FME Inks Deal for NBC Prime-Time Programs

LONDON, May 14:
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has completed a deal with BermanBraun and Thom
Beers’ Original Productions to acquire a variety of international television,
home entertainment and format rights to four new shows on NBC’s 2008-2009
lineup.

America’s Toughest Jobs, Swords and Shark Taggers are
part of a four-series deal, which will form a prime-time programming block of
more than 30 hours, with one additional series to be named in the coming weeks.
FME has taken on the international television rights, including Canada, and
home-entertainment rights in Australia and the U.K. for all three shows.
FremantleMedia Productions has also picked up the international format rights
to America’s Toughest Jobs,
including Canada.

Swords is a docu-soap featuring New England fishermen and
their girlfriends, wives and families. Shark Taggers follows George Shillinger and his team of marine
biologists as they travel to exotic locations to hand-tag sharks. America’s
Toughest Jobs is a competition
series that puts real people into some of the most grueling jobs in the world
to test their endurance and skills.

Jeff Tahler, FME’s VP of
acquisitions and development for the Americas, commented: “We are very excited
about this new venture with such respected producers. The fact that the shows
have been awarded a substantial share of network prime time speaks for itself.”

FME’s CEO, David Ellender, added, “This is a remarkable acquisition for FME, it will further
vitalize our growing factual and entertainment catalogue and enhance our
ability to meet international demands for high-quality, original programming.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski