ITV Global, Simon Fuller Ink Co-Pro Deal

LONDON: ITV Global Content and 19 Entertainment’s Simon Fuller have struck a co-production deal to develop television formats for the worldwide market.

ITV will work with the American Idol creator on six projects for broadcasters in the U.K. and worldwide.Teams from both ITV and 19 will work together to come up with ideas, which will be developed further by Lee Bartlett, the managing director of ITV Global Content, and Fuller, in particular for the U.S. and U.K. markets. Commissioned projects will utilize the production capabilities of ITV Studios. The deal is non exclusive, with both companies sharing equal rights in each project. 

Announcing the deal, Lee Bartlett, the managing director of ITV Global Content, noted: "The idea is to put together our own hugely talented production capabilities alongside Simon’s incredible expertise creating and selling worldwide hits to produce a range of new successful programming that can work not only in their home country but internationally as well."

Bartlett, who previously worked with Fuller when he was at FOX, added: "I’m really excited about working with Simon again as I have total admiration for the way he runs his very successful business, the ideas he comes up with, and the very talented people who he knows and works with. I believe our combined talents will give us a real opportunity to develop some innovative and exciting exploitable formats together."

Fuller added: "The world’s biggest TV show—American Idol—started life on ITV almost ten years ago as Pop Idol and I’m delighted to be partnering with ITV again. It also gives me the chance to work with my friend Lee Bartlett, who worked closely with me on American Idol during his time at Fox in LA. Both Lee and I share an ambition to produce British shows that will appeal to TV audiences around the world. I’m also looking forward to working with Peter Fincham again; I have a lot of respect for Peter, he has the personal experience of owning an independent production company and also running a network so we get on perfectly and he understands my aspirations."