We’re always on the lookout for dynamic new ideas that complement our popular slate and bring fresh stories to local and international audiences.”
Lynn Ng, GVP and head of content for APAC Networks at Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasized the commitment to supporting the local creative industry through the partnership with IMDA. Ng stated, “This new partnership with IMDA reflects a commitment to support the local creative industry, combining homegrown talent with WBD’s unrivalled unscripted expertise. We look forward to welcoming producers to the ATF sessions next month and exploring new concepts as part of this initiative.”
Warner Bros. Discovery’s unscripted portfolio boasts a range of factual and factual entertainment titles, including “Body Bizarre,” “Wheeler Dealers,” “Marooned with Ed Stafford,” and “Naked and Afraid.” Through Warner Bros. International Television Production, the company has developed global format franchises like “The Bachelor,” “First Dates,” “Cash or Trash,” and “Who Do You Think You Are?,” which have been successfully produced across numerous countries.
