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Tag: Masterchef

  • FremantleMedia inks exclusive deal with former Endemol Shine execs

    FremantleMedia inks exclusive deal with former Endemol Shine execs

    MUMBAI: A new partnership between the top creatives behind the MasterChef phenomenon and production giant FremantleMedia has been unveiled.

     

    Eureka Productions, the newly formed production company from unscripted specialist producers Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin, has formed an exclusive partnership with FremantleMedia.

     

    Culvenor and Franklin were most recently Endemol Shine SVP of development and EVP of programming respectively.

     

    The duo has worked together for a decade, including stints at FremantleMedia Australia, and are the creative force behind a vast array of unscripted hits in both the US and Australia. They’ve developed, adapted and produced franchises such as MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, The Biggest Loser, The Voice, Fake Off, The Apprentice, Restaurant Startup, The Face, Project Runway and Minute to Win It.

     

    Eureka opened its Los Angeles office in January and has three projects underway with top tier cable networks. Culvenor and Franklin will be opening their Sydney office in March and appointments to their creative team in both countries will be announced in coming months.

     

    The company will work with FremantleMedia to develop and produce projects that can be optimised through the super-indie’s international network of creatives, producers and sales teams.

     

    Culvenor said, “Paul and I are thrilled to be partnering with the global powerhouse FremantleMedia who have the best creative network in the business.”

     

    Franklin added, “At Eureka, we’re very excited to bring together the talented creative community that we have collaborated with over the last decade to create series that captivate and surprise audiences.”

     

    FremantleMedia director of global entertainment Rob Clark said, “Chris and Paul are two of the industry’s most highly regarded creatives. Their track records in production, development and sales complement our businesses in the US and Australia and we’re looking forward to creating and sharing ideas across our international network.”

  • FremantleMedia inks exclusive deal with former Endemol Shine execs

    FremantleMedia inks exclusive deal with former Endemol Shine execs

    MUMBAI: A new partnership between the top creatives behind the MasterChef phenomenon and production giant FremantleMedia has been unveiled.

     

    Eureka Productions, the newly formed production company from unscripted specialist producers Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin, has formed an exclusive partnership with FremantleMedia.

     

    Culvenor and Franklin were most recently Endemol Shine SVP of development and EVP of programming respectively.

     

    The duo has worked together for a decade, including stints at FremantleMedia Australia, and are the creative force behind a vast array of unscripted hits in both the US and Australia. They’ve developed, adapted and produced franchises such as MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, The Biggest Loser, The Voice, Fake Off, The Apprentice, Restaurant Startup, The Face, Project Runway and Minute to Win It.

     

    Eureka opened its Los Angeles office in January and has three projects underway with top tier cable networks. Culvenor and Franklin will be opening their Sydney office in March and appointments to their creative team in both countries will be announced in coming months.

     

    The company will work with FremantleMedia to develop and produce projects that can be optimised through the super-indie’s international network of creatives, producers and sales teams.

     

    Culvenor said, “Paul and I are thrilled to be partnering with the global powerhouse FremantleMedia who have the best creative network in the business.”

     

    Franklin added, “At Eureka, we’re very excited to bring together the talented creative community that we have collaborated with over the last decade to create series that captivate and surprise audiences.”

     

    FremantleMedia director of global entertainment Rob Clark said, “Chris and Paul are two of the industry’s most highly regarded creatives. Their track records in production, development and sales complement our businesses in the US and Australia and we’re looking forward to creating and sharing ideas across our international network.”

  • FremantleMedia picks up 25% stake in Simon Andreae’s Naked Entertainment

    FremantleMedia picks up 25% stake in Simon Andreae’s Naked Entertainment

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has taken a 25 per cent stake in Simon Andreae’s newly formed production company Naked Entertainment.

     

    Based in London, Naked Entertainment will develop original entertainment, factual, and factual entertainment formats, with series and one-off specials. The deal will further strengthen FremantleMedia’s content pipeline for the UK and global distribution market.

     

    FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz said, “We are actively looking for the right companies and talent to expand and strengthen our business. Simon is one of the industry’s preeminent factual entertainment producers with a long history of delivering hits with global appeal. He already has a strong development slate and I’m really pleased to be partnering with him to bring his projects to audiences around the world.”

     

    Andreae added, “I’m excited to be back in the UK and delighted to be partnering with FremantleMedia, whose depth of experience and breadth of reach in entertainment programming is unrivalled. Naked, as the name suggests, aims to be provocative and risk-taking – but also kind of simple and straightforward –  producing content designed to attract, surprise, and I hope delight audiences both in the UK and overseas.”

     

    Andreae was most recently at Fox Broadcasting’s Alternative Entertainment as executive vice president in the US. Here, he oversaw all the network’s unscripted series and specials, including MasterChef, Hell’s Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, World’s Funniest Fails, Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution, and Hilary Swank’s Cause for Paws.

     

    Prior to Fox, he was senior vice president, development and production, for Discovery, where he developed ratings hits Naked and Afraidand Fast N Loud, as well as supervised the multi-award winning Curiosity series hosted by Stephen Hawking, Donald Trump, and Samuel L Jackson, among others.

     

    He was also a founding partner of UK indie Optomen Television, helping grow it into one of the UK’s largest non-scripted prod-cos with a broad mix of programming including Police, Camera, Action!, The Naked Chef, Anatomy of Desire and Gore Vidal’s American Presidency.

  • Big Magic Ganga preps for 4th season of ‘Rasoi Ki Rani’

    Big Magic Ganga preps for 4th season of ‘Rasoi Ki Rani’

    MUMBAI: Big Magic Ganga, the regional channel from the Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) stable, is coming up with the fourth season of its show Rasoi Ki Rani – Jeetein Sitaron Ka Dil.

     

    The show is a search for the greatest chef at home who can deliver an experience of the most authentic regional cuisine for celebrity guests. Ripudaman Handa, winner of MasterChef – Kitchen Ke Superstar will host the show, which will also include celebrity walk-in guests.

     

    An extensive 90 day audition phase will be held to select the best candidates. Women from 16 cities of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and New Delhi will participate in this reality show. The show consists of three rounds – Interactive Game, Masala Muqabla and Jaika E Bahar. A total of 18 women will be chosen as part of the audition process, out of which four will reach the grand finale.

     

    Big Magic Ganga senior vice president, TV programming Partha Dey said, “The new season ofRasoi Ki Rani – Jeetein Sitaron Ka Dil, is an addition to the already established and immensely popular property. With every new season, our aim is to raise the bar in terms of engagement level with the audience and providing them with lots of entertainment. We are delighted to have Ripudaman Handa, winner of MasterChef – Kitchen Ke Superstar as the host and are certain that he will add a lot of credibility to the show with his vast knowledge and experience. The show is extremely high on aspiration and will definitely create effective integration opportunities for our partners.”

     

    The series will see a robust marketing plan across key markets, which will include high decibel radio promotions and extensive promotion through activation and branding.

  • ‘Masterchef’ awards Paneer Makhani as India’s favourite veg dish

    ‘Masterchef’ awards Paneer Makhani as India’s favourite veg dish

    MUMBAI: In an all India voting poll initiated by Star Plus, Paneer Makhani emerged as India’s favourite veg dish among the top 10 popular dishes suggested by MasterChef judges, Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar.

     

    The 10 dishes which included Rajma Chawal, Dum Aloo, Sarson Da Saag, Dal Makhani, Chana Masala etc. were shortlisted by the three judges, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar and the resultant most favourite dish was Paneer Makhani with a whopping 40 per cent votes. Now this winning dish is to be integrated in the on air show as one of the dishes to be made. This All India poll was not just supported by the Masterchef Judges but even the other actors of Star Plus voted for their favourite dish. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor said, “Everyone has a different choice when it comes to food, people, views but nobody has ever taken the initiative to find out what the majority stands with and Star Plus has done just that by taking a step to know India’s favourite Veg dish and surprisingly it is also my favourite dish – Paneer Makhani”.

     

    Vikas Khanna, the Michelin Star Award winner said, “I value vegetarian food more after living in the States and you will be mighty surprised to know that a lot of foreigners as well support vegetarianism…as veg food too has several choices and flavours. I am glad that this not just another research because this initiative will be taken a step forward by the MasterChef kitchen by including the dish in our show”.

     

    Star plus is championing the growing food culture through Masterchef and this is a one of its kind initiative to bring to limelight the fandom behind veg food like Paneer Makhani.

  • Star Plus commemorates the spirit of Mumbai Dabbawalas

    Star Plus commemorates the spirit of Mumbai Dabbawalas

    MUMBAI: Mumbai’s dabbawalas are as important to the city as its lifeline, local trains. In recognition of their services in delivering with precision freshly made food to customers across the maximum city, Star Plus is undertaken a first of its kind initiative for dabbawalas. 

     

    Through a unique initiative, Sanjeev Kapoor and Team MasterChef India served a delicious treat to Mumbai’s dabbawalas as a token of their appreciation. 

     

    Kapoor, who is also the judge of MasterChef India-4, conferred the title of ‘Pyaar Ke Postmen’ upon the Mumbai dabbawalas and redefined the role played by them in the food industry. “Star Plus is the pioneer in bringing food on the forefront of Indian television and I am extremely happy with the initiative that Star Plus took in acknowledging the Dabbawalas for rendering a valuable service to the society. I only make food but the other part of my job is done by these Dabbawalas who make our food reach the mouths of the people. Dabbawalas are not just the carriers of food but also do the task of spreading joy and smiles. They are the ones who add true value to the food we cook. These Dabbawalas are the backbone of the population of Mumbai and may they continue to be for a lifetime. Star Plus and the MasterChef India team salute their undying spirit and hard-work,” he said.

     

    Chef Ranveer Brar, who is also the judge on MasterChef India-4, added, “Food has always been an integral part of every relationship in the Indian cultural context and the Masterchef India team showed its appreciation for the role these Dabbawallas play in binding the family together through food. Unfortunately, due to prior commitments I could not be a part of the activity but I am thankful to the Mumbai Dabbawalas for making delivering the food cooked for loved ones on time.”

     

    The Dabbawalas were delighted by the initiative of Star Plus appreciating their role in the food industry. “We, the dabbawalas, are highly motivated because we believe that delivering food to Mumbaikars is like a service to God, similar to giving medicine to the sick. We are thankful to the MasterChef India team for recognizing our efforts,” said a dabbawala.

  • The Content Hub: Talent shows and drama series drive the global format business

    The Content Hub: Talent shows and drama series drive the global format business

    MUMBAI: “Format business is a major industry.  Today, the production value of format business is well over 20 billion euros,” said The Format People CCO & partner Justin Scroggie during his keynote at ‘The Content Hub’ organised by indiantelevision.com.

    It is unquestionable that television formats have indeed become essential components in the international television market. Largely licensed by television networks, TV formats describe the overall concept of a show and its premises. Investors around the world are now looking at television as an attractive business.

     “Over the past nine years, American Idol has generated US $8 billion on its own,” he said.

    Scroggie also discussed about the major global trends and television formats in the international landscape as part of his keynote presentation. According to him, the original drivers for the format business are game shows. “Game shows are flexible, relatively short, scalable in terms of cost and renewable. They are repeatable and above all, they are adaptable in various cultures,” he opined while highlighting that despite all this, game shows are struggling these days.

    So why is this happening? “Everybody is looking for the next big game show breakout and nobody is finding it,”Scroggie explained.  Citing the example of the popular game show Who wants to be a Millionaire, Scroggie said that big money prizes are not delivering the kind of drama as the audience is too familiar with it now.

    In addition, with the advent of reality and talent programmes, game shows are not delivering the same level of drama, strong characters and emotional connect which the audiences are expecting. According to Scroggie, talent and reality shows are driving the international format business.

    “Got Talent entered the Guinness book of world record as the world’s most successful reality television format. It has been adapted in 63 countries,” he informed. There are many successful talent show formats like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Masterchef’ that have been adapted globally.  “However trends don’t happen in every country at the same time,”Scroggie added. While Canada does not have many talent shows, China currently has more than 90 talent shows on air.  

    At this point, Scroggie also said that talent shows are also getting saturated.  “Having learnt the grammar of making international talent programmes, more and more countries are making their own versions so that they don’t need to buy international formats,” he explained.  

    Scroggie believes that the fastest growing area of format business is scripted formats which include drama series that can be adapted and remade in other countries. Homeland, for example, one of the highly successfully television shows in the US, is actually an Israeli format.

     
    “The best dramas are those that travel and have something about them. They can be adapted into the story and emotions of any country,” he said.

    Scroggie also spoke about telenovelas, such as ‘Everest’ on Star Plus that drive scripted formats. He believes that today we can find quality drama content written by top talent starring A-listers.  Serialised dramas like family, crime and politics also work.

    In the last part of his keynote, Scroggie explained how the barriers between viewers and shows are breaking down. “Television is a passive medium and the audience wants to interact with the people they see on screens,” he added.  Scoggie feels that web series is picking up and is easy to watch.  While social experiments are popular, they are also risky as they involve real people in a live and reality drama.

    Scroggie, whose organisation deals in format creation, consultancy on formats, branding and in-house training also delved on why UK is a leader in format sales.

    “UK broadcasters are only allowed to keep 15 per cent of the rights on the show. The creators of the shows retain 85 per cent. This has created a huge incentive for producers to sell their formats to broadcasters,” he stated.   

    While UK, US, Netherlands, Israel and Brazil are doing well in the format business, Scroggie feels that Turkey and China are potential countries to also look out for in the future.

     “With your help, let’s add India to the list,” he concluded.

     

  • 21st Century Fox, Apollo combine Shine, Endemol and Core Media to create content powerhouse

    21st Century Fox, Apollo combine Shine, Endemol and Core Media to create content powerhouse

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox and private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC (Apollo) announced an awaited agreement to create a leading global multi-platform content provider. The agreement brings together Apollo’s Endemol and Core Media with 21st Century Fox Shine Group and to form one of the largest content creators in the world. Sophie Turner Laing, former managing director of content at BSkyB, will serve as the group’s CEO.

    Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. Industry sources say that this is a 50:50 partnership between 21st Century Fox and Apollo.

    In 2011, Apollo bought Core Media, which owns the Idol franchise. Also, in 2011, Murdoch’s News Corp (now 21st Century Fox) paid $ 673 million for Shine Group, a UK producer of Biggest Loser. Elizabeth Murdoch then owned 80 per cent of the Shine Group.

     
    Prior to completion of the transaction, Endemol, Shine and Core will continue to operate as separate companies. Upon completion of the transaction, Core will retain its own capital structure. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year. AGM Partners is serving as financial advisor to 21st Century Fox.

     
    Current Endemol CEO Just Spee and Shine Group CEO Alex Mahon will remain with their respective companies for an extended period following the close of the transaction, working with Turner Laing on the transition and integration of business operations. Following the transition period, both will step down in 2015 to pursue new opportunities. Upon the transaction’s close Elisabeth Murdoch will step down as non-executive chairman of Shine Group.

     

     
    “This partnership advances our strategy of accelerating Fox’s growth in worldwide television production,” said 21st Century Fox president and CEO Chase Carey. “The combination of these assets will create a leading global format business with a deep and diverse portfolio of products, enhanced distribution capabilities, and world-class creative talent. We are extremely grateful to Alex Mahon for her leadership of Shine and are delighted to partner with Apollo in supporting Sophie Turner Laing, and the talent at Shine, Endemol and Core, in our shared mission to form an unrivalled team to lead this truly global content creation business.”

     
    Turner Laing said, “Content has never been more creatively vibrant and exciting and our exceptional production and distribution capabilities will be a magnet for talent to realise their creative ambitions across all platforms on a regional and global scale.”

     
    Apollo senior partner Aaron Stone said, “The group will have impressive capabilities to offer the creative community and to invest in all aspects of media’s future.  At the heart of this partnership are the businesses’ thousands of employees around the world.”

     
    The combined company will have disparate shows like the MasterChef which has more than 50 editions around the world, Big Brother, Hell on Wheels, Idol and So You Think You Can Dance properties.

    Turner Laing has spent the last decade at BSkyB, where she oversaw content strategy and was instrumental in the expansion of its portfolio of entertainment channels, including the Company’s partnership with HBO says 21st Century Fox.
     

     

  • Rajiv Lakshman quits Colosceum as CCO

    Rajiv Lakshman quits Colosceum as CCO

    MUMBAI: Colosceum’s chief creative officer Rajiv Lakshman has decided to quit. He is currently serving his notice period, with his last day in office being 31 July 2014. Lakshman has been one of the founding members and the creative core of the company. He is expected to announce his new venture soon.

     

    That apart, Hitesh Bhatia has joined Colosceum as VP – programming. Bhatia has been associated with Colosceum for more than four years and has been director of all seasons of MasterChef for Star Plus. Bhatia has over 14 years of rich experience working as both director and creative director. Further, Colosceum has also elevated Vikrant Bharadwaj as VP – programming.

     

    Speaking on the development Colosceum COO Lalit Sharma said, “Rajiv has been an invaluable asset to the company. He gave the team strong creative leadership with the freedom to experiment and he’ll be hard to replace. I wish him good luck with his future venture. I am sure soon we will be working together on our next big project. At the same time I repose full faith in Hitesh and Vikrant who have been associated with Colosceum for quite some time now. In fact we have worked with Hitesh on all our big ticket shows. The ability of both Hitesh and Vikrant to create and execute shows fits well with Colosceum’s goals.”

     

  • The TV Formats business is doing very well, thank you!

    The TV Formats business is doing very well, thank you!

    MUMBAI: The production volume generated by the TV format business globally was in excess of 9 billion euros as estimated by a FRAPA study in 2009.  Estimates are that this could have crossed euros 10 billion by now.

     

    Indiantelevision.com calculations place the size for the business in India at around Rs 950 crore nationally, for shows which are produced from international, indigenous formats and even format TV show imports.

     

    Dance India Dance,  one of the most popular original Indian formats in recent times, and has now branched out and in its four season run, spawning three spin-offs’ viz., Dance India Dance: Super Moms, Dance India Dance: Li’l Masters and Dance India Dance Doubles. Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest remains India’s oldest original format to be still in production, since its inception back in 1972; and still remains India’s longest running quiz contest. India has adapted quite a few international reality formats, namely, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Masterchef, Big Brother, Britain’s Got Talent, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and Road Rules, along with adaptations of scripted formats such as 24 and The Killing currently in production.

     

    Earlier this month, UK research firm Madigan Cluff released its annual state of the union update and report on the business titled TV Formats in Europe 2014. It states that despite the global prolonged advertising recession and the fact that several major titles have peaked, the TV formats market in Europe is showing remarkable resilience. The value created by the top 100 formats was $2,931 million in 2013 for 84 European channels across the 16 territories and 21 distributors, according to the TV Formats in Europe report. The value created by formats for UK broadcasters was $600 million in 2013, down from $677 million in 2012. The number of hours broadcast reached 28,386 in 2013. France’s TF1 ($332 million) was the leader with Italy’s Rai 1 at No 2 and the UK’s BBC1 at third spot. Russia’s 1TV entered the top 10 in 2013 —by more than doubling its formats revenues in the year.

     

    The UK, followed by France is the TV formats leader in Europe. France recorded $599 million in 2013, up from $547 million in 2012. The UK, France, Germany and Italy accounted for 72 per cent of Europe’s total value created in 2013.

     

    The total number of hours broadcast in Europe for the 100 formats was 28,386 in 2013 with the UK coming up as the leader again, despite its 2013 total was estimated at 3,935 being considerably lower than in 2012, which was estimated at 4,623. Romania took third place, having added 645 hours to its total in 2013.