Tag: FMI

  • FremantleMedia International names Caroline Kusser as SVP

    FremantleMedia International names Caroline Kusser as SVP

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) has named Caroline Kusser as SVP – sales and distribution of its US arm.

     

    The newly created position will be based in LA and report to the SEVP of television & digital distribution for North America, Lisa Honig.

     

    Kusser will be tasked with further building FMI’s reputation in the region and maximizing opportunities for its 22,000 hours’ worth of content across linear, digital and home entertainment platforms in the highly competitive US market.

     

    Honig said, “Caroline’s vast experience, pivotal drama distribution knowledge and exceptional relationships in the US will play an important part in FMI’s US expansion strategy and push into high-end drama. With teams in both New York and LA, a well-established history of sales across multiple genres and long-standing client relationships, we’re in a good position to take our business up to the next level and Caroline’s understanding of this key market will help us to achieve further success.”

     

    Kusser added, “It’s a really exciting time for FMI. I’m looking forward to joining its US team and helping to further enhance its reputation across the region.”

     

    Previous to joining FMI, Kusser set up Carokusser, a TV content distribution service whose clients included ZDF Enterprises. Kusser was also part of the Red Arrow International team for ten years and in 2011 was relocated to LA as the SVP of North America where she was responsible for establishing and building the group’s US business. Prior to Red Arrow International, Kusser held roles at Bavaria Media Television, peppermint and Beta Film.

  • FremantleMedia strikes multiple deals for ‘Simply Nigella’

    FremantleMedia strikes multiple deals for ‘Simply Nigella’

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International has closed deals for a new cooking show Simply Nigella and Nigella’s Christmas Special. Four major networks consisting of Prime (New Zealand), Foxtel (Australia), TV2 (Norway) and Discovery Networks (Asia-Pacific) have acquired the series, which stars internationally renowned food writer and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson. 

     

    FMI, EMEA and Asia Pacific, non scripted (UK) director Angela Neillis said, “We’re incredibly excited that Simply Nigella has had this much impact with buyers. The deals reflect the high quality of this feel-good series and Nigella’s enduring ability to resonate with audiences worldwide.”

     

    Produced by BBC Productions, Simply Nigella will see the cook create a handful of dishes per episode and showcase her talents in the kitchen. Lawson shares the story behind each meal and focuses on specific ingredients revealing what makes them her favourites as well as divulging her culinary tips to ensure cooking is as stress free as possible. She also ventures beyond the kitchen visiting local suppliers and independent food stores to source fresh quality produce to include in her recipes.

     

    In addition to the acquisition of Simply Nigella and Nigella’s Christmas Special, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has also picked up a comprehensive mix of lifestyle and entertainment content including Jamie’s Super Food, which sees the globally renowned chef revolutionise how we think about nutrition, popular series Project Runway S14 (16 x 60), Project Runway All Stars S5 (13 x 60), which sees the best contestants return to compete once again and Project Runway Junior S2 (10 x 60) showcasing America’s most talented young fashion designers aged 14-17 years.

  • FMI closes 1,200 hours programming sales deal in Asia

    FMI closes 1,200 hours programming sales deal in Asia

    MUMBAI: In the last two months, Fremantle Media International (FMI) has closed more than 1,200 hours of programming sales in Asia. On the first day of the Asia TV Forum, the company announced that the deals include many titles from its recently launched Mipcom slate as well as the first ever sale of an Australian drama to a free-to-air channel in the Philippines.

     

    The competitive reality docu-series, The Fashion Fund featuring Anna Wintour, has been sold to two broadcasters in Thailand: free-to-air channel Workpoint TV and pay TV operator TrueVisions. TrueVisions has also acquired the new Hulu original series Behind the Mask, the one-off feature documentary I Am Steve McQueen and the eye-opening factual special, Asteroids: Doomsday or Payday?

     

    Solar Entertainment in the Philippines has bought series one to three of Winners and Losers, making it the first ever free-to-air Philippine network to broadcast an Australian drama. It has also acquired The Fashion Fund, David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal) medical drama Monday Mornings and Web Therapy series three starring Lisa Kudrow.

     

    The Asia team has made light work of racking up deals across Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and The Philippines, packaging some 580 hours alone for Mediacorp’s on-demand platform Toggle.sg. Leading shows across all genres, from entertainment and lifestyle to drama and kids, have also been snapped up by a variety of free-to-air, pay TV and cable channels.

     

    Looks like it is a good time for the Asian market.