FremantleMedia Acquires Majority Stake in French Producer Fontaram

LONDON: FremantleMedia has purchased a majority stake in Fontaram, a French production company specialized in scripted programming.

FremantleMedia will have a 51-percent holding, with the opportunity to buy the remaining shareholding in the future. Fontaram was recently formed by producer/writer partners François Aramburu and Pascal Fontanille, who are best known for the popular drama Clem. The acquisition follows FremantleMedia's recent purchase of Wildside, an Italian TV and feature film producer.

Monica Galer, the CEO of FremantleMedia France, commented: “François and Pascale are incredibly talented drama producers with a wealth of experience and long-standing relationships with all of the major French broadcasters. This is an important deal for FremantleMedia as we establish our scripted presence in France and I look forward to a successful creative partnership with the duo.”
 
Aramburu and Fontanille added: “In creating Fontaram and partnering with FremantleMedia, we are giving our new production company the best possible foundation to grow while also fulfilling our creative ambition. Joining an international group to produce French drama and international co-production both broadens our opportunities and allows us to develop new content, within an environment that is constantly changing.”