FremantleMedia International Unveils MIPTV Slate

LONDON: FremantleMedia International is offering buyers a mix of dramas, documentaries, scripted entertainment, lifestyle offerings and classic Brit comedies at this year’s MIPTV.

On the scripted front, there’s the 3×60-minute miniseries Jamaica Inn, an adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel produced by Origin Pictures for BBC One. Dicte (20×60 min.) is a Danish crime drama from Miso Films. The FremantleMedia Australia production Schapelle (1×90 min.) follows the 2004 drug arrest of Schapelle Corby at Bali airport and the trial, conviction and media frenzy that ensued. Birds of a Feather, the 8×30-minute co-production between FremantleMedia UK’s Retort and QuirkyMedia Stuff, is a revival of a classic British comedy. And Vuguru’s Play Nice (12×8 min., 4×22 min., 1×90 min.) follows two parents as they look to get their little boy into a prestigious academy.

Entertainment offerings include 32 episodes of The X Factor UK, the popular pop-star competition co-produced by Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia UK’s Thames. Those two outfits also produced Britain’s Got Talent, another offering. Tim Gunn hosts the fashion competition series Under the Gunn (13×60 min.), produced by The Weinstein Company and Bunim/Murray Productions. FremantleMedia North America’s Great Christmas Light Fight (5×60 min.) sees 20 families across the U.S. decorating for Christmas and the chance to win a $50,000 prize.

The company’s factual catalogue features Lindsay (8×60 min.), a documentary following movie star Lindsay Lohan that’s produced by Pilgrim Studios and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The Sixties (10×60 min.) explores the most transformative decade of the modern era in America and is exec produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog for CNN Originals. Ovation Studios’ The Art Of (26×30 min.) focuses on creative fields outside the traditional definition of “art.” The lives of drag performers are showcased in The Connected Set’s Drag Queens of London (10×60’) and the careers of six young soccer players are at the forefront of Class of ’92 (1×99’), from Fulwell 73 Productions and FremantleMedia UK’s Boundless. Finally, the Stick Figure Productions series Catching Hell (10×60 min.) dives into the world of commercial spearfishing.

Some lifestyle offerings are Ora TV’s Real Girl’s Kitchen (10×60 min.) and two Fresh One productions: the second season of Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club (4×60 min.) and Jamie’s Festive Feasts (1×60 min.).

“We are delighted to present our new slate at MIPTV, which we genuinely believe offers something for everyone. With a fantastic mix of high-quality content and the addition of global superstars such as Tom Hanks, Taylor Lautner and Lindsay Lohan to name but just a few, we are all set for this year’s market,” said Bob McCourt, the acting CEO of FremantleMedia International.