FME Acquires The Brits

CANNES, October 9:
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has acquired the annual music award shows The
BRIT Awards and The Classical
BRIT Awards, which are both
available for sale to international buyers at MIPCOM this week.

Each year, The BRIT
Awards show sees the best
homegrown and international musical talent honored by public vote and by The
BRITs Academy, which is comprised of more than 1,000 people from the U.K.'s
music industry and media. The 2008 show, taking place in London on February 20,
will be transmitted as it happens. Last year’s event included performances from
artists such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis and Amy Winehouse.

The Classical BRIT
Awards will be held in May 2008 at
a London venue that still needs to be confirmed. In 2007, 3,275 guests attended
the show, including HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Performers at the show
included Sting, Katherine Jenkins and Joshua Bell.

Commenting on the deal,
David Ellender, FME’s CEO, said: “In 2007 The BRIT Awards were viewed in 31 countries; this shows that there
is still a strong international appetite for this prestigious music event.
However, we feel that this is a rather modest figure. The BRITs showcases some of the world’s finest musical
talent and it has potential to go further and reach a wider international
audience as it evolves year on year.”

These programs join other
big-name music television shows in the FME entertainment family such as Pop
Idol, X Factor and Live From
Abbey Road.