LOS ANGELES and TEL AVIV – March 24, 2021 – ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group has licensed format rights in Israel for the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME docu-series COUPLES THERAPY for broadcast on KAN, it was announced today. The deal was made with production company July-August Productions.

Originally produced for SHOWTIME in the U.S., where a second season has been commissioned, COUPLES THERAPY unlocks a hidden world: other people’s relationships. It follows the weekly therapy sessions of various couples. The format is now set to be adapted for Israeli audiences by July-August Productions with shooting beginning this month. The 12-episode series will launch on public broadcaster KAN later this year.

“We’re very pleased to partner with July-August Productions to debut an Israeli adaptation of this format for KAN,” said Paul Gilbert, Senior Vice President, Formats at ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. “COUPLES THERAPY, introduced by SHOWTIME, has already proved a hit in the U.S., attracting viewers with its compelling, raw and honest insight into real-life therapy sessions. July-August Productions’ fantastic reputation for adapting international formats and KAN’s wide audience reach are the perfect combination to maximize the potential of this unique docuseries in a brand-new territory.”

Far from reality-show caricatures, COUPLES THERAPY is true documentary filmmaking that brings viewers into the authentic and visceral experience of weekly therapy sessions with real couples. A world-class therapist deftly guides the couples through the minefield of honest confrontation with each other and with themselves, revealing the real-life struggles – and extraordinary breakthroughs – typically hidden behind closed doors.

The original U.S. version of COUPLES THERAPY featuring world-class therapist Dr. Orna Guralnik and produced by Edgeline Films for SHOWTIME, is from DGA® Award-nominated and Sundance Award-winning filmmakers Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg and Eli Despres. Kriegman, Steinberg and Despres serve as executive producers. Carly Hugo and Matt Parker are producers, and Dan Savage is a consulting producer.

About ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group:

ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group is the leading distributor of premium content across multiple media platforms throughout the global marketplace. The division's portfolio is comprised of some of the world's most recognized brands, including feature films and television programs from Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television Studios, Paramount Players, Paramount Animation, CBS Studios, CBS Media Ventures, CBS News, SHOWTIME Networks and Viacom brands. The division also has the largest distributed library of series and film titles, including global franchises such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "NCIS," "Star Trek," "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Transformers," "Mission: Impossible," and more. In addition, the division licenses a diverse lineup of scripted and unscripted formats for local production and participates in international co-productions. ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group is a division of ViacomCBS Inc.

About KAN:

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) provides media programming and services to the Israeli public by operating 3 television channels and 9 radio stations. Branded "Kan", it provides approximately 1,600 weekly hours of broadcast content in all genres. These include about 40% documentary and fiction programming, both commissioned and acquired, in various themes, including social and political issues, current affairs, history, arts, culture and more. IPBC/Kan's missions in addition to news broadcast are to expand education and knowledge, promote discourse and quality culture, advance social awareness, engage, give a voice and inform all members of the public, and inspire innovation, in both programming content and distribution. It also offers a wide range of online products and services with a Digital First approach, including a portal website, mobile App, additional digital radio stations, blog, podcasts and various social media pages. Established in March 2015 , fully funded by the Israeli government, full broadcasting services started in May 2017, operating out of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with approximately 800 employees. IPBC/Kan is also a member of the EBU and the Eurovision programme exchange network.

About July-August Productions:

July-August Productions is an Israeli based tier-one content development and production house with track record of local and international success. The company specialize in original format development, scripted series and award winning feature films and documentaries with a clear success strategy: quality over quantity. Established in 2004, July-August Productions is A Red Arrow Studios company, operating from its offices in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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