Bell Media and Big Machine Label Group have secured their first international distribution deal for the singing competition format, The Launch. 

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) will distribute the format and the original Canadian series worldwide, excluding Canada, with SPT’s London, U.K.-based prodco Electric Ray signed on to produce the format for the U.K. market.

The deal marks the first time a Bell Media original format for CTV has been sold for international distribution, according to a release.

The Launch is based on a concept by Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta. It was co-created by Borchetta in association with Bell Media president Randy Lennox and Paul Franklin of Eureka (MasterChef), in partnership with John Brunton and Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions.

The singing-competition series premiered Jan. 10 to an average audience of 1.14 million viewers (2+) across CTV, CTV Two, Much, VRAK and Canal Vie.

The show follows unsigned artists as they audition for the chance to record and perform an original song written by a well-known songwriter or producer. The mentors, which have included Shania Twain, Fergie and Boy George, then choose which performer’s song is released directly following the broadcast of the episode.

According to Bell Media, the show’s original songs have already surpassed 4 million streams worldwide.