Endemol to Open Operation in Turkey

HILVERSUM, June 30:
Endemol is launching a new company in Turkey to produce formats in the region,
scoring its first commission through Show TV for a local version of the
obstacle-course format Wipeout.

Endemol Turkey will be
based in Istanbul and will be headed by Ansi Elagoz as the managing director,
effective July 1. The company’s first commission, a Turkish version of Wipeout
for Show TV, is set to begin production in January 2009. Other
productions on Endemol’s slate in Turkey include Fear Factor, set to launch on Star TV in July, and M/F, which debuted on June 27 on Star TV. Further
shows are expected to be announced in due course.

Elagoz commented: “I’m
thrilled to be opening Endemol Turkey with such a significant commission.
Endemol’s shows have been pulling in big audiences here for a long time now and
I’m confident that Wipeout will
prove to be the latest smash hit. Turkey has a vibrant and rapidly growing TV
market and I’m very excited about further establishing Endemol as a major
player here.”

Marco Bassetti, the COO at
Endemol, added: “Turkey represents an exciting opportunity for Endemol and I’m
delighted that we have someone of Ansi’s caliber to head up our latest
venture.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski