Beverly Hills & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) – As Writers Guild of America members vote on a new contract offer the devastating strike has forced more networks to scramble for alternative content without script material such as reality television shows.
One of the most talked about reality TV shows that starts filming on location and was featured Dec. 10, 2007 in BusinessWeek is Hydra Executives.
It is the newest twist on Arab reality TV, a program filmed in the United Arab Emirates is to be broadcast entirely in English with a featured cast of eight Americans and eight Brits.
Show sponsor Hydra Properties, LLC has scheduled casting for Hydra Executives beginning at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at the Beverly Hilton hotel, Beverly Hills, CA. The company is also shopping the program internationally, and later, other spin-offs may feature the French vs. Americans and India vs. Pakistan entrepreneurs.
The show starts filming in Abu Dhabi this month with eight Americans and eight Brits vying for the ultimate chance to start their real estate business with a $1 million prize. The boardroom-style "Apprentice"-like program is now being marketed for worldwide distribution in March. It is being produced in association with Showtime Arabia, which is partly owned by Viacom, and Dubai's Infinity TV.
“There is nothing better than doing business with other countries, because it eliminates all the other conflicts,” said Executive Producer Ziad Batal, of the new reality TV show Hydra Executives. “Why Abu Dhabi? There are more millionaires per capita in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) than any other country in the world. And it is creating more, because the opportunities are there. It is immigration lotto; it is the land of opportunity. It is an incredible environment, secure, very friendly and entrepreneurial country.”
The reality TV series was created by CEO Sulaiman Al-Fahim, Hydra Properties LLC, a leading Abu Dhabi-based international real estate company and the key backer of the show. “We are searching for 16 of the brightest entrepreneurs, eight Americans and eight Brits, to compete in the capital city of Abu Dhabi in the UAE for a chance of a lifetime to bring their real estate dream to reality,” said Al-Fahim.
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Chamber of Commerce and Industry are also sponsoring the show. According to Fahim around $5 million would be spent on the first season.
Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad rolled out the red carpet for Hydra Properties at the media launch last month (Nov. 28, 2007. “We may be the richest city in Beverly Hills, CA, but Abu Dhabi has the most millionaires, we salute you,” he said during the reality TV show launch ceremony, and I going to make you (Dr. Al Fahim) an honorary member of the Beverly Hills City Council.” The mayor also pinned an official Beverly Hills label pin on the Dr. Al Fahim’s suit as a welcome gesture.
“We will fly them there, and for first two weeks in boot camp contestants will learn the art of the real estate deal and how to identify various playing fields. Following this they will be split into two mixed teams to compete in real estate business assignments for a three month period,” explained Dr. Al Fahim.
