LA, May 22, 2012 – FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has further expanded its drama development portfolio with the announcement of a new first-look deal with veteran Hollywood film and TV producer Barry Josephson’s production company, Josephson Entertainment.
As part of the deal, Josephson Entertainment has hired a new VP for Television, Tia Maggini, who will work alongside Jeff Tahler, FME’s SVP of Global Content, and Tony Optican, SVP of Scripted Programming for FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), to develop new drama projects for the US cable and global TV market. A number of projects are already underway, including thriller The Dover Agenda, for which a pilot script is currently being developed for Syfy in the US.
Barry Josephson is an award-winning film and television producer, who has established mainstream success through numerous motion pictures, television series and specials across a variety of genres. Josephson’s film credits include the international hit Walt Disney film Enchanted; Life As We Know It, starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel; Hide and Seek; Like Mike; The Ladykillers and Wild Wild West. He is also at the helm of the globally popular television drama Bones, which is entering its 8th season on FOX. In addition Josephson currently has projects in development at TNT and AMC.
David Ellender, Global CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, said, “US cable drama is now the most consistently compelling content anywhere on television. Having identified the opportunities that exist on these networks, FME is partnering with the industry’s most prominent talent in order to help create high quality dramas that not only work for US audiences but which also have worldwide appeal. With several exciting projects already in the pipeline, our deal with Josephson is off to a flying start.”
Barry Josephson added, “I am very excited to work with Tony Optican, Jeff Tahler and their entire team at FremantleMedia. They have been very aggressive about securing rights for new material and strengthening our network relationships.”
Maggini joins from Disney Channel Original Movies where she was responsible for acquiring new projects for the channel, working directly with writers to develop original ideas. Prior to this she held the role of Senior Executive at Marc Platt Productions for five years.
Since the launch of the company’s global drama initiative three years’ ago, FME has signed first look deals with some of the world’s most successful producers. These have resulted in a number of series commissions from broadcasters across the world, with recent examples including Wedding Band, produced by FMNA for TBS in the US, and Hit & Miss for Sky Atlantic in the UK, created by Paul Abbott’s production and development company AbbottVision.
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ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & 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 FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 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), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
Mary Jones
Interim Sr. PR Manager
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7691 6515
mary.jones@fremantlemedia.com