FremantleMedia Unveils New Format Slate

CANNES: FremantleMedia has a raft of new formats to offer the international market, including Total Blackout, the first title to come out of its creative exchange alliance with Japanese broadcaster Fuji Television Network.

FremantleMedia and Fuji announced their creative pact at MIPTV, following the rollout of the Japanese format Hole in the Wall, which FremantleMedia has placed across the globe. The aim is to co-develop and co-produce new television formats for the international marketplace. Total Blackout is the result of a collaboration between So Fujinuma, a producer in the variety production center of Fuji Television’s programming and production Department, and Henrik Nielsen, an executive producer at FremantleMedia North America. The game show takes place in complete darkness and sees the contestants performing the most unusual and daring tasks, often totally unaware of what they’re doing. The format has presold to Kanal 5 Sweden, Kanal 4 Denmark and TV Norge. The Japanese version premieres on Fuji this month.

“We’re very pleased with how the partnership with Fuji has progressed since its inception earlier this year, already producing innovative, creative concepts that will appeal to audiences the world over," said Simon Spalding, regional CEO for Europe and the Asia Pacific. "FremantleMedia looks forward to developing and producing many more television programs as part of the Creative Exchange with Fuji TV in the future.”

Katsuaki Suzuki, senior executive managing director for the programming and production department at Fuji TV, said: “We are thrilled to be introducing the very first format co-developed by our producers through this alliance with FremantleMedia. Through our strong collaboration with each other, we have previously brought Hole in the Wall to audiences around the world. We would like to continue to progress with our co-development and co-production efforts with FremantleMedia in future, applying the creative skills that we’ve cultivated in Japan’s very competitive domestic TV market.” 


At the market this week, FremantleMedia is also showcasing the casting format My Name Is…, Face It, Comedians Under The Hammer, Children or Animals, The Better Sex and All New Hot Streak. Also on offer are You Can’t Take It With You, Who Does What?, Ultimate School Musical and Work of Art.
 
“We have a very strong slate for MIPCOM and we are confident buyers will find something that audiences will love," said Rob Clark, president of entertainment. "Our exciting new game shows, entertainment, and factual-entertainment formats join a well established catalogue of some of the world’s most successful shows, including X Factor, Got Talent, Take Me Out, Idols and Farmer Wants A Wife. We’re very pleased to be bringing to this year’s market new shows such as My Name Is…,a big cross-genre entertainment show that takes impersonation and look-a-like programmes to the next level, and Total Blackout, which was developed as a part of our hugely successful creative exchange alliance in collaboration with Fuji TV. We have fantastic programs from all over the world, with good production track records and great broadcast partners that will be sure to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.”