ABC has announced Shark Tank, a Mark Burnett-produced American adaptation of the overseas Dragons' Den reality series, will air Tuesdays at 8PM ET/PT as part of the network's Fall 2009 primetime programming slate.
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While an exact premiere date has yet to be announced, Shark Tank will debut over the summer following the special 10th anniversary primetime run of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
Each Shark Tank episode will give different ambitious entrepreneurs from across the country a chance to pitch their plans to already established moguls, with the goal of landing enough of a venture capital investment to move their idea forward.
However it isn't that simple, because if the moguls deem the pitch unworthy, they'll "tear into the ill-prepared presenters and pass on the idea," according to ABC.
Since the moguls are also trying to "own a piece of the next big idea," the investors could show interest in the pitch and bid up the price of the investment -- much to the delight of the entrepreneurs.
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Investors who will serves as the "sharks" are Internet securities mogul Robert Herjavec; infomercial expert Kevin Harrington; real estate tycoon Barbara Corcoran; Canadian investor Kevin O'Leary; and FUBU sportswear founder Daymond John.
Dragons' Den originally aired in Japan and has also been adapted in the U.K. and several other countries.
Burnett inked a deal with Sony Pictures Television to create a pilot for the stateside adaptation of the show in February 2008. After shopping to to various networks, ABC ordered a pilot of it last September.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio