FremantleMedia & Mark Burnett Set Focus on OZ, NZ

SYDNEY: FremantleMedia has signed an exclusive deal to make local versions of Mark Burnett’s catalogue of shows for Australia and New Zealand.

The long-term agreement with Burnett’s One Three Television gives FremantleMedia Australia access to the back-catalogue properties as well as formats to come. The deal also gives FremantleMedia Australia ancillary rights to all formats.

With the deal, an Australian version of Burnett’s new reality adventure show Expedition Impossible, which debuts on June 23 in the U.S., could be on air by next year. "It’s an Indiana Jones-esque type of experience," said Ian Hogg, the chief executive of FremantleMedia Australia. "It’s high-energy adventure. Three teams solve problems while racing across mountains and deserts while being set challenges. It’s in the style (of The Amazing Race). We’re very confident we’ll be able to place that here."

"It’s a good deal for Burnett and it’s a good deal for us," Hogg added. "We’ll be trying to work up shows through their development slate (as well as existing formats). Some of those we’re really encouraged by.

"We’re very confident The Apprentice will be making an appearance on Australian TV soon. It could be (on Nine). The last one was. Also,  How’d You Get So Rich?—which is like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous—is just fantastic. We’re going to do a bit more development work around that."

C. Scott Cru, who runs Burnett International’s overseas distribution and production arm, said: "We want to do more original production in Australia and New Zealand and we think partnering with FremantleMedia Australia is a big step in making that happen."

Burnett’s other formats include Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Shark Tank and Survivor.

The company, which also produces The X Factor, Neighbours, Australia’s Got Talent, Grand Designs Australia, Killing Time and The Farmer Wants A Wife, will lose the right to produce MasterChef Australia after the current series, when it reverts to Shine.

Burnett said he was "looking forward to working with Ian and his team and am sure we will have many more successful formats produced in Australia and New Zealand."