4KUniverse Sets First Original Series

4KUNIVERSE, an SVOD “channel” from film and TV distribution company Mance Media that features content in the pixel-packed format, said its first original series, Model Turned Superstar, will debut on June 28.

The show, billed as an international reality series, will challenge over 100 models to become “the next superstar model.  A series of photo shoots and runway challenges will determine which of the top 13 will emerge as the winner of the show’s $1 million grand prize.

The series, comprised of 18, 30-minute episodes filmed in areas such as Bora Bora, Thailand, Mexico, Dubai, the Bahamas and Hong Kong, is hosted by fitness expert April Scott along with guest judges Alessandra Ambrosio, Irina Shayk, and Ana Beatriz Barros. One episode will be released every week on Tuesdays on 4KUNIVERSE.

Andy Khawaja executive produced the series, with Rudy Dekermenjian and Matthew Mancinelli serving as producers. Mance Media is the series’ global distributor.

Mance Media introduced 4KUNIVERSE in March. The multiplatform channel, which costs $5.99 per month, is initially available over-the-top via YouTube and Vimeo, though the aim is to also seek carriage deals with cable operators, IPTV providers and other types of MVPDs.

Mance Media has not announced any MVPD deals for 4KUNIVERSE, but it wasone of the content partners identified by Dish Network for an initial slate of 4K VOD fare for its new Hopper 3 DVR and 4K Joey device.