about us
The Format People was founded in 2009 by distributor and broker Michel Rodrigue and content specialist Justin Scroggie. Our goal - to combine the commercial and creative parts of our industry into a consultancy that delivers great formats that travel.
Justin Scroggie
Chief Creative Officer & Partner, The Format People
Justin is a BAFTA-award winning global content specialist, format creator and trainer with 30 years’ experience in the industry, known internationally as The Format Doctor.
Justin works with broadcasters, distributors and production companies around the world to improve the creation, development and delivery of their formats in genres including gameshows, talent, fact. ent., lifestyle, make-over, reality, chat, and social experiments.
Justin is the creator of hit formats including ‘Chef In Your Ear’ produced in 13 territories to date. He also co-created song-writing format ‘Sing My Song’ (China/CCTV), 3 seasons to date, averaging 252m viewers per season.
Justin helped develop NRK’s hit format ‘Doctors Vs Internet’, 5 seasons to date, licensed to 12 territories, winner of Best Studio Gameshow at the International format Awards 2017; and reality car racing show SIXTH GEAR. Other formats he has consulted on include gameshows ‘Splatalot’, 'Canada's Super Spellers', and ‘Canada’s Smartest Person’, ‘Pablo’ (BBC/Netflix), the first animation series about a character on the autism spectrum; music shows ‘Fanbase’ and ‘Beter Assie Bure’ for SABC, cooking contest ‘Kokkedoor’ for KykNet, and Discovery’s ‘Know It All’, adapted in Sweden as ‘Genikampen’.
As an active Flying Producer, Justin has installed international versions of CHEF IN YOUR EAR, Spanish game show '20 Little Piggies' and Chinese kids talent format 'Little Masters' among others. Justin also writes production bibles, most recently for the Chinese mega-format 'StreetDance of China'.
Justin is a visiting lecturer at the UK's NFTS, and has trained in TV formats for KOCCA (Korean Creative Content Agency), SABC, MNET, Northern Ireland Screen, and Screen Ireland. He has been a keynote speaker at Copenhagen TV Festival, Kiev Media Week, C21 Content Academy, among many others, and judge at Banff Media Festival, Rose D'Or, ATF, International Emmys and MIPFormats. Justin helped organise C21's Formats 360 2019.
Justin co-devised and produced history game format ‘Codex’ at London’s British Museum, and reality shows ‘Shock Treatment’ (Sky) and the BAFTA-winning ‘Starfinder’ (ITV). Previous production credits include cult game-shows ‘Treasure Hunt’ and ‘Crystal Maze’.
He is the author of 11 books for children and adults.
"Justin's analytical mind makes an impression. He knows in a systematic way how to deconstruct different game elements and expose their funictionality. Not for nothing is he called The Format Doctor".
VRT, Belgium.
Michel Rodrigue
Chief Executive Officer and Partner, The Format People
An early proponent of TV formats, with 40 years of experience, knowledge and connections as a broadcaster, producer, distributor and consultant, Michel has played a key role in driving the format industry to worldwide prominence.
Michel founded The Format People in 2009 with Justin Scroggie. As well as overseeing our assignments and assembling global specialists to deliver them, Michel offers comprehensive consultancy on all commercial aspects of the television business. His work includes executive mentoring, deal brokerage, format dispute mediation, and major infrastructure projects.
Michel designed and led a 3-year plan to revolutionize Mongolian television, one that commands respect across the international TV market. Mongol TV is the leading independent network in Mongolia. He was also appointed by Star China to handle their international programming development and “propel us to the next level in the worldwide television industry” (Vivian Yin, VP Star China), culminating in a remarkable co-development deal with Simon Cowell’s SYCO.
In 2019 Michel & Justin were mandated to ‘re-imagine’ MipFormats for the next generation of format people.
Michel is a co-founder of FRAPA, and a passionate advocate for rights protection. He founded Distraction Formats, the first independent format distribution company, representing formats from producers worldwide, and with sales to 70 countries. Instigator of the first TV Format Market at the Monte Carlo TV Festival in 1999, Michel was dubbed by the press “The Father of Formats” for his in-depth knowledge of the format business.
Michel is a sought-after keynote speaker, moderator and competition organiser, has recently been invited to keynote, and lead workshops at: MipTV/MipFormats, NATPE, Realscreen, BCWW Seoul, Korea; STVF, Shanghai; Content Asia Singapore; and Promax BDA in Los Angeles.
"Michel is an inspiration and a passionate advocate for our group and formats everywhere. His contribution to FRAPA has been immeasurable and invaluable".
Phil Gurin, co-Chair, The Format Rights and Protection Association.
