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Tag: Jens Richter

  • Fremantle gets its cloud moment with AWS and PFT in the director’s seat

    Fremantle gets its cloud moment with AWS and PFT in the director’s seat

    MUMBAI: Fremantle is stepping into the future with a bold new production upgrade this time, behind the scenes. The global content powerhouse has roped in Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build a slick, scalable, and AI-powered content supply chain platform that promises to make their operations as binge-worthy as their shows.

    The new setup currently in the works isn’t just a digital spring-cleaning exercise. It’s a full-blown transformation, aiming to unify Fremantle’s workflows across international markets, speed up distribution, and give real-time visibility into content lifecycles. Think of it as streamlining the journey from storyboard to screen, with fewer traffic jams.

    At the heart of this digital makeover is PFT’s Clear Smart MAM, a media asset management solution packed with “agentic AI” smarts. It’ll help Fremantle automatically enrich content with metadata, optimise workflows, and cut through operational clutter like a content butler with machine learning for manners.

    Fremantle CEO for commercial and international, Jens Richter said, “A robust content supply chain that will cater to the dynamic business requirements of monetizing content is paramount, and we look forward to working with PFT and AWS to see what we can achieve together. This collaboration will provide us with the agility, visibility, speed and scalability required across Commercial and International, Digital and Global channels to streamline our media supply chain and digital processes.”

    Prime Focus Technologies founder and global CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan said, “Our offering is designed to meet the most demanding needs of global content studios like Fremantle. We’re thrilled to partner with them on this transformative journey and enable their vision of a modern, AI-powered supply chain that fuels creativity and revenue.”

    AWS head of broadcast for media, and sport for UK at Andy Stephenson said, “We are proud to support Fremantle on its digital transformation journey. By harnessing technologies like cloud computing and AI, Fremantle will be able to drive innovation across its business, scale quickly, easily, and securely, and extract new value from its content.”

    As streaming, syndication, and social media redefine how stories are told and sold, Fremantle’s cloud-powered leap is less about catching up and more about setting the pace. For a company with storytelling in its DNA, its supply chain is finally getting a plot twist of its own.

  • Studio Canal’s Neylon joins FremantleMedia as EVP

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International has appointed Katrina Neylon as the executive vice president – global content.

    Neylon will manage the existing global content team and oversee the acquisition strategy for all scripted and non-scripted programming for FremantleMedia International (FMI) with the aim of generating strong commercial returns for all partners.

    Working creatively with a mix of third party and in-house producers to invest, develop and acquire content, Neylon and the team will continue to source top-quality programming from around the world to build and complement FMI’s current pipeline. Joining the company next month, Neylon will report to the FMI CEO Jens Richter.

    Richter said, “With a standout reputation, in-depth industry knowledge, as well as fantastic producer relationships, Katrina is the ideal executive to lead our global content team. Katrina’s extensive experience of complex deal-making and commercial acumen will be key to continuing our business growth strategy.”

    On her appointment, Neylon said, “FremantleMedia International has an established reputation for high-end quality content and I look forward to working with the team to build upon their ambitious plans of working with the best producer and writer talent in the business.”

    Neylon joins FremantleMedia from Studio Canal where she held the position of EVP of international sales and marketing, and oversaw the global sales strategy for Studio Canal’s extensive TV production slate and drove global and multi-territory deals. Prior to her position at Studio Canal, Neylon was the SVP of sales, EMEA, at Shine International where she managed the EMEA sales team. Neylon has also held sales and management roles at Disney ABC International Television and Twentieth Century Fox International Television.

  • 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.

  • FremantleMedia sells ‘Deutschland 83’ to multiple countries at MIPCOM

    FremantleMedia sells ‘Deutschland 83’ to multiple countries at MIPCOM

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International has sold its gripping German language spy thriller Deutschland 83 (8 x 60) to multiple countries at Mipcom 2015. 

     

    So far the show has been acquired by 20 broadcasters and SVOD services around the world.

     

    Following its US success, the series has now been placed by FremantleMedia International with Channel One (Russia), Sky Italia (Italy), Hulu (US), Sundance TV (English-speaking Canada), Super Ecran (French-speaking Canada), RTE (Eire), Stan (Australia & New Zealand), Telenet (Belgium), RTL Klub (Hungary), Hotvision (Israel), TV4 (Pan-regional Scandinavia) and Kino Lorber (US – DVD and iTunes).

     

    FremantleMedia International CEO Jens Richter said, “Deutschland 83 has become the must-have European drama series of the year. Having attracted critical acclaim in the US and now the attention of this impressive list of buyers, the compelling series is all set to captivate viewers around the world.”

     

    The above acquisitions follow on from the previously reported deals with Sundance TV (US), CANAL+ (France), Channel 4/Walter Presents (UK), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and RUV (Iceland).

     

    Deutschland 83 is a suspenseful coming-of-age story set against the real culture wars and political events of Germany in the 1980s. The drama follows Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) as the 24 year-old East Germany native is pulled from the world as he knows it and sent to the West as an undercover spy for the Stasi foreign service. Hiding in plain sight in the West German army, he must gather the secrets of NATO military strategy. Everything is new, nothing is quite what it seems and everyone he encounters is harbouring secrets, both political and personal.

     

    The series is produced by UFA Fiction, the creators of Generation War, for RTL Television in Germany. Created by Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, and executive produced by UFA Fiction’s Joerg Winger and Nico Hofmann. The series is directed by Edward Berger and Samira Radsi.

  • FremantleMedia bags distribution rights to Jude Law’s ‘The Young Pope’

    FremantleMedia bags distribution rights to Jude Law’s ‘The Young Pope’

    MUMBAI: From the Academy Award-winning director, Paolo Sorrentino comes one of the most exciting projects, which was announced at last week’s Cannes Film Festival, The Young Pope.

     

    Starring the two-time Academy Award nominee Jude Law, The Young Pope tells the controversial story of the beginning of PIUS XIII’s Pontificate. With the exclusive international distribution (outside of partner territories) handled by FremantleMedia International (FMI), The Young Pope is set to begin production this summer.

     

    Born Lenny Belardo, PIUS XIII is a complex and conflicted character, so conservative in his choices as to border on obscurantism, yet full of compassion towards the weak and poor. He is a man of great power who is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican courtiers, unconcerned with the implications to his authority. During the series, Belardo will face losing those closest to him and the constant fear of being abandoned, even by his God.

     

    FremantleMedia International CEO Jens Richter said, “The Young Pope combines a fantastic story with a brilliant pedigree of talent in the form of a world-renowned director in Paolo Sorrentino, an outstanding production team in Wildside and an extraordinary lead man in Jude Law. The series has all of the ingredients to become a hallmark drama and FMI is thrilled to have secured the rights for its catalogue.”

     

    The series is a joint production of Sky, HBO and Canal +. All eight episodes will be directed by Sorrentino and written by Sorrentino in collaboration with Tony Grisoni, Umberto Contarello and Stefano Rulli.

     

    The series is being produced by Wildside, and co-produced by Haut et Court TV.