FremantleMedia Buys into Israeli Producer Abot Hameiri

LONDON: FremantleMedia has acquired a 51 percent stake in Abot Hameiri, an Israeli production company that specializes in entertainment formats, scripted reality and drama.

Abot Hameiri, which was founded in 2006, has produced local versions of entertainment hits such as The X Factor (a FremantleMedia/Syco Entertainment format), Survivor and The Amazing Race. The company also has a strong track record of developing and producing its own formats, including Power Couple, which has been sold to Brazil, China, South Africa, Germany, Portugal and Italy. The company’s scripted output includes the series Shtisel and A Good Family.

Sangeeta Desai, COO and CEO of emerging markets at FremantleMedia, commented, “Israel is a highly creative market and this acquisition gives us the perfect entry point into Israel given Abot Hameiri’s established relationships with broadcasters and talent, breadth of genre offering and creative fit. We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with Eitan and Guy.”

Abot Hameiri Co-Founders Eitan Abot and Guy Hameiri commented, “We are delighted to be partnering with FremantleMedia and are excited about the creative and commercial opportunities that being part of a bigger network will provide. We think there is a great fit between the business we have built and FremantleMedia.”