London, 29 March 2012: Fuji Television Network, Inc, Japan’s leading commercial broadcaster, and FremantleMedia Asia, the Asian stronghold of FremantleMedia, have announced a new strategic co-development partnership focussing on supplying new television formats to Asia to maximise opportunities for business development and growth in the ever-expanding regional market.
FremantleMedia Asia and Fuji TV will work closely to build a steady content pipeline for viewers across Asia, co-developing, co-producing and rolling out fresh television formats as well as amplifying the success and business opportunities of each other’s existing formats in local Asian territories.
Mr. Ian Hogg, CEO, FremantleMedia Asia said: “The Asian marketplace is thriving and this new deal between Fuji TV and FremantleMedia Asia will capitalise on opportunities to develop our Asian businesses more aggressively and deliver powerful new programming throughout the region. Fuji TV’s years of outstanding success, know-how and huge popular appeal make them a perfect partner for FremantleMedia Asia, with our expansive knowledge of local markets and a stronghold in several territories across Asia. We are very much looking forward to working more closely with Fuji TV to leverage our joint creative production, programming and business expertise in the region.”
Mr. Akihiro Arai, Senior Executive Director, Programming & Production Department, Fuji Television Network, Inc. said: “We have enjoyed a strong and successful working relationship with FremantleMedia globally in format sales, development, and most recently with our Creative Exchange Alliance. This new deal with FremantleMedia Asia will harness our mutual creative strengths and capabilities along with our unique local experience and track record to develop attractive new television formats that are certain to suit the Asian market’s needs. We are very pleased to be working together to provide hit new programming for local audiences and to our continued strategic growth across the Asian market.”
This new deal in Asia enhances and builds upon the success of the global Creative Exchange Alliance between Fuji TV and FremantleMedia which saw highly experienced senior creative staff from both companies’ global production teams undertake placements in each other’s businesses, and resulted in the creation of such smash hit global programmes as Total Blackout, one of 2011’s most widely travelled formats.
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ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of television 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 FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Neighbours, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife and Hole In The Wall.
ABOUT FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC.
Established in 1959, (celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009) Fuji Television Network, Inc. is the leading commercial broadcaster and part of Japan’s largest media conglomerate, Fuji Media Holdings, with 27 affiliated stations throughout Japan and 14 offices around the world. As a broadcaster, regardless of genre, Fuji produces top rated programmes in all timeslots. Fuji's content has been nominated several times for International Emmy Awards for shows such as Iron Chef, as well as winning the Asian Television Awards. Fuji Television has also produced over 200 feature films and holds the all-time Japanese record for the highest box office gross for a local, live- action motion picture. Fuji TV is known in the international markets as an original producer of hit formats such as Iron Chef and Hole in the Wall.
For further information:
Blair Metcalfe, Ogilvy PR
Tel: +44 (0) 207 309 1024
Blair.metcalfe@uk.ogilvypr.com
FremantleMedia@uk.ogilvypr.com