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Tag: FremantleMedia

  • FremantleMedia has two new CEOs for its Latin America Offices

    FremantleMedia has two new CEOs for its Latin America Offices

    MUMBAI: There’s change atop at FremantleMedia’s Latin America office. FremantleMedia, one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world, announced the appointment of two new Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for its Spanish and Portuguese-speaking operations in Latin America.

     

    Daniela Busoli has been promoted to CEO FremantleMedia Brazil, based in S?o Paulo, while Adrián Santucho becomes the new CEO of FremantleMedia Mexico, US Hispanic and Pan-Regional Productions, based in Miami.

     

    The new CEOs will directly report to FremantleMedia’s Chief Executive Officer, Cecile Cout-Frotaz and will be responsible for the overall management of the day-to-day operation of their businesses and will drive the strategic vision for operations in their respective markets.

     

    The CEOs will develop and produce programmes for broadcasters in their territories and will work closely with FremantleMedia International’s licensing and sales operations.

     

    On announcing the appointments, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, FremantleMedia’s CEO said in a release: “I am delighted to have Daniela and Adrián leading our operations across Latin America and the Hispanic US. Both are well-respected executives, and their drive and experience will really help FremantleMedia exploit the many opportunities available to us as we look to grow our business in these incredibly vibrant markets.”

     

    Busoli and Santucho joined FremantleMedia from Endemol in Latin America and boast extensive experience in working across well-established formats in the entertainment industry. They will take up their respective posts with immediate effect.

  • Indias Got Talent wins Best Entertainment Programme award

    Indias Got Talent wins Best Entertainment Programme award

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia produced India’s Got Talent won the Best Entertainment award at the 18th Asian TV Awards which was held at Singapore. The show is aired on Colors and is currently gearing up for its fifth series.

     

    FremantleMedia India’s Mission Cover Shot, which airs on National Geographic and gives photographers the chance to showcase their creativity before an esteemed panel of judges, was also awarded Most Commended show in the Best Reality Show category.

     

    FremantleMedia India managing director Anupama Mandloi said, “It’s an enormous honour to receive the two awards at the Asian Television Awards and is a real testimony to the hard work of our talented production teams and partners behind the shows.”

  • Australian series Wentworth set for a German remake

    Australian series Wentworth set for a German remake

    MUMBAI: The Australian prison drama, Wentworth that has won millions of fans will now be adapted into German. The series will be produced by UFA Serial Drama, FremantleMedia’s German production arm UFA and RTL.

     

    FremantleMedia has always been known for hit formats like Idol and The X Factor that has been adapted in several languages. For the current deal, the commission will have 10 episodes of the German version which goes into production in Berlin in March next year.

     

    Based on FremantleMedia’s Australia series, the compelling and emotional Wentworth will follow the same gritty story of survival, rivalry, power struggles and unlikely allegiances within a female prison.

     

    The original series that was launched in Australia earlier this year became the most watched non-sports programme in the Australian subscription television history ever. Even in the UK, the series became the number one primetime Australian drama in the UK since 2002.

     

    Talking about the deal, RTL head of fiction Barbara Thielen said in a press release: “The stories and characters of Wentworth will polarise and initiate discussions among the audience. Many women whose fates we are telling are certainly guilty in a legal sense, but if you can condemn them in a moral sense as well, everyone will judge differently.”

     

    UFA Serial Drama chief creative officer Guido Reinhardt commented: “Wentworth is dynamic, controversial as well as emphatic. In this field of tension we present an uncompromising world, where friendship, trust and loyalty means everything and the question whether law and justice are actually the same is repeatedly raised. The answer to this is more than complex and thus a fascinating subject – packed in a highly emotional series.”

     

    The Australian drama airs on Foxtel Australia and the second season of the show is currently under production in Melbourne. The Australian version has been sold to Africa (MNET), Eire (TV3), Sweden (TV4), Scandinavia (CMORE), New Zealand (TVNZ) and UK (FIVE). It is also available in 15 markets through a pan-Eastern Europe deal with SPI. Additionally, deals for season two have been concluded for UK, Eire, Scandinavia, Sweden and New Zealand.

  • FremantleMedia acquires majority stake in Miso Film

    FremantleMedia acquires majority stake in Miso Film

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has signed a deal to acquire a majority stake in Miso Film, a leading Danish scripted production company. Under the deal – financial terms of which are not disclosed – FremantleMedia will have a 51 per cent holding with the opportunity to acquire the remaining shareholding in the future.

    Founded in 2004 by the producer team Jonas Allen and Peter Bose, Miso Film has established itself as a preeminent Scandinavian production company focused on high end prime-time TV series and films for the Scandinavian and larger European markets.

    FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz commented: “This is an important milestone in building our prime time script business and strengthening our position in the Scandinavian market. Jonas and Peter’s talent and strong track record in producing high end drama, together with their current slate, makes Miso Film a perfect fit for FremantleMedia and complements our existing high end scripted business in the US, Germany and Australia.”

    Miso Film founders Jonas Allen and Peter Bose said: “Partnering with FremantleMedia is an important step forward in Miso Film’s growth strategy. We strongly believe that FremantleMedia will be a key driver in Miso Film’s further expansion in the Scandinavian market and release the full potential of the company’s productions internationally.”

    Miso Film has had incredible success with its prime-time scripted series across Scandinavia, most recently launching Dicte on TV2 Denmark, TV4 Sweden and TV2 Norway to great ratings success, with a second season of the series already in production. In addition, crime thriller Those Who Kill has been picked up by A&E Networks for a US remake. Miso Film is currently producing the epic war drama TV series and film 1864, which is the largest production ever in Denmark with co-production support from some of the largest Scandinavian broadcasters including Denmarks Radio, TV2 Norge and TV4 Sweden.

    On the big screen, Miso Film has produced the feature-length Danish thriller The Candidate; co-produced the Norwegian World War II resistance drama Max Manus – the biggest box-office success ever in Norway with 1.2 million admissions – and the English language feature film Ginger and Rosa. Their latest feature film Danny’s Doomsday is currently in post-production and will be ready for theatrical release in fall 2014.

  • “The challenge in India is to create indigenous formats and retain IP that will allow us to take our shows outside”

    “The challenge in India is to create indigenous formats and retain IP that will allow us to take our shows outside”

    A vibrant and curious professional is what describes FremantleMedia India head of content Anupama Mandloi. Based out of Mumbai, Anupama joined the production house in 2010, which was then led by managing director S.K. Barua, who departed a little later. But since his departure she has been involved in furthering the India strategy, along with commercial and operations head Vidyuth Bhandary, of the subsidiary of German media firm RTL.

    The affable and soft spoken but firm Anupama is best known for her nine-year stint with Sony Entertainment Television where she finally rose to head programming. She followed that up with a stint as the non-fiction head at Star India‘s Star Plus for two years.

    Anupama loves taking the challenge of successfully setting up large entertainment properties and rolling out innovative concepts to television. She is currently creatively helming Indian Idol Junior which is being aired on Sony Entertainment Television. Indiantelevision.com‘s Seema Singh spoke to Anupama to get her insights and perspectives on the road ahead for FremantleMedia.

    Excerpts:

    Since you joined FremantleMedia, what are the changes that have been brought in the content? Elaborate on your experience with Fremantle?

    My experience with FremantleMedia has been an eye opener. The work is truly enriching. The culture is extremely professional and the people are like-minded. We enjoy content. We take pride in what we do.

    In every show, be it another season of an established format or creating indigenous content, the intent is always to push the envelope. We have introduced scripted reality shows in its true form and will be doing a lot more of that going forward.

    What is the vision for FremantleMedia in India? 

    To be the best and to work with the best. We are also looking at creating more innovative and inspiring content. To create indigenous shows that travel worldwide.

    Is non-fiction the only genre you want to cater to or are you looking at expanding into fiction and other genres as well? You seem to have a very good relationship with Sony? Have you been able to extend it to other broadcasters too? And other languages too?

    We are in the business of content creation and this is not specific to any particular genre. We have not yet moved into daily soap production but we have been creating fiction and scripted reality like Savdhan India on Life Ok, Zindagi Ki Haqeeqat Se Aamna Saamna (four seasons) and have a couple more bi-weekly shows in the pipeline.

    We enjoy good relations with all broadcasters. And yes, now that we have consolidated our space in content creation, we will be moving into drama as well but more on this front later.

    Where would you rank FremantleMedia as a production house in India? And where do you see it going in terms of being amongst the top players in India? Do you have any competitors? 

    I would rank it amongst the top players. The day we establish our credentials in the daily fiction space we will be unbeatable with our teams, our international presence and content that we can carry across continents.

    We are looking at it (the south) and while we do have licensed deals with some regional channels like Jaya TV and BIG, we have yet to get into production for regional channels

    How did FremantleMedia fare in 2012? Did recession affect the production house in any way?

    FremantleMedia started its India operation in 2010 with Indian Idol 5 and since then has produced a multitude of shows in various genres. The organisation has grown slowly and steadily and moving forward we have plans to build several verticals while strengthening the core. 2012 was a very good year for us.

    What is FremantleMedia‘s core competence in India? How large is the team? How is it structured? How many shows is Fremantle working on currently? How many hours of production have you achieved across all your shows to date?

    Our core competence is production and content creation. The internal team is lean but we work with freelancers on a project basis. We are particular about the people we work with and we focus on building talent.

    Our belief is that shows are as good as the people who make them. So we focus more on building teams. To date we have created approximately 400 hours of content.

    After six seasons of Indian Idol, what led to Sony choosing Indian Idol Junior? We know it failed in the US but has done well in Latin America? Why then go for it in India?

    Why not? It was the next logical step in the format in India. The talent we have discovered this season is a case in point.

    What are the limiting factors of doing production and the formats business in India? And what are the good points of doing production and the formats business in India? How important is FremantleMedia India in the Asian scheme of things and in the global scheme of things? 

    India is important in all schemes of things, globally or otherwise. Internationally, FremantleMedia, is not seen just as a production house. We are one of the biggest distributors of content worldwide. The formats that we own are adapted, produced and licensed worldwide. Our ability to get content to travel across the world is phenomenal.

    We collaborate with boutique content companies, license content and develop as well as adapt and produce across territories.

    In India, lack of IP while developing and producing indigenous content is a hurdle. It would be great to see shows developed locally being adapted in other countries as well. We would be able to do that with shows that have the potential to travel.

    The day we establish our credentials in the daily fiction space we will be unbeatable with our teams, our international presence and content that we can carry across continents

    Any new show that can be expected this year? Any new format deals on the anvil? 

    Yes. There are several new shows on the anvil as well as collaborations.

    How are you using digital space to promote FremantleMedia production shows? Any apps that have been added to attract audiences? What is the response to these apps? How many downloads? 

    Our formats have merchandising as well as digital extensions. On Indian Idol Junior itself we have launched an app this season that has had approximately 70,000 downloads.

    Sony is extremely receptive and keen to push the digital experience and we work collaboratively on that front. Internationally, the second screen phenomenon is huge and all our digital extensions are geared to fulfill the parallel TV viewing experience across our formats.

    Are you also looking at extending your reach to the South? 

    We are looking at it and while we do have licensed deals with some regional channels like Jaya TV and BIG, we have yet to get into production for regional channels.

    Are you open to licensing a format in your catalogue and having another production house produce the show for a channel? Has that worked? Why and why not? 

    No. That will not happen while we have our production set up in the country. It makes no sense.

    Is the format licensing biz becoming interesting in India? Why and why not? 

    Yes it is. The reason it is interesting is that there is increasing recognition of the fact that production houses own shows that have already created an audience in other territories and are now available to a new market, that is, India.The challenge is to be able to create indigenous formats and retain IP that will allow us to take our shows outside.

    What are the shows that FremantleMedia has produced so far?

    * India‘s Got Talent – two seasons

    * Indian Idol -three seasons

    * X Factor – one season

    * Zindagi Ki Haqeeqat Se Aamna Saamna – three seasons

    * Aamna Saamna Investigative

    * Savdhan India – two seasons / 44 episodes (part of a producer mix)

    * Mission Cover shot – National Geographic

    * Food Food Maha Challenge Assignment

  • FremantleMedia US creates an online pet destination on Blip Platform

    FremantleMedia US creates an online pet destination on Blip Platform

    MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor FremantleMedia‘s US division has partnered with the digital network Blip to develop a pet-related entertainment destination on Blip powered by its digital programming site The Pet Collective.

    The new pet-related content will be available at Blip.com and across the web starting next month.

    Creating a pet vertical on Blip with premium content from the FremantleMedia team behind The Pet Collective allows Blip to curate and deliver online pet content for their highly engaged audience to discover, watch and share with their friends. In addition, working with Blip enables the group to expand their distribution across the web on a complementary platform that will build new audiences.

    The Blip pet vertical will be available to viewers on its website and across the web via Blip‘s distribution partnerships. The collaboration is attractive to a number of viewers and consumer brands due to the family-friendly content, the high quality production and the ability to watch anytime, anywhere.

    Launched online in April 2012, The Pet Collective is a digital producer of animal-friendly content that celebrates the connection between animals and their human companions. It‘s designed as a celebration of pets and the enriching effect that they have on human beings through informative and adorable features. The programming is currently available online and has been extremely successful, with over 153,000 subscribers and 28 million views on YouTube. Some of the most popular series include: The Litter with Sharon Osbourne, Petodies, and the ultimate destination for animal livestreams.

    FremantleMedia US CEO Thom Beers said, “Extending our digital reach with a fantastic new partner like Blip allows us to build our audiences and to work with talent we have developed on traditional platforms, such as the 2012 winner of ‘America‘s Got Talent,‘ The Olate Dogs.”

    Blip CEO Kelly Day said, “Blip is developing and distributing topic-specific content for the millions of viewers out there looking to discover and share content they love. As the only premium animal-related brand online produced by industry leaders, The Pet Collective is a natural partner to develop a Blip pet vertical.”

  • Fox unveils sponsors for 11th season of ‘American Idol’

    Fox unveils sponsors for 11th season of ‘American Idol’

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia have announced that Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T will return as the official sponsors for the 11th season of the music-based reality show ‘American Idol‘.

    As a leading partner since the show‘s debut in 2002, Ford has returned as the official automotive sponsor. Once again, Ford vehicles and the show‘s finalists will be featured each week in Ford music videos, airing Thursday nights. This content, along with candid ‘making of‘ segments featuring the contestants, will also be available on www.americanidol.com. In addition, Ford will launch an all-new online promotion, offering fans an exclusive chance to win the ultimate show experience.

    The show will continue to serve as a platform for a variety of Ford vehicles, including the all-new 2013 Ford Escape. Ford will award a brand-new vehicle to both the runner-up and winner.

    For the 11th season, Coca-Cola is offering programmes that bring “families together to enjoy moments of happiness and fun”. The show is the kickoff platform for the Coca-Cola Family Night program, which presents activities and recipes throughout January and February that encourage families to “make tonight a family night.” They will also launch the new “Coca-Cola Music Cover Artwork” contest. Fans can develop their own special music cover graphics at www.mycokerewards.com/family and they could win a trip to attend the live American Idol finale. Coming back for a second year is the popular Perfect Harmony program that provides teens and young adults the opportunity to write a song with an award winning artist.

    This collaboration will culminate in an incredible performance on the biggest stage in Hollywood during an American Idol broadcast. In addition, Coca-Cola will share exclusive behind-the-scenes content online at www.mycokerewards.com and www.americanidol.com, providing fans with an inside look at the contestant experience. Other activities designed to enhance the ‘American Idol‘ experience will be featured in a variety of retail outlets across the country.

    AT&T returns this year to celebrate its 10th anniversary as the official wireless sponsor of American Idol. Once again, AT&T makes voting easier and more convenient for its customers through exclusive unlimited text-voting during the voting window after each show. Additionally, AT&T customers will benefit from unique access to their favourite Idol moments through popular mobile phone content, including Vote Number Reminder, Social Sharing of Votes and Idol Trivia.

  • Chevrolet to sponsor ‘The X Factor’ on Fox

    Chevrolet to sponsor ‘The X Factor’ on Fox

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox, Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America have announced Chevrolet as the official automotive sponsor of ‘The X Factor’.

    The show debuts later this year.

    Chevrolet‘s sponsorship of the show includes automotive exclusivity in multiple episodes throughout the season that will feature in-show integrations, season-long organic product placement and an off-air marketing partnership with digital extensions that will include www.fox.com/thexfactor and social media.

    Chevrolet will be the official automotive sponsor of The X Factor on-air, as well as the exclusive automotive sponsor off-air and online.

    Chevrolet marketing VP Rick Scheidt said, “When The X Factor launches in the U.S., it seems very natural that Chevrolet is riding shotgun. For the past 100 years, Chevrolet has been a cultural force in music, and we are proud to be partnering with Fox to support the next big thing for music fans and artists.”

    Fox One president Jean Rossi said, “Fox is thrilled to partner with Chevrolet, an iconic American brand that celebrates the everyday hero, in launching the most anticipated series of the fall, The X Factor. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with Chevrolet, which has become a key marketing partner for the network.”

    FremantleMedia Enterprises CEO US Keith Hindle said, “We are excited to partner with Chevrolet, one of America‘s oldest and most recognizable brands, as we continue to build momentum for the premiere season of ‘The X Factor’ in the US. Our strategic partnership will allow Chevrolet to engage with new audiences and reach consumers through innovative programs across multiple platforms.”

    The X Factor is a competition series that gives viewers the opportunity to help choose the next global superstar or breakout music act. The judges – Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Nicole Scherzinger – will travel across the US searching for undiscovered talent 12 years old or over – both solo artists and vocal groups – who are willing to brave the panel for a chance to make their dreams come true.

    In a departure from other singing competition series, the first time a contestant auditions for The X Factor judges, he/she will do so in front of an audience of thousands – raising the stakes and increasing the pressure to impress not only the judges, but also a potential legion of fans.

    This will be the ultimate test to prove they have the vocal ability, charisma and stage presence that it takes to become a global superstar or breakout music act and win a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.
     

  • Fremantlemedia makes additions to drama catalogue ahead of MipTV

    Fremantlemedia makes additions to drama catalogue ahead of MipTV

    MUMBAI: Televisioon format owner and distributor FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has announced the acquisition of two drama shows which will launch at the television trade event MipTV in April.

    The shows are Love You To Death and The Best Years. They join FME’s expanding drama portfolio.

    The dark, funny Love You To Death stars filmmmaker John Waters Pink Flamingos, Hairspray in his television series debut as the ‘Groom Reaper’. It and tells the twisted, inspired-by-reality tales of spouses who have killed their loved, or not-so-loved ones.

    The series is scheduled later this year in the US on Court TV as ‘Til Death Do Us Part and Global Television in Canada. It will be on offer to buyers worldwide from FME at MipTV for both TV (excluding the US) and DVD (excluding Canada).
    As the ‘Groom Reaper’, Waters guides viewers through bizarre stories and cases of wedded woe, with his trademark wry sense of humour and definite macabre sensibility. Each episode – inspired by true crimes – dramatises the stories of ill-fated husbands and wives and reveals the flaws in what the killers thought was the perfect crime – like in the case of the ‘spend-a-holic’ spouse, who poisoned their other half to claim the life insurance, only to find that the cheque for the poison bounced! In each episode, viewers follow a murderous trail to find out whodunit and will be on the edge of their seats until the very end, as things are not always as they seem.

    The Best Years follows a group of friends through the ups and downs of college life. It’s an insight into the real-life drama that is university – the excitement and pressures that go hand in hand with newfound independence.

    Leaving her foster-home past behind, Samantha Best (Charity Shea) arrives on a scholarship for freshman year at the prestigious Charles University in Boston, MA and sets about finding her feet in the hallowed halls; not to mention finding a whole new set of friends – and ‘frenemies’ – along the way.

    As Samantha learns to juggle academic pressures, the perils of the social scene, friction with roommates and liaisons with lovers, The Best Years will be compulsive viewing as she and this sometimes dysfunctional college family make their way together.

    FME CEO David Ellender says, “We are delighted to add these two unique dramas from Blueprint Entertainment to our burgeoning portfolio of fine scripted entertainment, which we are committed to expanding further throughout 2007. We are thrilled to be launching both Love You To Death and The Best Years at MipTV. This gives broadcasters from around the world the chance to be the first on board with what will be very highly-prized additions to any schedule line-up for 2007.”

  • 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.