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Tag: FremantleMedia International

  • Wentworth: Fremantlemedia International, Sky Deutschland tie up

    Wentworth: Fremantlemedia International, Sky Deutschland tie up

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) has announced it had secured a deal with German-speaking PayTV platform, Sky Deutschland, for the award-winning and critically-acclaimed prison drama, Wentworth.

    The deal, which covers all five seasons of the dynamic Australian series, will mark the first time Wentworth will be available to German-speaking viewers. Season 1 will premiere on Sky Deutschland’s recently-launched flagship channel Sky 1 on 7 December.

    Set in the present day, Wentworth is a modern adaptation of the classic prisoner series, Prisoner Cellblock H. Filled with divided loyalties, the series takes viewers inside the uncompromising environment of a female prison and delivers a world with unexpected twists and turns and where no character is safe. The high-stakes action-packed storylines and cast of legendary characters has won it international acclaim and industry awards including four Astras; three logies and an Australian Writers Guild Award.

    FremantleMedia International’s SVP of German-speaking Europe, CEE, Israel, Russia & CIS Maximilian Bolenius said, “Wentworth is a brilliantly-made, suspenseful and explosive drama filled with twists and turns every step of the way. It’s combination of strong female cast, universal themes and strong scripts make it must-see viewing. I’m really excited that Sky Deutschland viewers will get to meet Bea and the rest of the inmates of Wentworth Prison, and I have no doubt that they’ll be as captivated by their stories as the rest of the world has been.”

    Sky Deutschland entertainment channels VP Christian Asanger added: “The thrilling drama series Wentworth is the very successful remake of the series, Prisoner Cell Block H. Since its launch in 2013, Wentworth has won the Australian ASTRA Award for best drama series in two consecutive years – a perfect reason for us to pick this gripping show and launch it as German TV Premiere on Sky 1.”

    The show has been sold in over 140 countries worldwide with three local adaptations, the most recent of which is a Flemish-language version commissioned by the commercial Belgian broadcaster Vier.

    The show consistently proves to be a ratings success: its first episode became the most-watched Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history, while Season 4 achieved an average audience share of 5.3 per cent, making it the highest-rated programme on SoHo in 2016 so far. Wentworth’s fifth season was commissioned by Foxtel on 19 July 2016.

  • Wentworth: Fremantlemedia International, Sky Deutschland tie up

    Wentworth: Fremantlemedia International, Sky Deutschland tie up

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) has announced it had secured a deal with German-speaking PayTV platform, Sky Deutschland, for the award-winning and critically-acclaimed prison drama, Wentworth.

    The deal, which covers all five seasons of the dynamic Australian series, will mark the first time Wentworth will be available to German-speaking viewers. Season 1 will premiere on Sky Deutschland’s recently-launched flagship channel Sky 1 on 7 December.

    Set in the present day, Wentworth is a modern adaptation of the classic prisoner series, Prisoner Cellblock H. Filled with divided loyalties, the series takes viewers inside the uncompromising environment of a female prison and delivers a world with unexpected twists and turns and where no character is safe. The high-stakes action-packed storylines and cast of legendary characters has won it international acclaim and industry awards including four Astras; three logies and an Australian Writers Guild Award.

    FremantleMedia International’s SVP of German-speaking Europe, CEE, Israel, Russia & CIS Maximilian Bolenius said, “Wentworth is a brilliantly-made, suspenseful and explosive drama filled with twists and turns every step of the way. It’s combination of strong female cast, universal themes and strong scripts make it must-see viewing. I’m really excited that Sky Deutschland viewers will get to meet Bea and the rest of the inmates of Wentworth Prison, and I have no doubt that they’ll be as captivated by their stories as the rest of the world has been.”

    Sky Deutschland entertainment channels VP Christian Asanger added: “The thrilling drama series Wentworth is the very successful remake of the series, Prisoner Cell Block H. Since its launch in 2013, Wentworth has won the Australian ASTRA Award for best drama series in two consecutive years – a perfect reason for us to pick this gripping show and launch it as German TV Premiere on Sky 1.”

    The show has been sold in over 140 countries worldwide with three local adaptations, the most recent of which is a Flemish-language version commissioned by the commercial Belgian broadcaster Vier.

    The show consistently proves to be a ratings success: its first episode became the most-watched Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history, while Season 4 achieved an average audience share of 5.3 per cent, making it the highest-rated programme on SoHo in 2016 so far. Wentworth’s fifth season was commissioned by Foxtel on 19 July 2016.

  • Amazon, UFA Fiction tie up to premiere Deutschland83 on Prime in ’18

    Amazon, UFA Fiction tie up to premiere Deutschland83 on Prime in ’18

    MUMBAI: Amazon and UFA Fiction announced that the sequel to the nationally and internationally award-winning series Deutschland83 will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in Germany in 2018.

    In addition, all episodes of Deutschland83 are now available for streaming for Prime members in Germany and Austria.

    Created by Anna Winger (Head Writer) and Jörg Winger, and executive produced by Jörg Winger, Sebastian Werninger, and Ulrike Leibfried, the shooting of Deutschland86 will commence in 2017.

    Under the terms of the agreement, RTL Television, which commissioned Deutschland83 in 2014 and aired the first season in autumn 2015, has secured a first-look option for the linear TV rights and expects to air the sequel on German free-to-air television in 2018/2019 after Amazon’s first window.

    FremantleMedia International, the global distribution arm of FremantleMedia, will continue to sell the high-end drama series to broadcasters and streaming services around the world. Season two of the German thriller, will debut in the US on SundanceTV, who will continue as co-production partners in the US, followed by Hulu (US), Channel 4 and Walter Presents (UK), Sundance Channel (Canada), Crave (Canada), Super Ecran (French-speaking Canada), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), RUV (Iceland), CMore (Scandinavia), RTE (Eire), Canal+ (France), Movistar+ (Spain), Sky Italia (Italy), Paramount (Italy), OTE (Greece), Telenet (Belgium), RTL Klub (Hungary), HRT (Croatia), Hotvision (Israel), Sinema TV (Turkey), with more deals to be announced.

    FremantleMedia International sold the first season, Deutschland83, to 38 broadcasters and SVOD platforms globally, which took the series to over 110 territories worldwide. The series was the first ever German-language drama to have aired on a major US cable channel (SundanceTV) and became the UK’s highest ever rated foreign-language drama launch when it debuted on Channel 4.

    UFA co-CEO Nico Hofmann says, “With this latest collaboration between Amazon, RTL Television, FremantleMedia International and UFA, a long-awaited wish comes true. This latest deal is a milestone in co-production history. It will be resetting standards for the upcoming years.”

    FremantleMedia International CEO Jens Richter says, “Deutschland83 achieved tremendous ratings worldwide and together with our fantastic group of partners we were able to help turn the series into the most successful German drama of our time. The storyline for season two looks to be as thrilling as the first and we’re looking forward to working with Amazon and our distribution partners to accomplish further success.”

    Amazon Prime Video Germany managing director Dr. Christoph Schneider says, “After the Amazon Original You Are Wanted with Matthias Schweighöfer and Michael Bully Herbig’s Bullyparade – Der Film, Deutschland86 is the latest German-made production that will be available exclusively on Prime Video. German series and movies are very important for our Prime members and we are happy to continue to build on our engagement with German production industry and bring great new shows to our customers.”

    RTL Television programming managing director Frank Hoffmann says, “Practically no other German drama series has attracted so much attention or generated so much buzz over the past few years, especially on the international markets. As the rights holder and broadcaster of Deutschland83, it has been our clear goal to ensure that this exceptional UFA Fiction and FremantleMedia International series could continue – and this has now been achieved with a new partner. It goes without saying that we are looking forward to broadcast Deutschland86 free-to-air on RTL Television.”

    The ground-breaking agreement with Amazon Prime also demonstrates the growing success of FremantleMedia’s push into high-end scripted content. In August, Amazon and FremantleMedia International announced that the fantasy drama American Gods will launch exclusively for Prime members in Germany, Austria, UK and Japan in 2017. In September, much acclaimed
    The Young Pope – produced by FremantleMedia’s Wildside for Sky, HBO and Canal Plus – celebrated its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. At this year’s MIPCOM, the world’s entertainment content market, UFA Fiction will show the two high end drama-series The Same Sky (Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel; Screenwriter: Paula Milne), which joins the line-up of world premiere TV Screenings, and Charité (Director: Sönke Wortmann) which deals with the history of the world famous Berlin hospital.

    Created by Anna Winger and Jörg Winger, Deutschland86 returns three years later and picks up the story of East German Agent Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) and his compatriots in the Stasi Foreign Intelligence in 1986. Martin has been banished to Africa until Aunt Lenora recruits him to fight for the last gasp of Communism abroad. Set against the backdrop of real events during the last “Summer of Anxiety,” when terrorism raged across Western Europe, Martin’s dark mission takes him to Johannesburg, Tripoli, Paris, West Berlin and finally back to East Berlin, where he is forced to face new realities at home – and to make an impossible decision.

    Deutschland83 was awarded many national and international awards, among them a Grimme Preis, a Goldene Kamera, a Peabody and a Satellite Award. For his role as Martin Rauch, Jonas Nay won a Golden Nymph award at the Festival de Télévision in Monte Carlo, and the German Television Award. Deutschland83 is also nominated for the International Emmy Awards 2016 in the category “Drama Series”. Deutschland86 is a production of UFA Fiction in cooperation with Amazon,FremantleMedia International and UFA Distribution.

  • Amazon, UFA Fiction tie up to premiere Deutschland83 on Prime in ’18

    Amazon, UFA Fiction tie up to premiere Deutschland83 on Prime in ’18

    MUMBAI: Amazon and UFA Fiction announced that the sequel to the nationally and internationally award-winning series Deutschland83 will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in Germany in 2018.

    In addition, all episodes of Deutschland83 are now available for streaming for Prime members in Germany and Austria.

    Created by Anna Winger (Head Writer) and Jörg Winger, and executive produced by Jörg Winger, Sebastian Werninger, and Ulrike Leibfried, the shooting of Deutschland86 will commence in 2017.

    Under the terms of the agreement, RTL Television, which commissioned Deutschland83 in 2014 and aired the first season in autumn 2015, has secured a first-look option for the linear TV rights and expects to air the sequel on German free-to-air television in 2018/2019 after Amazon’s first window.

    FremantleMedia International, the global distribution arm of FremantleMedia, will continue to sell the high-end drama series to broadcasters and streaming services around the world. Season two of the German thriller, will debut in the US on SundanceTV, who will continue as co-production partners in the US, followed by Hulu (US), Channel 4 and Walter Presents (UK), Sundance Channel (Canada), Crave (Canada), Super Ecran (French-speaking Canada), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), RUV (Iceland), CMore (Scandinavia), RTE (Eire), Canal+ (France), Movistar+ (Spain), Sky Italia (Italy), Paramount (Italy), OTE (Greece), Telenet (Belgium), RTL Klub (Hungary), HRT (Croatia), Hotvision (Israel), Sinema TV (Turkey), with more deals to be announced.

    FremantleMedia International sold the first season, Deutschland83, to 38 broadcasters and SVOD platforms globally, which took the series to over 110 territories worldwide. The series was the first ever German-language drama to have aired on a major US cable channel (SundanceTV) and became the UK’s highest ever rated foreign-language drama launch when it debuted on Channel 4.

    UFA co-CEO Nico Hofmann says, “With this latest collaboration between Amazon, RTL Television, FremantleMedia International and UFA, a long-awaited wish comes true. This latest deal is a milestone in co-production history. It will be resetting standards for the upcoming years.”

    FremantleMedia International CEO Jens Richter says, “Deutschland83 achieved tremendous ratings worldwide and together with our fantastic group of partners we were able to help turn the series into the most successful German drama of our time. The storyline for season two looks to be as thrilling as the first and we’re looking forward to working with Amazon and our distribution partners to accomplish further success.”

    Amazon Prime Video Germany managing director Dr. Christoph Schneider says, “After the Amazon Original You Are Wanted with Matthias Schweighöfer and Michael Bully Herbig’s Bullyparade – Der Film, Deutschland86 is the latest German-made production that will be available exclusively on Prime Video. German series and movies are very important for our Prime members and we are happy to continue to build on our engagement with German production industry and bring great new shows to our customers.”

    RTL Television programming managing director Frank Hoffmann says, “Practically no other German drama series has attracted so much attention or generated so much buzz over the past few years, especially on the international markets. As the rights holder and broadcaster of Deutschland83, it has been our clear goal to ensure that this exceptional UFA Fiction and FremantleMedia International series could continue – and this has now been achieved with a new partner. It goes without saying that we are looking forward to broadcast Deutschland86 free-to-air on RTL Television.”

    The ground-breaking agreement with Amazon Prime also demonstrates the growing success of FremantleMedia’s push into high-end scripted content. In August, Amazon and FremantleMedia International announced that the fantasy drama American Gods will launch exclusively for Prime members in Germany, Austria, UK and Japan in 2017. In September, much acclaimed
    The Young Pope – produced by FremantleMedia’s Wildside for Sky, HBO and Canal Plus – celebrated its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. At this year’s MIPCOM, the world’s entertainment content market, UFA Fiction will show the two high end drama-series The Same Sky (Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel; Screenwriter: Paula Milne), which joins the line-up of world premiere TV Screenings, and Charité (Director: Sönke Wortmann) which deals with the history of the world famous Berlin hospital.

    Created by Anna Winger and Jörg Winger, Deutschland86 returns three years later and picks up the story of East German Agent Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) and his compatriots in the Stasi Foreign Intelligence in 1986. Martin has been banished to Africa until Aunt Lenora recruits him to fight for the last gasp of Communism abroad. Set against the backdrop of real events during the last “Summer of Anxiety,” when terrorism raged across Western Europe, Martin’s dark mission takes him to Johannesburg, Tripoli, Paris, West Berlin and finally back to East Berlin, where he is forced to face new realities at home – and to make an impossible decision.

    Deutschland83 was awarded many national and international awards, among them a Grimme Preis, a Goldene Kamera, a Peabody and a Satellite Award. For his role as Martin Rauch, Jonas Nay won a Golden Nymph award at the Festival de Télévision in Monte Carlo, and the German Television Award. Deutschland83 is also nominated for the International Emmy Awards 2016 in the category “Drama Series”. Deutschland86 is a production of UFA Fiction in cooperation with Amazon,FremantleMedia International and UFA Distribution.

  • FremantleMedia International wins top BBC slot with Serena

    FremantleMedia International wins top BBC slot with Serena

    MUMBAI: Launching on BBC2 on Sunday 3 July at 10:30pm, Serena reaches beyond the sports world to provide an unfiltered glimpse into the life of one of the greatest sports icons of this generation during her historic 2015 – 2016 season.

    Produced by Film45, the 1 x 120 documentary is executively produced by the award-winning Peter Berg (Lone Survivor,Friday Night Lights), directed by Ryan White (Good Ol’ Freda, Case Against 8) and distributed globally by FremantleMedia International.

    Jamie Lynn, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales and Distribution, EMEA, FremantleMedia International said, “With Wimbledon in full swing, Serena offers the BBC2 viewers and tennis fans a never-before-seen look into the life of one of the greatest athletes of our time. The documentary perfectly captures Serena’s strength and dedication for the sport, as well as an intimate look into the uncompromising pressures that come with being the best.”

  • FremantleMedia International wins top BBC slot with Serena

    FremantleMedia International wins top BBC slot with Serena

    MUMBAI: Launching on BBC2 on Sunday 3 July at 10:30pm, Serena reaches beyond the sports world to provide an unfiltered glimpse into the life of one of the greatest sports icons of this generation during her historic 2015 – 2016 season.

    Produced by Film45, the 1 x 120 documentary is executively produced by the award-winning Peter Berg (Lone Survivor,Friday Night Lights), directed by Ryan White (Good Ol’ Freda, Case Against 8) and distributed globally by FremantleMedia International.

    Jamie Lynn, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales and Distribution, EMEA, FremantleMedia International said, “With Wimbledon in full swing, Serena offers the BBC2 viewers and tennis fans a never-before-seen look into the life of one of the greatest athletes of our time. The documentary perfectly captures Serena’s strength and dedication for the sport, as well as an intimate look into the uncompromising pressures that come with being the best.”

  • FreemantleMedia ups Georgia Brown as EVP – global scripted & factual content

    FreemantleMedia ups Georgia Brown as EVP – global scripted & factual content

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has promoted Georgia Brown to the role of executive vice president – global scripted and factual content.

     

    Brown joined FremantleMedia International’s (FMI) global division last year as senior vice president of scripted.

     

    In her new role, Brown will oversee acquisitions for FMI and will provide a pivotal link between FMI and its in-house production teams. The role has been created as the company seeks to further drive its content acquisition strategy and generate strong commercial returns on its in-house scripted output.

     

    Brown will have dual reporting lines, working to both FremantleMedia Group COO & CEO of emerging markets Sangeeta Desai and FMI CEO Jens Richter in order to manage the commercial aspects of its scripted activity on behalf of FremantleMedia Group and third party content acquisition across scripted and non-scripted respectively.

     

    Working with Richter, Brown will oversee the existing teams on the acquisition of third party content for FMI to distribute, building and complementing FremantleMedia’s existing catalogue. She will work with FremantleMedia’s in-house producers on all co-production and co-financing arrangements in order to maximise returns on behalf of the overall FremantleMedia Group.

     

    Brown will also work with the M&A team to identify potential future acquisitions or creative partnerships, and will be involved in the integration of these companies post acquisition.

     

    Richter said, “Georgia’s talent and passion for content together with her fantastic relationships with the best writing and production talent in the industry makes her the perfect person to lead our acquisition and development business with our brilliant teams in the US and the UK.  She’s already secured some great primetime scripted content for FMI since joining FremantleMedia earlier this year and I’m really excited about what the team will deliver in the future.”

     

    Desai added, “As we continue to grow our content pipeline and creative partnerships around the world, Georgia’s industry knowledge and expertise of funding and international co-financing together with her strong track record in deal making will be instrumental.”

     

    Brown said, “It’s such an exciting time to be working at FremantleMedia, as the business continues to grow and diversify at an incredible pace, and I’m thrilled to be working so closely with Sangeeta, Jens and the wider FremantleMedia teams. Our ambition is to make FremantleMedia the first port of call for any creatives wanting to showcase their work to audiences all over the world, and to recognise our talented in-house teams and the very best third party producers by creating tailored commercial deals that generate the best possible returns for their content.”

     

    At Shine International she was SVP of acquisitions overseeing a range of projects. Before Shine, Brown was previously a commercial manager, at BBC Worldwide.

  • GSN & Channel 4’s Walter Presents acquires ‘Deutschland 83’

    GSN & Channel 4’s Walter Presents acquires ‘Deutschland 83’

    MUMBAI: Global Series Network (GSN) and Channel 4 new video streaming brand – Walter Presents, which is slated to launch in January 2016, has acquired the German drama Deutschland 83.

     

    Walter Presents will showcase the world’s best foreign-language drama free-of-charge to UK viewers and will be exclusively available in the UK via Channel 4’s new digital hub, All 4.

     

    To celebrate the launch of the service, Deutschland 83 will premiere on Channel 4 before being available exclusively as a box-set on Walter Presents. A taut, gripping and stylish eight-part German thriller set amidst the menaces of a divided Germany in the early 1980s, Deutschland 83 is one of Germany’s most hotly anticipated dramas of recent years and the first German-language drama ever to air in the US.

     

    Further announcements regarding other acquisitions on the service will be made at MIPCOM.

     

    Capitalising on the growing demand for premium world drama, Walter Presents will eventually host more than 600 hours of drama that will be available for box-set viewing on All 4, and will include the option to download episodes to watch on the go. In addition, a selection of the best series from Walter Presents will also broadcast on Channel 4 and More 4, the latter within a dedicated, regular scheduled slot.

     

    Titles that will be available through Walter Presents in the first year will originate from a wide range of territories, including Brazil, France, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Argentina, Israel, Belgium, Poland, Chile and Denmark among others.

     

    GSN chief creative officer and Walter Presents curator Walter Iuzzolino said, “We live in the golden age of serial drama – with French and Scandi thrillers gripping audiences in their millions. This is the perfect time to introduce UK viewers to a much broader choice of the very best dramas and box sets from around the world, which they never previously knew existed.”

     

    Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt added, “Channel 4 has steadily grown its reputation for bringing the best of world drama to the UK – from The Returned to Saboteurs. The remarkable Deutschland 83 is a perfect launch for Walter presents – which will allow UK audiences to enjoy hand-picked global hits.”

     

    Directed by Edward Berger and Samira Radsi, FremantleMedia International holds the global distribution rights to the series. 

     

    FremantleMedia International EVP and head of sales and distribution Jamie Lynn said, “With its strong characters and bold story lines, the series is an ideal and key series for the Walter Presents launch. We’re thrilled to be working with the teams at GSN and Channel 4 to bring one of the most anticipated series of 2015 to the UK.”

     

    Created by German-American couple Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, the series reveals the experiences of Germans from both sides of the wall during heightened Cold War tensions. The series was the first German-language drama ever to air in the US. 

  • FremantleMedia acquires distribution rights to BBC Two’s ‘Simply Nigella’

    FremantleMedia acquires distribution rights to BBC Two’s ‘Simply Nigella’

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) is set to satisfy the appetites of international audiences with its latest deal with BBC Productions for the global distribution rights (excluding the UK and EIRE) of Simply Nigella (6×30).

     

    Starring the internationally renowned food writer and TV cook Nigella Lawson, Simply Nigella will make its debut to TV buyers at the upcoming MIPCOM and air on the UK’s BBC 2 later this year.

     

    Inspiring and uplifting, Simply Nigella introduces viewers to a new-pared down approach to cooking and eating by demonstrating easy to prepare recipes that are designed to nourish the soul. The series delivers a true sense of balance between lightness and lushness with a mix of tasty everyday meals, crowd pleasing feasts and indulgent sweet treats.

     

    Creating a handful of dishes per episode, Lawson showcases her talents in the kitchen, using each recipe to connect with the audience like never before. She 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. Lawson also ventures beyond the kitchen visiting local suppliers and independent food stores to source fresh quality produce to include within her recipes. From healthy breakfasts and gluten free goodies, to decadent desserts; Simply Nigella promises food that’s not only reassuringly simple but will appeal to every palette and make us feel more alive.

     

    Lawson said, “Making Simply Nigella has been a joy, and it gives me such pleasure to be able to share these new recipes in a fresh and relaxed format with home cooks far and wide.”

     

    FMI director of non scripted, UK, EMEA and Asia Pacific Angela Neillis added, “Simply Nigellas trips away the fuss of cooking to concentrate on the meals that make our lives happier, stress free and even more delicious. FMI is beyond thrilled to be working with the BBC and the gorgeously talented Nigella Lawson on this fresh new show which reveals her at her very best.”

     

    Simply Nigella executive producer Jennifer Fazey said, “As Nigella says herself, Simply Nigella isn’t just about food that will make you feel good as you eat it – but as you cook it too. The real treat however is finding out how some of her new dishes came into being, as we watch Nigella tell us the stories of the eclectic people and places that have inspired her since she was last on our screens. The result is a mouth-watering menu bursting with flavour that will make you feel happy as you cook and eat. Who doesn’t want that at the end of a busy day?!”

     

    Directed by Dominic Cyriax and executively produced by Jennifer Fazey, Simply Nigella will feature six episodes plus a one-hour Christmas special filmed in Kansas. The episode will see Lawson create a broad range of festive dishes and features her guide to stress-free cooking and entertaining over the holidays.

     

    This global distribution deal sees Lawson join FMI’s ever expanding catalogue of culinary stars, which includes Jamie Oliver, Jimmy Doherty, The Hairy Bikers, Lorraine Pascal, Martha Stewart, Anthony Bourdain, Silvia Colloca, Anabel Langbein and Haylie Duff.

  • FremantleMedia International completes momentous multi-year, multi-format deal with MBC Group

    FremantleMedia International completes momentous multi-year, multi-format deal with MBC Group

    MUMBAI – FremantleMedia International has completed a landmark multi-year deal with pan-Arab media conglomerate, MBC Group. The agreement will see the renewal of both the pan-Arab versions of Idol and Got Talent for three more seasons. In addition, MBC Group has taken the pan-Arab format rights to the Syco TV which created the hit entertainment format, The X Factor and the globally renowned fashion competition, Project Runway. These two shows will also be commissioned for three seasons each.

     

    FremantleMedia International SVP Middle East, Africa and South Eastern Europe Anahita Kheder said: “We are immensely proud to be the first company to have completed a deal of this magnitude with MBC Group. Together we have already launched the very successful pan-Arab versions of Arabs Got Talent and Arab Idol; both of which were propelled onto the international press stage. The Middle East region has evolved a great deal in recent years with audiences wanting something a little special, and with the introduction of The X Factor and Project Runway, MBC will deliver just that. We are enormously excited to continue our partnership with MBC to introduce more future audience favorites to its enormous Middle Eastern reach.”

     

    MBC Group TV director Ali Jaber said: “MBC is always keen on delivering premium content coupled with the best TV productions in the MENA region. With the introduction of global formats, such as Idol and Got Talent, amongst others, a couple of years ago, they soon became top-rated TV shows and have created unprecedented engagement with the audiences on multi-platforms.” Jaber added: “It only makes sense that we renew our contracts with FremantleMedia – thus keeping the momentum of these formats at its peak.

     

    We are delighted with this partnership that helps to bring the best TV global practices to our region while allowing our own creative teams to excel, deliver and succeed.”

     

    Arab Idol became immensely popular in 2013 with Mohammed Assaf, a former wedding singer from Gaza, winning the competition in the second season. The MENA region united as Assaf’s finale performance generated viewership over five times higher than the broadcaster average. The Idol format, co-owned by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, has now been produced in 51 territories worldwide.

     
    Arabs Got Talent’s third season made international headlines when Syrian dancing troupe, SIMA, was declared the winner in the competition. The Arabic version of the format became MBC4’s number one show in both 2012 and 2013 consecutively. Co-owned by Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia, the global Got Talent phenomenon officially became the Guinness World Records’ most successful reality TV format worldwide in April this year and has now been commissioned in 65 territories worldwide.

     

    MBC’s remarkable list of programs will be enhanced by the addition of the international singing competition, The X Factor for the very first time. The pan-Arab version will take the format to 51 territories internationally. While the format is owned and created by The Syco Entertainment, it is also co-produced and licensed by FremantleMedia worldwide. Since the launch of The X Factor UK in 2004, the British-born TV show has been watched by more than 360 million people around the world and can be seen in almost every country on earth. The X Factor format has discovered and launched more international break-out artists than any other singing competition show, with more than 160 million record sales by The X Factor artists globally.

     
    The fashion reality series, Project Runway on MBC will also showcase its first pan Arab version. The program gives aspiring fashion designers the chance of a lifetime as they compete through a string of demanding challenges to have their collection shown at a major catwalk show. The winner also gets featured in a leading fashion magazine. The Weinstein Company owned, Project Runway has become the most successful fashion format worldwide having been produced in 23 territories including the US, Australia, Canada, Latin America and the UK.