Donnelly says Itv Live may launch with a social simulcast
Declan Donnelly says itv live could be the next format Ant and Dec build with ITV. Speaking at SXSW London, he said the pair may have another live show in development and want to explore a real-time TV and social media simulcast.
“We'd like to launch something ourselves pretty soon,” Donnelly said. He added, “We're working with ITV closely at the minute,” and, “We've got lots of thoughts and we feel like we may have another live format.”
SXSW London signals the direction
“We'd love to explore the possibility of TV and a social media platform simulcast in some kind of way,” Donnelly said, before adding, “We just want to reach everybody all at once.” That is the clearest sign yet that the duo are thinking less about a standard broadcast and more about a format built to run across platforms at the same moment.
The pitch lands alongside their newly announced ITV series, Holey Moley, a family entertainment show built around a wild and oversized crazy golf course. Ant McPartlin called it “absolutely perfect for us,” and said, “It's all about pure fun and entertainment for the whole family from start to finish.”
Holey Moley adds ITV momentum
“Holey Moley blends the game with huge entertaining moments that the whole family can sit down together, watch and enjoy,” Donnelly said. “We're really excited to bring the show to the UK.” The series will feature both amateur and professional players, who will take on imaginative obstacles and outrageous physical challenges for the Holey Moley golden putter, green plaid jacket and a prize.
Katie Rawcliffe said ITV “could not be more excited to announce a brand-new entertainment format presented by Ant and Dec.” That gives the pair a live-format runway with a broadcaster already backing them, but the simulcast idea also raises the bar: a TV show that has to work in broadcast time and social time, at once.
ITV weighs a live simulcast
If that version gets built, the reader takeaway is straightforward: Ant and Dec are not just handing ITV another entertainment package, they are trying to design one that can travel farther than a normal prime-time launch. For ITV, the smarter play is to test whether a live format can pull in viewers without forcing them to choose between television and the feed they are already watching on their phones.
