The show wrapped its fifth season on ITV2 last week with series-high ratings, becoming the most-watched program in the digital channel’s history.
“Love Island has been a massive success overseas,” said Sharon Vuong, senior vp alternative programming at CBS. “We’re thrilled that ITV has partnered with us to bring their most successful show to American television. Having seen the reaction of audiences across the pond and around the world to this most recent season, we expect American viewers will be captivated by this engaging format.”
Love Island sends a group of contestants to a tropical location (for the ITV2 series, it’s a villa in Mallorca), where they have to pair up or risk being eliminated. The show features a number of challenges and twists to gameplay, with relationships ranging from strategic to genuinely romantic. The U.K. series also features a healthy interactive component, with viewers voting on who stays and who goes.
“As a format, Love Island breaks the mold with high levels of viewer interactivity and participation that influence the content of the show in a way that’s extremely addictive,” said David George, CEO of ITV America. “It’s a cultural phenomenon that builds anticipation with every episode and creates appointment viewing — a pretty hard thing to do in today’s TV landscape. We’re ecstatic the show has found a home at CBS and look forward to working collaboratively to engage its millions of viewers.”
ITV Entertainment will produce Love Island for CBS; the show is based on a format from ITV Studios and Motion Content Group. David George, Adam Sher and David Eilenberg are executive producers.
Past seasons of the U.K. version of Love Island stream on Hulu.