Lionsgate Forges Format Pact with Eureka Productions

Lionsgate has entered into a strategic partnership with Eureka Productions, an Australia- and U.S.-based format production company led by Paul Franklin and Chris Culvenor.

Through the deal, Eureka Productions will exclusively represent and sell all Lionsgate entertainment formats and non-scripted series to air throughout Australia. Once commissioned, each show will be produced and creatively managed in Australia by Eureka on behalf of Lionsgate.

Eureka will collaborate with Jennifer O’Connell, Lionsgate’s executive VP and head of worldwide alternative programming, and Peter Iacono, Lionsgate’s president of international television and digital distribution, as well as their creative and distribution teams.

“We’re delighted to partner with world-class developers and producers Paul and Chris to bring our premium unscripted series to Australia,” said O’Connell. “Our diverse content will have great appeal in this territory as we continue to expand our nonfiction television business globally.”

Iacono noted: “Paul and Chris have exemplary track records and key relationships in the development, production and distribution of highly successful, non-scripted television in Australia. Our new affiliation will enable us to extend our existing formats and create new formats to bring back to the U.S. and other international territories.”

Franklin and Culvenor added: “We’re delighted to be working with Lionsgate, a visionary leader in the development of creative ideas, for a broad range of networks and platforms. When it comes to unscripted content, U.S. and Australian audiences share very similar sensibilities and we’re looking forward to bringing Lionsgate’s growing catalog of formats to Australia.”