Foxtel Acquires Raft of Content from FremantleMedia International

LONDON: A volume deal spanning multiple genres sees Foxtel picking up more than 450 hours of programming from FremantleMedia International (FMI) for its Bio, History, CI, Lifestyle and Arena channels.

Foxtel acquired a slew of factual content, including the first two seasons of The Art Of, the first two seasons of Morgan Spurlock's A Day in the Life and seasons one and two of Fatal Attraction. Also in the way of factual, Foxtel scooped up Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood. It renewed its TV rights for Russia's War: Blood Upon the Snow, Egypt Unwrapped and Secrets of War.

A package of lifestyle content was also part of the agreement. This includes the second season of Jamie & Jimmy's Food Fight Club, featuring Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty. Other Jamie Oliver shows were renewed, including Jamie's 30 Minute Meals and Jamie's Food Escape. Foxtel is set to premiere the latest season of the long-running property series Escape the Country, picking up season 21, along with the U.K. version of Grand Designs seasons 12.

Fashion-based shows are part of the mix, including the entertainment competition Project Runway: Under the Gunn. Foxtel also went for the latest season of Project Runway.

The New Zealand prime-time soap drama Shortland Street was part of the agreement, which sees Foxtel renewing its TV rights for the serial medical drama.

Paul Ridley, the senior executive VP of sales and distribution for the Asia Pacific at FMI, said, “We have a long-standing, established relationship with Foxtel and are beyond pleased to be continuing our partnership with this new deal. The number of hours of content taken highlights the quality of programming that sits within the FMI catalogue.”
 
Fleur Fahey, Foxtel's general manager of acquisitions, added, “This diverse range of popular series and programs are a great fit for our lifestyle, factual and general entertainment channels. Our continued strong relationship with FremantleMedia International gives us access to a fantastic lineup of quality content for our subscribers.”