FremantleMedia Joins Forces with Original Productions

FremantleMedia, one of the largest creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world, announces the acquisition of a 75% stake in Original Productions LLC, the U.S.-based creator of hit television shows such as Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, Monster Garage and Ax Men. The deal will allow Original Productions to expand its growing slate of male-oriented factual programming and will strengthen FremantleMedia’s position in the exciting US cable network market. Original Productions’ CEO, Thom Beers and President, Philip Segal will continue to lead the company and the partnership will not affect either company’s existing broadcaster relationships.

Tony Cohen, CEO, FremantleMedia said, “We are very excited to be working with Thom and his talented team. Original Productions have created outstanding shows which have been enormously popular with audiences around the world. We look forward to helping further build the Original Productions brand.”

Original Productions will become part of FremantleMedia’s unique global network of production, distribution and licensing companies. The company already has a distribution relationship with FremantleMedia Enterprises, which has sold programmes such as Black Gold, LA Hardhats, America’s Ports, Verminators, 1000 Ways to Die and America’s Toughest Jobs to more than 50 broadcasters world-wide.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering creatively with FremantleMedia. We’ve already established a very strong relationship with the FremantleMedia Enterprises team who have far exceeded our expectations in terms of distribution,” said Thom Beers, CEO and Executive Producer of Original Productions. “Now, the Original Productions brand will reach an even wider audience under the incredibly successful FremantleMedia umbrella.”

Since its inception in 1999, Beers’ Original Productions has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including 14 Emmy® nominations from the US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In addition, Original Productions’ everyday hero programming has brought millions of new viewers to a range of US Networks including Discovery, History, NBC, National Geographic, Spike, TruTV and TLC.

“FremantleMedia’s success has been built on our commitment to attracting the very best talent, and our partnership with Original Productions is a major addition to our global activities. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in talent as well as companies to support our expansion strategy,” said Christian Schneider-Sickert, Director of Operations and Strategy, FremantleMedia.

Recent global investments include a 19.9% stake in Australian production company Beyond International as well as a range of deals under its Talent Fund initiative. These include partnerships with Bea Ballard’s 10 Star Entertainment, Trevor Eve’s Projector and Rob Brydon’s Arbie in the UK and Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst in the US.

Notes to Editors

FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes talkbackTHAMES, UFA and Grundy amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 14,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 400 individual titles. FremantleMedia produces some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats, such as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the USA), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Neighbours, The Bill, Family Feud, The Price is Right and Farmer Wants A Wife.

www.fremantlemedia.com

Original Productions

Original Productions’ unique brand of unscripted reality television is carried by nine US television networks. Audiences consistently tune-in for Emmy® Award winning “Deadliest Catch,” the show the New York Times says has no peer, “Ice Road Truckers” and “Ax Men,” the two top-rated shows airing on History. Helmed by Thom Beers, the company produces authentic reality programming featuring everyday heroes in extraordinary situations. Beers’ steadfast focus on top-notch storytelling with engaging personalities in high risk circumstances has produced more than 1,000 hours of original programming since its inception in 1997.

www.originalproductions.com

Contacts

Ogilvy PR
Rebecca Perfect
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7309 1013
FremantleMedia {at} uk.ogilvypr(.)com