By MELISSA JANE KRONFELD
Posted: 2:32 am
July 5, 2008
'FIND My Family," a new Aus tralian show where adopted children use TV to find their natural parents, might just be on its way to America.
Negotiations are underway with an unnamed US network, according to Absolutely Independent, the Dutch production company that owns the rights to the show.
"We are in the middle of negotiations," says Patty Geneste, the CEO of Absolutely Independent. "Hopefully we will be able to bring the format to the US very soon. But nothing is sure until a signature is on the paper."
The show's format was optioned from a Dutch program entitled "Spoorloos," which translates to "Lost Without a Trace."
The hour-long program has aired for two seasons in the Netherlands in 2006 and 2007.
"It's not an easy format," says Geneste. "It's not easy to find a lost relative. It takes quite a bit of research, and a huge network comes with the format."
After each episode, viewers can call in directly with tips, much like "America's Most Wanted."
The series in Australia is hosted by famed Aussie actor Jack Thompson, who was himself adopted.
The Dutch version of the show centers on all types of lost relatives - not just birth families of adopted children.
The show claims it takes great care to reunite only those family members who want to be found.
