New Development Head at FremantleMedia’s Blu

LONDON: Karsten Bartholin is taking on the role of head of development at FremantleMedia’s Danish production arm, Blu, starting August 1.

Bartholin co-created Babyfoot, the company behind such formats as Gay Army, Bingo Banko and Big In Japan, which ran on ABC in the U.S. for two seasons under the title I Survived a Japanese Game Show. At Blu, Bartholin will focus on the development and production of reality and entertainment formats for the Danish and international markets.

Kim Ardal, the managing director of Blu, said: "Karsten Bartholin is one of the biggest talents of his generation. His ability to create exceptional entertainment and reality formats will be instrumental to Blu’s strategic and creative direction and will ensure that the company maintains its position as the leading producer of in-house developed formats in Denmark. I am confident that Karsten will take up this challenge and am very pleased to welcome him to Blu."

Bartholin remarked: "I am looking forward to taking on the exciting role of head of development at Blu. It is any format creator’s dream to be working for such a strong production company, and Blu’s brand has always been about creativity, innovation and collaboration. I look forward to building on that tradition in Denmark and to joining the FremantleMedia family."