LONDON, 21 June 2012: FremantleMedia, one of the largest creators and producers of television brands in the world, announces the appointment of Trish Kinane as President of Entertainment Programming - American Idol, The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, at FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), effective 1 August 2012. Kinane, currently the President of Worldwide Entertainment at FremantleMedia, will be based in Los Angeles where she will initially report to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the incoming CEO of FremantleMedia.
In this new executive post, Kinane will be responsible for overseeing all strategic, day-to-day operational and creative aspects of American Idol, The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, on behalf of FMNA. As part of this role, she will also work closely with FOX and NBC as well as FMNA’s production partners Syco and 19 on the programmes.
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, incoming CEO, FremantleMedia said: “Trish Kinane is a pre-eminent TV production executive with decades of experience at the forefront of the industry. She also has firsthand knowledge and a huge breadth of experience with the Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor formats gained during her time as the President of Worldwide Entertainment at FremantleMedia. Trish’s experience, combined with her remarkable natural creative instincts and inherent management and production know how make her the perfect choice to ensure the continued success of these market leading shows.”
Trish Kinane, President of Entertainment Programming, FMNA said: “It’s a great privilege to take on this exciting new challenge. American Idol, America’s Got Talent and The X Factor are loved by audiences not only in America but around the world. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work with the production teams of the shows and our partners to build upon the considerable success of these hit programmes.”
Trish has an extensive and unique background in international TV production, most recently as President of Worldwide Entertainment at FremantleMedia. In this role she oversaw the global roll-out of all FremantleMedia’s developed and acquired non-scripted formats including Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor, working to safeguard their integrity, guarantee production quality, and manage commercial and talent relationships arising from them, as well as promoting and enhancing best practice production and collaboration within FremantleMedia’s international production network.
Prior to this, Trish served as Joint Managing Director of Action Time, developing relationships with key broadcasters and producers in the UK and abroad. She was also instrumental in the expansion of Action Time's international operations, which became one of the world’s leading format distributors. During her career, Kinane has created and worked as Executive Producer on a wide range of highly acclaimed and successful international programming including entertainment formats, game shows and reality series. She has also been Executive Producer of a diverse range of network and regional broadcasts including comedy, music and children’s shows, along with documentaries in the UK and around the world.
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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.
For further information:
Blair Metcalfe, Ogilvy PR
Tel: +44 (0) 207 309 1024
Blair.metcalfe@uk.ogilvypr.com
FremantleMedia@uk.ogilvypr.com