TV shopping channel HSN and USA Network will produce a reality television show in which contestants compete to have their invention sold on HSN, the networks announced yesterday.
Now in production, “Made in the U.S.A.” will feature contestants and their inventions eliminated each week until the finale. The series is expected to debut in late spring or early summer.
“It's an idea that we've sort of been talking about for a few years,” said Darris Gringeri, spokesman for HSN. “It gives us a good opportunity to show the very interesting system inventors go through in putting together a product and getting it on the air.”
A recent episode of The Apprentice, the NBC reality hit featuring Donald Trump, featured a visit to the headquarters of rival home-shopping network QVC where contestants picked a product and tried to market it. In Made in the U.S.A., HSN will instead focus on the entrepreneurs who invent the products and provide them with resources to go to market, Gringeri said.
The series will film at HSN headquarters in St. Petersburg, FL, and includes behind-the-scenes looks at HSN operations. Ken Mok, creator of UPN's “America's Next Top Model” reality series, will executive produce “Made in the U.S.A.”
Scott Hovanyetz covers telemarketing, production and printing and direct response TV marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
