CIMG Scores Raft of Sales, Format Deals

CANNES: In addition to landing format deals on Reality Hell, Comcast International Media Group (CIMG) has sold a range of titles, totaling more than 270 hours, in Australia, India, Malaysia and Thailand.

CIMG’s format deals on E!’s hit series Reality Hell were locked in with Italy’s Mediaset, France’s Banijay Entertainment, Sweden’s Fremantle Sverige and Denmark’s Blu Entertainment.

“CIMG’s format sales division is rapidly growing as we successfully adapt many of our key titles in territories around the globe,” said Jene Elzie, the VP of international sales and strategic planning at CIMG. “Reality Hell debuted to rave reviews in the US in 2009, and we’re delighted to make the format available to new audiences. We think the comedic aspect of the show will definitely translate very well and have great appeal to European viewers.”

In Australia, Fuel TV picked up G4’s Sexy Ladies Show and Web Soup, which will be localized for the region. ONE HD went for Golf Channel titles, including Golf Central, Fore Inventors Only, School of Golf, Tiger: Nike Access Granted, Tiger Woods Clinic, two seasons of The Big Break and select episodes of Playing Lessons.

India’s Zee Café took on E! News, while Malaysia’s ntv7 snapped up programming from The Style Network that included the first two seasons of Style Her Famous and three seasons of Dress My Nest. In Thailand, True Inside picked up seasons two and three of Style Her Famous, and True Xzyte went for Wildest Cop Show Moments, Wildest Wedding Show Moments, Wildest TV Commercial Moments and 20 Most Horrifying Hollywood Murders.

“CIMG’s programming continues to be a favorite choice among TV buyers in Asia Pacific,” said Christine Fellowes, the managing director for Asia Pacific at CIMG. “We offer a wide selection of titles from the world’s top television brands E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network, G4, Versus and Golf Channel, empowering programmers to successfully reach and appeal to their target audiences and most desirable demo groups.”

In other news at CIMG, Lee Raftery has been promoted to senior VP of international marketing. Taking on an expanded role, Raftery will now oversee CIMG’s Los Angeles-based on-air promotion team. 

"We’re thrilled to recognize Lee with this much deserved promotion,” said Kevin MacLellan, the president of CIMG and Comcast Entertainment Studio. “Since joining CIMG in 2008, he has spearheaded a number of very successful global marketing campaigns, solidifying our core brands, E! and The Style Network, as well as developing such emerging brands as G4 and Golf Channel, on an international scale.”