ITV

Tag: Dom Wheeler

  • FremantleMedia bags multi-media deals for ‘The Apprentice’

    FremantleMedia bags multi-media deals for ‘The Apprentice’

    MUMBAI: You’re Hired! FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) announced a slew of UK multi-media deals for one of the most talked about reality series in the world, The Apprentice. This will see the brand extended across several platforms including wireless, internet and consumer products.

    FLW has secured deals with the BBC, leading mobile phone networks, Halsall and will manage all ancillary rights for The Apprentice worldwide, except the US.

    The second series of The Apprentice launched in the UK on BBC2 yesterday. To coincide with the launch, the BBC commissioned FLW, as part of its public service multi platform trials, to produce a package of exclusive content which will be available via the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo).

    Audiences will be able to log on and catch up with entire episodes online, watch behind-the-scenes interviews with the candidates and producers of the show as well as read a weekly column written by last series’ runner-up, Saira Khan.

    In a separate ground-breaking and one-off experiment, FLW has also secured agreements directly with leading mobile phone networks to provide commercial mobile video clips which fans can access immediately after each episode is broadcast. The content has been edited and encoded for mobile delivery by Mobile Interactive Group, the global multimedia mobile services provider.

    In another deal, FLW has licensed rights to Britain’s biggest privately owned toy and giftware manufacturer and distributor Halsall, to create and produce The Apprentice TV plug and play games. Product is scheduled to hit shelves in July and will be available in all good retailers including Argos, Woolworths and Toys R Us.

    FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide vice president, Licensing, UK Dom Wheeler said, “Whilst content is being made available on the BBC’s multi-media platforms, through this trial with the BBC we can also offer some of the same content to fans on their mobile phones immediately after a show is transmitted. We are really excited about working with the BBC and our partners on such a high-profile brand as The Apprentice and we look forward to offering fans of the show a whole host of ways to interact with their favourite brand 24/7.”

    The BBC is working with FLW, as one of its independent production partners, to include The Apprentice as one of a number of key brands and titles as part of its TV Plus new media trials. The trials aim to explore new ways of engaging audiences with BBC TV programmes to enhance their viewing experience and enable the BBC and its partners to learn about maximising the value in this type of content for the viewer.

    The first series of the UK version of The Apprentice, which aired on BBC2, was a ratings hit, outperforming the channel’s prime time average by over 20%. The final episode achieved an audience of 3.8 million viewers and a 16.6% share, demonstrating a 100% growth since launch and doubling the broadcaster’s prime time average.

    The second series will see Sir Alan Sugar, one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, takes the helm once again and guides 14 candidates as they vie for his approval and the knowledge that they can make it in the world of business. The one candidate who proves their worth and capability will secure a year-long job with one of his companies and a six figure salary.

    FLW is managing all ancillary rights for The Apprentice worldwide (excluding the US). Key categories include gifting (executive stationery, gadgets, electronics), games, publishing and apparel.

    Based on the hit US series of the same name The Apprentice was originally created by Mark Burnett and produced for NBC by Mark Burnett Productions. FremantleMedia, who is representing the format and distribution rights to the brand in most major territories outside of the US, has produced local versions of the show in 12 territories to date, with more deals in the pipeline, according to an official release.

  • FremantleMedia takes the ‘The IT Crowd’ online & mobile

    FremantleMedia takes the ‘The IT Crowd’ online & mobile

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) has partnered with UK’s Channel 4 to provide exclusive content for mobile and online platforms for the new comedy series, The IT Crowd.

    For the first time in Channel 4’s history, UK-based internet users can now watch full-length episodes of The IT Crowd one week before transmission by logging on to http://www.channel4.com/itcrowd.

    Fans will also be able to download clips, outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage to their mobile phones via Channel 4’s mobile portal, which can be accessed simply by texting “Mobile” to 83188. Content has been edited and encoded for both online and mobile delivery by Mobile Interactive Group, the global multimedia mobile services provider.

    FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide UK vice president licensing Dom Wheeler said, “This is a first in the history of Channel 4 and a very important step for taklbackTHAMES and FremantleMedia. New media platforms are an increasingly important way for consumers to interact with our programmes and we look forward to working with Channel 4 on many more of our hit shows in the future.”

    The IT Crowd is the latest highly-anticipated comedy offering from talkbackTHAMES, one of the UK production companies owned by FremantleMedia. Written and directed by Graham Linehan and produced by Ash Atalla, The IT Crowd is about an IT department – Roy (Chris O’Dowd), Jen (Katherine Parkinson) and Moss (Richard Ayoade) – who work in the basement of Reynholm Industries while their beautiful colleagues work upstairs in modern, sophisticated surroundings. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, The IT Crowd is a surreal look at the underclass of a company.

    The IT Crowd premiered with a double bill on Channel 4 last Friday attracting 1.8 million viewers. Fremantle International Distribution, the distribution arm of FremantleMedia, will be distributing The IT Crowd worldwide and will launch the new comedy at MIPTV 2006, where it will feature within an exciting slate of programming.

  • FremantleMedia celebrates 25 years of ‘DangerMouse’

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), is revamping the classic nostalgia kids’ brand, DangerMouse, in preparation for the brand’s 25th anniversary this year. As part of the anniversary celebrations, FLW has developed a new logo and creative, which has resulted in a marked interest in the brand and a raft of new licensing deals.
    FLW has granted rights to TDP Textiles to produce men’s nightwear and underwear and product is scheduled to hit shops in spring 2006. Bravado International has been granted the rights to produce T-shirts and fashion tops for record retailers such as HMV and Virgin and other independents, while Samuel Eden has been licensed rights to produce adult’s and children’s socks which are scheduled to launch at retail in spring 2006.
    In addition, FLW has renewed its agreement with The Big Badge Company to produce DangerMouse pin badges, which will be distributed at retail and through banks and corporate offices to raise money for the charitable brain injury association, Headway, throughout 2006.
    FLW is targeting a core audience of 16 to 34 year olds and is looking to build the brand through women’s apparel, plush, collectables, gifting and gadgets categories including cufflinks, mouse mats, mugs and fridge magnets. FLW is also looking to extend the brand in the fine arts category and is reviewing the use of original cell animation from Brian Cosgrove, the creator of DangerMouse.
    FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide vice president licensing, UK Dom Wheeler said, “DangerMouse was very popular in its heyday and still attracts a huge fan base in the UK as well as internationally in over 80 countries. Its continued licensing success is testament to the strength of the brand and we are delighted to add TDP Textiles, Bravado International and Samuel Eden to our ever growing raft of licensees.”
    DangerMouse ranked as the third most popular kids’ show in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Kids’ TV Shows, which was voted for by the general public and transmitted in August last year.
    It is one of the most popular children’s titles licensed worldwide by FremantleMedia’s Archive Sales division. Fremantle Home Entertainment also licensed the DVD and VHS rights to New Video’s A&E label last year, with the DVD box set of seasons one and two receiving rave reviews and strong sell-through sales of around 30,000 units. Series three and four were released in October.
    DangerMouse, the secret agent mouse, and his trusty, bumbling sidekick, Penfold, first hit TV screens on ITV1 in the UK in 1981. The show ranked number one in its time slot with average audiences of 3.5 million viewers. It outperformed both its slot average and competing children’s programming across all target groups (4-24), achieving on average 90 per cent higher audience share for 4-15-year-olds. DangerMouse has aired in over 80 countries worldwide including Australia, India, Romania, Trinidad and Zambia and is currently on air in the UK on Boomerang.

  • FremantleMedia inks deal with Britannia Games

    FremantleMedia inks deal with Britannia Games

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), the licensing division of FremantleMedia has inked a deal with leading games manufacturer, Britannia Games to create and produce board games and travel games based on two well-known gameshows – Family Fortunes and Play Your Cards Right.

    For both Family Fortunes and Play Your Cards Right, FLW is targeting a family audience and gaming will continue to be the lead category, in particular TV plug and play, hand held and electronic games.

    The Play Your Cards Right game will include oversized cards, more than four times the size of normal playing cards, and a special card stand to capture the look and feel of the show.

    The Family Fortunes game will include a buzzer with light effects, which will also reflect the TV show experience. The games will be available in all major high street retailers from summer 2006 and will be showcased at the upcoming UK Toy Fair in January.

    FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide vice president licensing UK Dom Wheeler said, “Gameshows are back in a big way and there is a marked interest in them worldwide. Britannia has done a great job in translating the TV show experience to these product lines and we are confident that these games will be extremely appealing to existing gameshow fans, as well as introduce the brands to a younger and broader audience. We’re delighted to have such an established and well-known player as Britannia on board and look forward to working with them again in the future.”

    For Family Fortunes, FLW is also looking to extend the brand further through gadgets and gifting.Family Fortunes first aired in the US in 1976 and travelled to the UK in 1980, regularly outperforming its prime time slot. Widely regarded as one of the most perfectly constructed gameshows, the Family Fortunes format, Family Feud, has been newly commissioned in the Netherlands, Belgium and other European territories.

    Play Your Cards Right first launched in the US in 1978 and local versions have been produced in 10 territories worldwide including Germany, Poland and the Philippines.

    Family Fortunes and Play Your Cards Right are both part of FremantleMedia’s extensive classic game show catalogue which also includes TV favourites The Price Is Right, Press Your Luck, Blockbusters, Match Game and Going For Gold. FLW represents all available ancillary rights to these shows worldwide including home entertainment, merchandising, licensing, interactive and publishing rights.

    Earlier this year, FLW licensed rights to Imagination Games to produce an interactive DVD game based on Family Fortunes. The product, which captures all the excitement of the TV show, is distributed by Universal in the UK