ITV

Tag: Rob Clark

  • Justin Gorman & Fremantlemedia launch Man Alive Entertainment

    Justin Gorman & Fremantlemedia launch Man Alive Entertainment

    MUMBAI: Justin Gorman, former head of entertainment at Channel 4, has launched an independent television production company, Man Alive Entertainment.

     

    Following an investment in the new company, FremantleMedia holds a 25 per cent stake in Man Alive Entertainment, with the option to increase its share in the future.

     

    Man Alive Entertainment will develop and produce large scale entertainment and factual entertainment programming as well as reality, game show and quiz formats. Gorman has more than 20 years’ experience in creating, commissioning and producing series including the revamped TFI Friday, The Million Pound Drop Live, Alan Carr Chatty Man, Derren Brown and The Cube.

     

    Prior to Channel 4 he was executive producer at Objective Productions (All3Media) and Princess Productions (Endemol Shine Group).

     

    Gorman, who becomes creative director and CEO of Man Alive, said, “It’s very exciting to be launching Man Alive Entertainment. We are a small but very experienced indie, with a great track record in creating award-winning entertainment formats and multi-screen content. I’m delighted to have the backing of FremantleMedia – its creative network is unrivalled and I look forward to creating some outstanding television content for the UK and the world.”

     

    FremantleMedia director of global entertainment Rob Clark added, “Justin is one of the most respected execs in television, he has creative flair, great relationships with talent and broadcasters, and he’s been a part of some of the biggest shows in the industry. We’re looking forward to making some great shows and being part of the company’s growth.”

     

    Hannah Dodson joins Gorman as head of development; Dodson was previously part of Gorman’s team at Channel 4 and executive produced The Mash Up, Stand Up To Cancer and The Secret Policeman’s Ball.

     

    This news comes on the back of FremantleMedia’s investment in UK factual indie Full Fat TV announced last month, and follows a slate of deals that add to its creative network around the world including Naked Entertainment and Corona Pictures in the UK; No Pictures Please in the Netherlands; Fontaram and Kwai in France; and Wildside in Italy.

  • FremantleMedia to unveil new formats at MIPTV 2015

    FremantleMedia to unveil new formats at MIPTV 2015

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia is all set for this year’s MIPTV with a range of compelling, entertaining and laughter-inducing new formats that are sure to excite audiences around the world.

     
    FremantleMedia director of global entertainment development Rob Clark said, “Our new formats for MIPTV are a real mix of original, fresh and engaging titles. We’re confident that we have something suitable for all broadcasters and are looking forward to the market.”

     
    First from the line-up is The Most Beautiful Woman, an uplifting and inspirational series, which launched on RTL Television in Germany this year and celebrates real beauty. The series invites women of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a national competition designed to recognize the many faces of beauty, and to find the most beautiful women in the country. 

     

    Throughout the series, 20 ladies take part in challenges designed to bring out their confidence, self-esteem and inner beauty. The format empowers the women themselves to choose who shines the most with inner beauty as the series heads towards the live final. During the grand finale, the finalists come together in a thrilling celebration of beauty as the audience votes to decide who is The Most Beautiful Woman.

     
    Next, things heat up in the kitchen as professional chefs dare to put their reputations on the line in Chef On The Block. Produced by FremantleMedia in Finland and Denmark, the series sees professional restaurateurs risk their reputations in a bid to be the best. Each episode features three pairs of chefs as they visit each other’s restaurants and score the restaurants’ food, décor and overall service. The restaurants with the highest score across the series meet in the grand finale as the top three battle it out for the top spot. The competition is tense but the tone is humorous as the national champion is named the Chef on the Block.

     
    Moving from food to matters of the heart, FremantleMedia’s next offering is 10 Questions You Wouldn’t Ask On A First Date, the first reality dating quiz show. Filmed on location, each blind date couple can win big money by answering questions correctly about each other. But these questions are the 10 questions you would never ask on a first date. Imagine if your date asks for your salary details, your political persuasion or… your favourite sexual position? And you have to answer! Before the flirty chat up lines can even begin, the interactive screen pings and the game is underway. Honesty is the best policy in this game as each correct answer builds your cash prize.

     
    Two worlds collide in The Trade Off, a brand new format exploring the huge lifestyle contrasts that occur when two professionals from vastly different working environments swap jobs and salaries for two weeks. The series launched on the UK’s BBC 2 earlier this year and was their #1 show for men aged 16-34. In The Trade Off, both workers will have to learn on the job, impress brand-new bosses and deal with a completely different set of customers. During their time away, the two workers are immersed in an unfamiliar community, meet the family and friends of their opposite number, and gain a unique insight into just how different life can be.

     
    Next up is an eye-opening series about man’s best friend. Dogs: Their Secret Lives provides a unique insight into the behaviour of our faithful canine friends. Commissioned by the UK’s Channel 4 from Arrow Media, the format sees a veterinary expert, take on the role of pet detective to tackle the major welfare issues that affect dogs and their owners. Using spy-cam and GoPro technology, the audience will witness the ways in which being home alone can impact on pet dogs. From issues with obesity and aggression, to neurosis – the expert reviews the surveillance and combines their expert advice with enlightening experiments to demonstrate what can be done to help treat and prevent these types of behaviour.

     
    Next up, FremantleMedia will showcase the brand new family friendly game show format Cash or Splash. An amalgamation of the hit Fuji TV formatsClock Hanger, Boxing Glove, and Run Quiz Run, the format sees teams of contestants compete for cash prizes by answering questions and completing hilarious physical challenges in order to avoid being sent for a plunge into an icy pool of water.

     
    To round off the new line-up, FremantleMedia will present Extreme Love, the fresh new dating format from Israel’s Studio Glam. Extreme Love sees romance, survival and heart-break as the show challenges a group of modern-day Prince Charming’s to prove their survival skills in order to win the hand of their princess. The men arrive with nothing but the shirts on their back. They live together in a simple compound with only the basics to get by. Each week, they must compete against nature, with success ensuring better shelter and more food. Their progress is monitored by the maiden who, located in a luxurious villa, will then chose two of the most impressive suitors to accompany her on a date so that she can get to know them better.
     

    The would-be charmers have to face further challenges to whittle down the pack with eliminations taking place each week until only two remain. Only in the finale does she then have to unveil which of the remaining two suitors has stolen her heart and become her Extreme Love. 

  • Fremantlemedia to hypnotise broadcasters at MIPCOM 2014 With Stars Under Hypnosis

    Fremantlemedia to hypnotise broadcasters at MIPCOM 2014 With Stars Under Hypnosis

    CANNES: FremantleMedia is promising to put TV buyers into a trance as it has acquired the global format rights (excluding French speaking territories) to Satisfaction’s Stars Under Hypnosis.

     
    During the show, eight celebrities surrender themselves, and their minds, as they enter the world of hypnosis and undertake a series of experiences that hope to amuse and amaze audiences. The French version of Star Under Hypnosis is produced by Arthur for France’s TF1, featured the talented and gifted hypnotist Messmer. The TV event captured audiences and featured of a mixture of live stage events with a studio audience and pre-recorded segments. Having aired over a two hour slot on TF1, the show launched to 5.1 million viewers and outperformed its network share by 27 per cent; 34 per cent in the commercial target and 50 per cent among younger adults.

    FremantleMedia director of global entertainment development Rob Clark said: “Stars Under Hypnosis is a fantastic new entertainment format which made me laugh from start to finish. The format is ideal for any network looking for a broad family entertainment show.”

    The Television Agency producer and founder of Satisfaction, Arthur Essebag added, “Satisfaction is very happy to work with FremantleMedia on Stars Under Hypnosis, and is sure they will do an amazing job selling it all over the world.”

    The French version of Star Under Hypnosis featured a variety of experiments that showcased Messmer’s hypnosis powers. Guests were transported by Messmer’s voice and took part in tasks such as hypno-transportation – where the celebrity is hypnotised, transported to an unknown location and then woken to find themselves in a strange and awkward situation, a presenter suddenly being able to speak Chinese and being attacked by imaginary insects, a celebrity hypnotised into thinking that he is a burglar and having the irrepressible desire to steal everything in sight, guests of the show thinking that they are naked on live television and guests being made to think that they are cavemen and whilst being chased by mammoths. Each celebrity was able to watch videos of themselves under hypnosis for the first time during the live TV show.  

     

  • FremantleMedia promotes Chris O’Dell to head of global entertainment production

    FremantleMedia promotes Chris O’Dell to head of global entertainment production

    MUMBAI – FremantleMedia, one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world, today announced the promotion of Executive Producer Chris O’Dell to Head of Global  Entertainment Production.

     

    Reporting to the Director of Global Entertainment, Rob Clark, Chris will oversee and be the first point of contact for FremantleMedia’s international production teams as they roll out formats such as X Factor, Got Talent, Idols and Farmer Wants a Wife across the world.

     

    Chris O’Dell says: “FremantleMedia has some of the world’s best-known entertainment brands in its catalogue and a fantastic set of producers in the all the major markets who deliver these formidable shows time and again. I’m really excited to take on this new challenge, work with the team to continue to deliver our global hits and introduce international audiences to some of our exciting new formats.”

     

    Rob Clark added: “Chris is one of the most experienced producers I know. He has worked with some of the biggest companies and most well-loved names in the entertainment industry, and has a wealth of experience producing FremantleMedia’s hit shows all around the world. I think he’ll be a fantastic Head of Global Entertainment Production and look forward to work with him as we continue to roll out our shows in new markets.”

     

    Prior to his promotion, Chris was Executive Producer at FremantleMedia for the last seven years, working with executives, producers, territory heads and local broadcasters to produce, refresh and manage FremantleMedia’s key entertainment formats including X Factor, Got Talent, Take Me Out, Hole in the Wall and Idols. An experienced media executive, Chris has held a number of production roles such as Executive Producer, Series Producer and Head of Development with companies which include TWI Entertainment, part of IMG Media, Granada Entertainment and London Weekend Television (LWT) where he had various roles including Head of Entertainment Formats, Executive Producer, Series Producer & Creative Executive. His production credits include Blind Date, Surprise Surprise, An Audience with…, Saturday Night Takeaway and Ant & Dec’s All Star Cup. Chris also created two formats – Chef V and The Better Half – which sold internationally.

     

    Chris’ promotion follows the departure of Diana Buddingh, who left the business to return to Holland in May.

  • FremantleMedia to bring ‘Benefits Street’ to MipTV

    FremantleMedia to bring ‘Benefits Street’ to MipTV

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia and Love Productions todayannouncedan acquisition deal that sees FremantleMedia take the worldwide rights (excluding UK and North America) to Benefits Street, the most talked about and opinion-dividing show in the UK.Givinga no holds barredaccount of the reality of life on state welfare,the controversial social reality showrecently aired on Channel 4in the UK, and became the highest ratingseries for the channel in three years.

    Benefits Streetdivided the country and sparked a national debate in every home,office and even in parliament. Highlighting social issues, the show reveals the reality of life on benefits as the residents of one of Britain’s most welfare-dependent streets invite cameras into their tight-knit community. The series follows the residents as they navigate their way through life enduring economic hardships, raising children in poverty, low levels of education and training, and crime. Despite the challenges, the street has a strong sense of community. This is a place where people look out for one another and where small acts of kindness can go a long way.

    The UK version of the show launched in January and achieved a peak audience of 6.5 million viewers. Over the course of the series20.7 million viewers sampled the show, a massive 35% of the UK’s TV population.Throughout the series, Benefits Street continuously ranked as the number one show in its time slot amongst young adults (16-34). The show created such a strong reaction, including a social media storm,that an additional live debate show,Benefits Street: The Last Word, was commissioned.A second series of Benefits Street is in the pipeline.

    Rob Clark, Director of Global Entertainment Development, FremantleMedia said: “I’m a huge fan of this show. It is a noisy, gloves-off, groundbreaking reality series that at times is touching and heartwarming. It covers a social issue that affects us all and cannot be ignored. I watched it on Channel 4 and am proud to launch it internationally at MIPTV.”

    Richard McKerrow, Chief Executive of Love Productions said: “Benefits Street caused a huge stir when it was broadcast in the UK, engaging record-breaking audiences in serious social issues. We are delighted to be working with FremantleMedia and very excited to be bringing this show to the international market”.

     

  • Fremantlemedia on form with new formats

    Fremantlemedia on form with new formats

    MUMBAI: Exciting new titles are on their way to MIPTV this year with a range of fresh formats from FremantleMedia. Renowned for enthralling global formats, FremantleMedia are set to provide buyers with even more original and creative ideas for audiences across the world.

    Setting pulses racing is the dating show of the future The Love Table, in association with Asahi Broadcasting Corporation. The inventive new show sees the world’s first flat-pack dating machine – a completely interactive, electronic and talking table, that will help singletons to bag themselves a date. With her LED screen the Love Table cheekily reveals more about the girls and guys seated across each other, by hacking into their online profiles and activities. Using the latest technology and social media the Love Table exposes the most intimate details of their lives, helping them to get to know each other and steering them in the right direction in their quest for love. The singletons then push the Love Table’s buttons to highlight the direction of their desires. These electronic arrows of affection are also shown on the Love Table’s screen allowing viewers to see if a match has been made. The Love Table’s fun games and touch screen rounds bring dating shows into a new generation.

    Also getting off the blocks is Fittest Family from Animo TV/Kite Entertainment, which sees twelve uber fit and sports mad families compete for the title of the fittest family and a big cash prize. Each episode sees four sporting legends assigned to coach the families and push them to their fitness max. The families compete against one another as they get put through a set of extreme challenges with only the fittest surviving. Currently airing on Irish pubcaster RTÉ One as ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’,  the primetime series is on track, and has become popular viewing as it delivers big numbers in it’s 7.30pm, Saturday slot.

     
    With pens at the ready, a brand new talent show for aspiring writers, Masterpiece, is set to hit the shelves. The series aims to find the next big name in literature and sees contestants compete for the chance to see their first work (whether a novel, a collection of short stories or poetry) printed by a renowned publisher. Contestants are shortlisted through a series of interviews and a critique of previously prepared work, with the chosen few going on to compete in a number of literary challenges that are marked by expert judges. The first episode of Masterpiece on RAI in Italy performed well above the channel average, reaching a 5.14% average share and generated an incredible buzz on social media, with #masterpiece trending overnight. 

     
    The medical observational reality format, An Hour to Save Your Life explores in forensic detail the dilemmas and innovations at the frontline of emergency medicine. The moment an emergency call is made, the clock starts ticking – the expert medical attention a patient receives in this first hour is critical, and could mean the difference between life or death. Following specialist clinicians as they respond to the most serious of cases, the series offers a unique insight into the minute-by-minute decisions that are made in the fight for life. Each episode follows the responses to three very different medical emergencies and viewers are able to see the extraordinary drama unfold as critically ill patients are treated with revolutionary new procedures. Exploring the predicaments and advances of emergency care in a way not previously seen on television, An Hour to Save Your Life captures it all.

     
    Finally, it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas and what better gift than the unique festive competition, The Christmas Light Fight. From the breath-taking to the bonkers, families decorate their homes to the extreme for Christmas in the first competition of its kind for television. Families are chosen based on their previous elaborate Christmas light displays, incredible ornaments and over-the-top designs, as they compete against one another each week to transform their homes for the holidays. The families are whittled down to four finalists, who are then flown to a surprise finale city to compete for a big cash prize.

     
    Rob Clark, Director of Global Entertainment Development, said: “FremantleMedia are constantly striving to find exciting and trendsetting new formats that are accessible worldwide and we are thrilled to bring this great roster of shows to the market. Not only are these formats adaptable but I’m confident that they could be the next big thing! We’re looking forwarding to showcasing them to potential clients in April.”
     

    Visit FremantleMedia at MIPTV 2014 at Stand No. C11.A1 (Croisette 11, Aisle 1), Palais du Festival, 7 – 10 April.

  • FremantleMedia International promotes Haley Dickson to VP acquisitions

    FremantleMedia International promotes Haley Dickson to VP acquisitions

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI), an independent distributor of content with a current catalogue containing over 20,000 hours of programming, has promoted Hayley Dickson to the newly created position of vice president, television acquisitions and development, global content. 

     

    Working closely with the FMI distribution team, as well as FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) scripted development, Dickson will lead the North American division of FMI’s global content group and is charged with identifying and securing prestigious properties for both domestic and international marketplaces, with a focus on entertainment, factual, lifestyle, drama and comedy.  She also heads up new business development, while maintaining relationships with FMI’s extensive network of best in class content creators and distributors.  

     

    “Hayley has a talent for recognising emerging trends and the opportunities they represent. She has an intuitive grasp of the ongoing evolution of content and distribution channels and this makes her the perfect candidate for this important role,” said FremantleMedia director of global entertainment development Rob Clark.

     

    “I am excited about building the bridge between content creators and global audiences, and grateful to all my friends and colleagues at FremantleMedia for the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the most vibrant and fast-paced business in the world,” said Dickson.

     

    Prior to taking on this new role, Dickson was with FremantleMedia serving as director, television acquisitions and development, with a focus on sourcing, evaluating and acquiring rights to TV and digital content.  She recently identified and initiated a series of strategic relationships with digital content originators including Hulu, Vuguru and Young Hollywood, which bolstered FremantleMedia International’s catalogue with such titles as Behind The Mask, Fetching, Hollywood Help and Young Hollywood’s Greatest. Before joining FremantleMedia, Dickson served as the manager of acquisitions for Shine International. 

  • Rob Clark is FremantleMedia Worldwide Entertainment senior executive VP

    Rob Clark is FremantleMedia Worldwide Entertainment senior executive VP

    MUMBAI: Format creator and distributor FremantleMedia has promoted Rob Clark to the position senior executive VP entertainment and production, Worldwide Entertainment. This is a part of Fremantklemedia’s creative networks division.

    Hitherto, Clark has been executive VP Production, Worldwide Entertainment. In this capacity he managed the global roll-out of FremantleMedia developed or acquired formats, guaranteeing production quality and ensuring the transfer of production skills between FremantleMedia companies around the world.

    The worldwide entertainment team, including a group of flying producers, develops and distributes marketing materials, format bibles, and provides specialised training in specific formats. Current projects include the global roll-out of Simon Cowell’s latest formats Got Talent launched successfully this summer on NBC in the US, as well as Inventor, which launched this spring on ABC in the US, and Ant and Dec’s Poker Face which launched its first series last month on ITV.

    In addition to this set of production responsibilities Clark will now also oversee the other activities of Worldwide Entertainment, including development and acquisitions. He will identify and support the acquisition of third party entertainment formats that have global potential.

    In addition, he now takes responsibility for the co-ordination of all FremantleMedia’s entertainment development departments worldwide, working with the local heads of development to ensure a flow of FremantleMedia developed formats throughout the company’s global network.