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Tag: Cecile Frot-Coutaz

  • FremantleMedia picks up 25% stake in Simon Andreae’s Naked Entertainment

    FremantleMedia picks up 25% stake in Simon Andreae’s Naked Entertainment

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has taken a 25 per cent stake in Simon Andreae’s newly formed production company Naked Entertainment.

     

    Based in London, Naked Entertainment will develop original entertainment, factual, and factual entertainment formats, with series and one-off specials. The deal will further strengthen FremantleMedia’s content pipeline for the UK and global distribution market.

     

    FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz said, “We are actively looking for the right companies and talent to expand and strengthen our business. Simon is one of the industry’s preeminent factual entertainment producers with a long history of delivering hits with global appeal. He already has a strong development slate and I’m really pleased to be partnering with him to bring his projects to audiences around the world.”

     

    Andreae added, “I’m excited to be back in the UK and delighted to be partnering with FremantleMedia, whose depth of experience and breadth of reach in entertainment programming is unrivalled. Naked, as the name suggests, aims to be provocative and risk-taking – but also kind of simple and straightforward –  producing content designed to attract, surprise, and I hope delight audiences both in the UK and overseas.”

     

    Andreae was most recently at Fox Broadcasting’s Alternative Entertainment as executive vice president in the US. Here, he oversaw all the network’s unscripted series and specials, including MasterChef, Hell’s Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, World’s Funniest Fails, Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution, and Hilary Swank’s Cause for Paws.

     

    Prior to Fox, he was senior vice president, development and production, for Discovery, where he developed ratings hits Naked and Afraidand Fast N Loud, as well as supervised the multi-award winning Curiosity series hosted by Stephen Hawking, Donald Trump, and Samuel L Jackson, among others.

     

    He was also a founding partner of UK indie Optomen Television, helping grow it into one of the UK’s largest non-scripted prod-cos with a broad mix of programming including Police, Camera, Action!, The Naked Chef, Anatomy of Desire and Gore Vidal’s American Presidency.

  • Thom Beers to quit FremantleMedia N. America Mullin & Cegielski upped as co-CEOs

    Thom Beers to quit FremantleMedia N. America Mullin & Cegielski upped as co-CEOs

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia North America CEO Thom Beers will be stepping down as CEO when his contract with the company concludes this summer. EVP current programming Jennifer Mullin and EVP scripted programming Craig Cegielski, who will be promoted to FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) co-CEOs, will replace Beers.

     

    Mullin and Cegielski will report directly into FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz and will also have a seat on the FremantleMedia Operating Board from June this year. Mullin and Cegielski will partner to drive continued creative and strategic growth across all of the company’s key businesses.

     

    Beers said, ”It’s been an unbelievable ride and I’ve been fortunate to build an incredibly talented team. We’ve launched shows in syndication and primetime, premiered our first scripted drama, created Buzzr, the company’s first linear channel, and leaped into the digital content business with Tiny Riot! I’m forever thankful to Cecile for her collaborative style, brilliant leadership and friendship. I couldn’t be more energized about FMNA’s future and I’m proud to pass the baton to two of my favorite powerhouses, Jennifer Mullin and Craig Cegielski.”

     

    Frot-Coutaz added, ”Thom has made great strides for the US business. His extensive expertise, creativity, enthusiasm and innovative approach have opened new roads for the company, while building on its foundation. Jennifer and Craig are perfect successors to Thom. They are passionate, driven experts who will lead the business through the next exciting phase and continue to grow the accomplishments Thom made during his tenure. I can’t thank Thom enough for all that he has done for the company and I’m delighted to welcome Jennifer and Craig as they transition to lead the business.”

     

    Mullin said, ”It’s been wonderful to see FMNA grow and innovate over the past 10 years. I’m so proud of our team, what’s been achieved and what’s ahead. Thom has been a terrific fearless leader and incredibly supportive for the past three years. I thank Cecile for this opportunity and her commitment to drive excellence for the business globally. I feel honored to take the reins at FMNA and partner with the brilliant Craig Cegielski. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

     

    Cegielski said, ”I joined FremantleMedia to lead the scripted business in bold and dynamic programming, defining FMNA’s voice in the community. Over the past two years we’ve launched one series on air and sold over a dozen projects into development, while partnering with some of the greatest talent in the industry. I couldn’t thank Thom enough for his enthusiasm and support; and to Cecile for her ongoing commitment to our ambitions. I have a huge amount of respect for the incredibly talented Jennifer Mullin and I’m looking forward to us taking this company to new heights together.”

  • FremantleMedia inks JV with Shanghai Media Group

    FremantleMedia inks JV with Shanghai Media Group

     

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has inked an exclusive joint venture deal with Shanghai Media Group’s (SMG) BesTV and China Media Capital (CMC). Under the JV, the companies will create and develop entertainment formats for the China market, set to reach millions of viewers on Dragon TV and BesTV platforms, and take proprietary China content to the world market through FremantleMedia’s global distribution network.

     

    Based in Shanghai, the bespoke development team will include international experts and local producers and will draw on FremantleMedia’s creative strength to develop original entertainment IP. Outside of mainland China, FremantleMedia International will represent the newly-created IP through its worldwide distribution network. 

     

    FremantleMedia global CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz said, “The Chinese television market is rapidly becoming one of the most important in the world. This new relationship with BesTV, SMG and CMC allows FremantleMedia to build on its existing presence in China and strengthen our ties in this territory. It brings with it the opportunity for FremantleMedia to showcase its world-renowned creativity to millions of new viewers, with content that is made specifically for them.”

     

    CMC founding chairman Ruigang Li added, “China’s TV sector is undergoing the most exciting transformation, and the value of premium content is being created and manifested with unprecedented enthusiasm. CMC is delighted to team up with SMG and FremantleMedia, a global leader in entertainment content, to bring together the profound understanding of the market, the established creative capacity and the strength of a global network to further shape the China TV landscape and take more of China’s original content to the world market.”

     

    SMG president Madame Wang Jianjun said, “We envision BesTV to be a new media conglomerate after the restructuring and China’s foremost OTT service provider. It will build a new media eco-system in which BesTV straddles over content production, distribution channels, and products and services. As format and idea development is a key part in content production, the joint venture will undoubtedly bring the best resources from all the companies together and gives a strong boost to BesTV. The collaboration will give SMG the wonderful opportunity to learn how to create good ideas and how to grow these ideas into formats and productions. It will greatly enhance SMG’s production capacity and help SMG make phenomenal variety shows in the future.”

     

    FremantleMedia Asia Pacific CEO Ian Hogg added, “This is a ground breaking deal, not only for Best TV, SMG, CMC, and FremantleMedia, but for Chinese audiences. The opportunity to create and execute story telling that focuses on Chinese values and tastes blended with western structure and creativity is a very powerful combination.”

     

    FremantleMedia has already forged strong relationships with a number of China’s broadcasters and has licensed around 20 titles, including Got Talent, Idols, The X Factor, Don’t Stop Me Now, Take Me Out Hole in the Wall and Family Feud.

  • Guinness World Records announces ‘Got Talent’ as ‘The world’s most successful reality TV format’

    Guinness World Records announces ‘Got Talent’ as ‘The world’s most successful reality TV format’

    MUMBAI: Got Talentis through to the record books having been commissioned in an impressive 58 territories worldwide. The entertainment show now holds the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Most Successful Reality TV Format worldwide. Continuing to create a globalbuzz,Got Talent, co-owned by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment, has continued to outperform itself by nowmaking history.

    An international ratings phenomenon, Got Talent is leaps and bounds ahead of other reality titles having been adapted in the highest number of territories worldwide. Captivating audiences around the world, the show hasversions across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle-East, Africa and the Americas. Most recently,the format has launched in Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan 1), Brazil (Rede Record), Moldova (Channel Prime TV) and Iceland (Channel 2). In total, 59 versionsof Got Talentare broadcast in 58 countries (with two versions in Belgium*).

    Simon Cowell said, “I am very proud that Got Talent is a home grown British show. We owe its success to a group of very talented producers all over the world who have made this happen. And of course amazing talent.”

    Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia said: “We are immensely proud of the ever successfulGot Talent and are delighted to add aprestigious GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titleto its list of achievements. Got Talenthas becomea global phenomenonthat has transcended cultures and excited audiences from all corners of the globe. We look forward to working withSycoEntertainment in continuing to make this brand an absolute triumph.”
    Alistair Richards, President of Guinness World Records, said, “We are delighted to confirm that Got Talent has broken the previous world record and is now the official Guinness World Record holder for the Most successful reality television format, a landmark moment in television record breaking history, congratulations!”

    Got Talenthas seen a spectacular array of talent from the across the world, the range of acts includeSusan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent,who has gone on to sell over 20 million records worldwide; singer Jackie Evancho from America’s Got Talent;nine-year-old singer Amira Willighagen forHolland’s Got Talent, who’s winning performance of Puccini’s ‘NessunDorma’ and received more than 50% of the television viewers’ votes; SIMA, a Syrian dancing troupe for Arabs Got Talent;circus artist,Simon HeulleforGot Talent France;TetianaGalitsyna, an artist who used painting with sand to tell a story for Poland’s Got Talent; the dazzling dancers, Carolina and Felipe Llanos Almonacid for Got Talent Chile; and joint winners Alexander Magali an acrobatic sword swallower and Nikita Izmailov, a contact juggler, crystal ball dancer and illusionistfor Russia’s Got Talent.Britain’s Got Talent’s first winner, singing sensation Paul Potts, initial audition has had over 121 million views on YouTube and his story was made into a major motion picture, One Chance, by Syco Entertainment and The Weinstein Company, starring James Corden as Potts.  

    Britain’s Got Talent, the UK’s number one entertainment show of the last decade, has notched up eight hit seasons, while America’s Got Talent, the longest running local version of the format,is in its ninth season, with the last series attracting peak audiences of more than 11 million viewers, the series has maintained the position of the #1 summer reality show in the US for eight years.

    Please find images of Got Talent winners from around the world in the below link:https://fmebrandmanagement.box.com/s/3na0x80maqwjvyk594q7

    Please visit the global Got Talent YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/gottalentglobal

     

  • FremantleMedia increases global production footprint with a new spanish office

    FremantleMedia increases global production footprint with a new spanish office

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia, one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world, is continuing to grow its global production business by opening a new Spanish office in Madrid and appointing Nathalie Garcia as Chief Executive Officer. Reporting directly to FremantleMedia’s Chief Executive Officer, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Garcia will be charged with the strategic vision and overall management of the business, as well as developing and producing programming for broadcasters in the market.

    FremantleMedia’s Chief Executive Officer, Cecile Frot-Coutaz says: “Having a presence in Spain is an important step in FremantleMedia’s growth strategy for southern Europe.  Nathalie’s impressive track record in understanding the Iberian television market and her expertise working with key broadcasters to develop successful originations and local format productions will be invaluable in helping us to gain a foothold in this market, as we seek to broaden our global presence further.”

    Nathalie Garcia says: “FremantleMedia has a worldwide reputation as a high quality television producer with an international network of production offices that feed and supply one another. I’m very much looking forward to working with such a global business, helping to build FremantleMedia Espa?a’s operation. I can’t wait to work with local broadcasters on FremantleMedia’s impressive catalogue of brands like Family Feud, Got Talent, The X Factor, Idols and The Price is Right in order to build a 360 degree business that encompasses television and digital.”

    Garcia joins FremantleMedia from Plural Entertainment where she was CEO for Spain and Portugal. She is credited with restructuring the business to bring it more in line with market conditions, securing long-term production commitments like Hermano Mayor (Spanish adaptation of french format Le Grand Fr?re) and boosting the novelas production with both original developments and adaptations of formats such as Belmonte (based on Telemundo´s Herederos del Monte).

    Before Plural, Garcia was CEO of Notro TV, part of the Vertice 360 Group. Within two years, the company was positioned as one of the main players in Spain, developing local productions including Doctor Mateo  – a highly successful local version of the UK series, Doc Martin. As SVP Distribution and Production for Sony Pictures Television International, Garcia opened Sony´s office in the territory, leading the company for 10 years, and launched the production business, getting two series commissioned, including Spain’s first local drama in HD, based up on the Argentinian format Los Simuladores. She began her television career with Telemadrid, negotiating film buying from large multinational companies.

    Garcia joins FremantleMedia in March.

  • Fremantlemedia looks to put a twist on romance

    Fremantlemedia looks to put a twist on romance

    MUMBAI: Television format owner and creator Fremantle Media North America (FMNA), which produces American Idol for Fox, America’s Got Talent for NBC and The Price Is Right for CBS, has inked a one-year, first-look deal with best-selling novelist, Jackie Collins.

    As part of the deal, Collins will work with FMNA’s scripted division to create new romantic television dramas based on both original ideas and existing novels.

    FMNA CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, “This partnership is the perfect creative marriage. We are excited to work with a literary legend whose ingenious ideas match our expertise in developing and producing original programming.”

    Collins says, “I am delighted to be in business with Fremantle. They are a forward-thinking, extremely productive and innovative company with a great creative spirit and a fine team to back everything up.”

    In addition to this new deal, Collins will also release her 25th book entitled Drop Dead Beautiful: The Continuing Adventures of Lucky Santangelo. This is the fifth book in the Santangelo series, which will be published by St. Martin’s Press in July. Lucky/Chances, starring Nicollette Sheridan, and Lady Boss, starring Kim Delaney, were turned into two very successful, highly-rated miniseries for NBC, both written and executive produced by Collins herself.

    Collins started writing as a teenager, creating steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book, The World is Full of Married Men became a sensational best-seller with its open sexuality and honest depiction of the gender double standard. Eight best-selling novels later, Collins wrote the international sensation Hollywood Wives,which later became one of ABC’s highest-rated miniseries, produced by Aaron Spelling and starring Anthony Hopkins and Candice Bergen.

  • Lifetime orders telenovella ‘Bianca’ from FremantleMedia

    Lifetime orders telenovella ‘Bianca’ from FremantleMedia

    MUMBAI: US women’s broadcaster Lifetime has ordered 20 episodes of Bianca. This is a weekly primetime novela based on the German television series of the same name. It was created and produced by FremantleMedia’s Grundy UFA

    The series will be produced on location in Australia and comes from FremantleMedia North America, the producers American Idol. Bianca explores forbidden love between a woman searching for a new life after being unfairly imprisoned and a wealthy man trapped into an impending loveless marriage.

    Lifetime Entertainment Services president, entertainment Susanne Daniels says, “Bianca is an exciting series for us — it’s a sexy, flirty, fun modern soap filled with deception, murder, secrets and betrayal — and is an ideal format for our audience” .

    FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz said, “This is a ground-breaking deal for FremantleMedia North America as it will be the first time that we will be producing a scripted series in the US. Internationally, however, we have a long tradition of producing popular serial drama and have recently been very successful at introducing the telenovela concept to Europe. We look forward to working with Lifetime to bring the story of Bianca to US audiences this fall.”

  • ABC puts viewers through ‘The Con Test’

    ABC puts viewers through ‘The Con Test’

    MUMBAI: The UK game show The Con Test is coming to the US in a production deal between FremantleMedia North America and ABC.
    The Con Test is a game show where one person could walk away with over one million dollars without ever having to answer a single question right.

    The Con Test is a game for those who have the wit, nerves and guile to bluff their way to an exorbitant amount of cash. Dont understand the questions? Fake it. Dont know the answers? Lie. All that matters is that the opponent thinks you do.
    Each episode wil be in a question-and-answer format, with the contestants unaware of how they are faring against their opponents. This allows those who are trailing to advantageously bluff their way to victory.

    ABC says that the show is a unique and fresh game show concept and sees this series as a fun outlet for viewers who want to sit back, be entertained and scream at the TV set as if the contestants can hear them.

    FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, “We’ve seen tremendous success with a variety of game shows that have come over from the UK to America. We believe that The Con Test has all the elements of a hit and are extremely enthusiastic about introducing it to the US audience.”