Fremantle (company) explained

Fremantle Limited
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Television
Hq Location City:London, England
Hq Location Country:U.K.
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:Jennifer Mullin (CEO)
Parent:Pearson plc (1993–2001)
RTL Group (2001–present)
Subsid:See
Fremantle Licensing
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Television
Founder:Paul Talbot
Hq Location City:New York City, New York
Hq Location Country:U.S.
Area Served:Worldwide
Parent:All American Television (1994–1998)
Pearson plc (1998–2001)
RTL Group (2001–present)
Footnotes:[1] [2]

Fremantle Limited[3], formerly FremantleMedia, is a British multinational television production and distribution company based in London. The company was founded as Pearson Television in 1993 when publishing and education company Pearson acquired the former British ITV franchisee Thames Television. Fremantle takes its name from Fremantle International, which was acquired by predecessor company All American Television in 1994. Pearson Television and Bertelsmann's CLT-UFA merged in 2000 to form the RTL Group, with Pearson Television itself being renamed FremantleMedia on 20 August of the following year.

Fremantle owns non-scripted formats, including the British talent shows Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor; all of which have been sold globally. Since 1994, Fremantle has distributed American game shows locally in the US and globally.

History

Pearson Television (1993–2001)

On 23 April 1993, Pearson plc bought Thames Television, which had been one of the "Big Five" franchisees in the ITV network from 1968 to 1992, and, as an independent production company, was continuing to produce many shows for ITV and other broadcasters. Thames became the first division of Pearson Television, and Pearson gained the rights to Thames programmes like The Benny Hill Show and The Bill.[4] [5]

Then in 1995 it acquired Australian production company Grundy Television.[6] [7] [8] Allied Communications Inc. (ACI), a U.S.-based distributor of made-for-television films, was purchased later that year for $40 million.[9] [10] In 1996, Pearson Television bought the British production company SelecTV plc, and merged into it.[11]

Pearson Television announced on 1 October 1997 that it would launch a $373 million cash tender offer for publicly traded U.S. television company All American Communications Inc.[12] On 5 November, Pearson completed its tender offer, and All American was merged into Pearson Television the following year. This acquisition gave Pearson worldwide rights to various game show formats as well as drama series in the U.S. such as Baywatch, while All American Music Group was sold to Zomba Records subsidiary Volcano Entertainment.

Pearson Television acquired Italian drama production company Mastrofilm on 3 November 1998,[13] and European animation financer and distributor EVA Entertainment on 2 February 1999.[14] In April 2000, Pearson TV decided to take over Smith & Jones' UK production company Talkback Productions.[15]

Fremantle International

The first incarnation of Fremantle was founded in 1952 by Paul Talbot as Fremantle Overseas Radio and Television and later renamed as Fremantle International in 1958, named after the city in Western Australia. It was involved in the production of television series, movies, and specials from 1964 to 1994 and owned game show formats from Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions, Stewart Television, Barry & Enright Productions, Kline and Friends, Hatos-Hall Productions, and Chuck Barris Productions internationally.

In 1976, Australian executive Richard Becker, of Becker Entertainment was made head of the Australian operation of Fremantle International Productions, and a year later integrated its operations with R.A. Becker's production arm (later Becker Entertainment) to license out its title library.[16]

By the 1980s, Fremantle had become the largest producer of game shows in Europe.[17] [18] In 1989, The Interpublic Group of Companies bought a 49% minority interest in Fremantle International. On 20 May 1991, Interpublic Group increased its ownership stake in Fremantle International to 80%, with Paul Talbot retaining a 20% holding in the company.

Interpublic Group agreed to sell assets of Fremantle International to All American Communications Inc. for $63 million in cash and stock on 7 July 1994.[19] All American acquired Fremantle International in August. Paul Talbot continued to own The Fremantle Corporation, the international distributor of All American's Baywatch and other programs until his death in 2005, and the company's assets were later acquired by Canadian-based Kaleidoscope Entertainment in June 2006.[20] All American Fremantle International managed and distributed Mark Goodson Productions' game show formats worldwide. In 1998, All American Television and All American Fremantle International were renamed Pearson Television North America and Pearson Television Licensing, and operated under those names until being renamed in 2001.

FremantleMedia (2001–2018)

In 2000, German conglomerate Bertelsmann announced that it would form a joint venture between its CLT-UFA group (itself a merger of Luxembourg's CLT and German studio UFA GmbH) with Pearson Television (whose library included former British ITV franchise Thames Television, All American Television—who owned the libraries of U.S. syndicators Lexington Broadcast Services and Blair Entertainment and game show producers Mark Goodson Productions and Fremantle International, and Australia's Reg Grundy Organisation) to create a multinational media group and content business—eventually known as RTL Group—to consolidate their broadcasting and production activities,[21] [22] and provide a European competitor to American-owned media conglomerates.[23] The content business would be renamed FremantleMedia in 2001, while Bertelsmann would later increase its stake in RTL Group to achieve majority ownership.[24] [25]

In 2005, FremantleMedia announced their acquisition of a 75% majority stake in Danish production company Blu, acquiring remaining shares in the company five years later.[26]

In the mid-2010s, FremantleMedia began to increase its investments into "high-end" scripted dramas to diversify its output. The strategy proved successful for the company, with international dramas having increasingly accounted for more of its overall revenue.

In September 2015, FremantleMedia announced their acquisition of French scripted content production company Fontaram Productions.[27] Later that month, they announced that had acquired a 25% stake in Naked Entertainment.[28] However in 2020, they announced that they took full control of Naked Entertainment acquiring the remaining 75% stake in it.[29]

A day later they acquired a 75% majority stake in Dutch reality television production company No Pictures Please.[30]

In September 2017, FremantleMedia announced their acquisition of Australian producer Essential Media & Entertainment's dramatic division, relaunching the company as Easy Tiger.[31]

In January 2018, FremantleMedia announced that it had sold its Kids & Family Entertainment division to Boat Rocker Media.[32] In July 2018, FremantleMedia North America CEO Jennifer Mullin was named the new CEO of the worldwide company, replacing the outgoing Cecile Frot-Coutaz.[33]

Fremantle (2018–present)

On 10 September 2018, the company changed its public-facing brand to "Fremantle", introducing a new handwritten logo (FremantleMedia remains the company's legal name). Mullin described the logo as a "creative signature" that "[puts] our own unique mark on everything that we do."[34] In July 2020, Fremantle spun off Storyglass into an independent company within Bertelsmann.[35] In September, Fremantle merged Boundless and Naked Entertainment to form Naked Television.[36]

In March 2022, Fremantle announced their acquisition of Italian production house Lux Vide.[37]

In May 2022, Fremantle acquired a majority stake in the Irish film and television production company Element Pictures. As part of the deal, Element's film distribution arm was spun off to form Volta Pictures.[38]

In November 2022, Fremantle announced their acquisition of a majority stake in British documentary production company 72 Films.[39]

In November 2022, it was announced that Fremantle had acquired a majority stake in the Tel Aviv-based independent production company, Silvio Productions.[40]

In February 2024, Fremantle announced their acquisition of Singaporean independent TV producer Beach House Pictures from Canadian entertainment company Blue Ant Media.[41] Later in that same month, Fremantle announced that they had made a deal to acquire French-based global production studio Asacha Media Group with co-founder and CEO of Asacha, Gaspard de Chavagnac continuing to run the latter company.[42]

Productions

Fremantle owns of a number of non-scripted formats, including the talent shows Idol, Got Talent, and The X Factor (the latter two with Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment), and game shows via its ownership of the libraries of U.S. producer Goodson–Todman Productions, Australian producer Reg Grundy, and others, which includes formats Family Feud, The Price is Right and Sale of the Century among others.

Via the Reg Grundy library, Fremantle Australia owns a number of notable Australian dramas and soap operas, including the long-running Neighbours and Prisoner.[43]

Since the mid-2010s, Fremantle has increased its focus on scripted series internationally, having produced or distributed programmes such as American Gods, Beecham House, Charité, Deutschland 83, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Rain, The Young Pope and The Mosquito Coast.[44] [45]

Production offices and labels

Fremantle has production units across its global offices and network of companies.

In the United States, Fremantle's largest production and distribution division, Fremantle North America is based in Burbank, California, and includes a portfolio of companies. Fremantle North America produces and distributes scripted and alternative programs for broadcast and cable networks, syndication and streaming platforms.

In addition, Fremantle North America owns several other smaller production companies; among these are Thom Beers' Original Productions (responsible for creation and production of numerous reality shows such as Deadliest Catch, Ax Men, and Ice Road Truckers) and Amygdala Music, Leslie Beers' production and composition firm that writes themes, incidental, and featured music for Original Productions shows.

Production and distribution labels from Fremantle include:

!Region/country!Unit(s)
United Kingdom
Ireland
United States
Australia
Germany
  • UFA Serial Drama
  • UFA Show & Factual
  • UFA Documentary[69]
France
  • Kabo Family
  • Kwaï[70]
  • Mintee Studio
  • Srab Films
Netherlands
  • Fiction Valley[71]
  • Blue Circle[72]
  • No Pictures Please[73] (Netherlands; 100% ownership since 1 January 2020[74])
  • Tebbernekkel[75]
Belgium
  • A Team Productions[76]
Italy
Spain
  • En Cero Coma Producciones[82]
Denmark
Finland
  • Moskito Television[84]
  • Grillifilms
  • Production House
Norway
Sweden
Israel
  • Abot Hameiri (founded by Eitan Abot and Guy Hameiri in 2006, this company became part of Fremantle in 2016)[90] [91]
  • Silvio Productions
Singapore
  • Beach House Pictures
Former/Defunct

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Pearson TV placed on Fremantle. Variety. 20 August 2001. Adam . Dawtrey. London.
  2. Web site: Search result at Variety: Pearson TV placed on Fremantle. Adam Dawtrey. Aug 20, 2001 ARTICLE. LONDON -- Pearson Television has been renamed FremantleMedia. Move follows last year's merger of Pearson TV with CLT/Ufa to create RTL Group and reflects that Pearson TV is no longer part of British media group Pearson . 27 February 2013 . (Search result in September 2020)
  3. Web site: 8 June 2018 . FREMANTLE LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . 2 September 2023 . .
  4. News: Pearson looks for foreign TV stations Agreed bid for Thames values the programme maker at 99m. Patrick. Hosking. The Independent. 23 April 1993.
  5. News: Media: How Thames turned the tide: From failed franchisee to thriving 'indie' producer: there can be life after broadcasting death, as Richard Last witnessed. Richard. Last. The Independent. 9 February 1994. 11 April 2018.
  6. News: Dawdtrey. Adam. Pearson goes global via Grundy purchase. Variety. 3 April 1995. 27 May 2022.
  7. News: de Logu. Simona. Pearson buys Aussie TV production firm. UPI. 29 March 1995. 27 May 2022.
  8. News: International Briefs; Pearson to Expand in TV. The New York Times. 30 March 1995. 27 May 2022.
  9. News: Benson. Jim. ACI Falls To U.K.'s Pearson. Variety. 19 November 1995. 27 May 2022.
  10. News: Britain's Pearson Buys US TV Movie Distributor for $40 MIllion. AP. 15 November 1995. 27 May 2022.
  11. News: INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS;Pearson Buys TV Assets. The New York Times. 31 January 1996. 27 May 2022.
  12. ACQUISITION OF ALL AMERICAN BY PEARSON TO CREATE THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION PRODUCER. Pearson Television. 1 October 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/20000902080204/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/aanews.htm . 2 September 2000 .
  13. PEARSON TELEVISION ACQUIRES ITALIAN PRODUCTION COMPANY. Pearson Television. 3 November 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/20000902075255/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article21.htm . 2 September 2000 .
  14. PEARSON TELEVISION ACCELERATES ANIMATION BUSINESS. Pearson Television. 2 February 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20000528130535/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article27.htm . 28 May 2000 .
  15. News: Pearson close to Talkback acquisition. Screen International. 14 April 2000. 29 May 2022.
  16. Web site: 27 July 1990 . AUSSIE FILM MAKER SETTLES DOWN IN L.A. . 16 June 2023 . Australian Financial Review .
  17. Web site: Guider. Elizabeth. Fremantle founder dies. Variety. 11 July 2005. 13 September 2022.
  18. Book: Aveyard, Karina. New Patterns in Global Television Formats. Intellect Books. 2016. 14 September 2022. 275. 978-17832-07145.
  19. News: Interpublic Selling Assets of TV Unit. The New York Times. 8 July 1994.
  20. News: Guider. Elizabeth. Canucks nab Fremantle. Variety. 6 June 2006. 15 September 2022.
  21. News: Andreas . Uhlig. 8 April 2000. Gründung eines europäischen Fernsehgiganten Kooperation von Bertelsmann und Pearson.. de. 25. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
  22. News: Jason . Deans. 21 August 2001. Pearson TV revives Thames TV brand. The Guardian. 3 July 2020.
  23. Gunhild . Freese. 13 April 2000. Die europäische Antwort. Die Zeit. de. 15 June 2020.
  24. News: Roland . Mayrl. 6 February 2001. RTL sendet mehrheitlich für Bertelsmann.. de. 1. Wirtschaftsblatt.
  25. News: 6 February 2001. Bertelsmann sichert sich die Vorherrschaft im TV-Geschäft.. de. 25. Handelsblatt.
  26. Web site: Fremantle takes full ownership of Blu. C21Media. Andrew. Dickens. 21 April 2010. 9 May 2024.
  27. Web site: FremantleMedia Nabs French Scripted Production Company Fontaram. Variety. 7 September 2015. 9 May 2024.
  28. Web site: Fremantle Acquires Stake In Simon Andreae's Naked Entertainment. Deadline Hollywood. 17 September 2015. 9 May 2024.
  29. Web site: Fremantle Takes Full Control of Simon Andreae's Naked Television. Deadline Hollywood. Jake. Kanter. 26 February 2020. 13 May 2024.
  30. Web site: FremantleMedia Buys Dutch Factual Programming Company No Pictures Please. Variety. 18 September 2015. 9 May 2024.
  31. Web site: Fremantle buys Essential drama division. TBI Vision. 11 September 2017. 9 May 2024.
  32. Web site: FremantleMedia Moves Out Of Kids Content, Sells Unit To Canada's Boat Rocker. Peter. White. 25 January 2018. 30 April 2019.
  33. News: Stewart . Clarke. 26 July 2018. FremantleMedia Names Jennifer Mullin New CEO. Variety. 20 September 2018.
  34. News: Stewart . Clarke. 7 September 2018. FremantleMedia Rebrands as Fremantle, With Jennifer Mullin Newly at the Helm. Variety. 20 September 2018.
  35. Web site: Fremantle Podcast Label Storyglass Spun Out Into Standalone Company Within Bertelsmann Group. Deadline Hollywood. Jake . Kanter. 13 July 2020. 24 July 2020.
  36. Web site: Tom . Grater. 9 September 2020. Fremantle Merges UK Factual Labels. 19 October 2020. deadline.com.
  37. Web site: Fremantle Buys Italian TV Production Company Lux Vide. The Hollywood Reporter. 3 March 2022. 9 May 2024.
  38. Web site: Layton . Mark . 10 May 2022 . Fremantle acquires majority stake in 'Normal People' firm Element Pictures . 10 May 2022 . TBI Vision .
  39. Web site: Fremantle Acquires 'All Or Nothing: Arsenal' Producer 72 Films. Variety. Manori. Ravindari. 9 November 2022. 13 May 2024.
  40. Web site: Layton . Mark . 22 November 2022 . Fremantle's acquisition spree continues with Israel's Silvio Productions . 22 November 2022 . TBI Vision .
  41. Web site: Fremantle acquires Beach House Pictures. Deadline Hollywood. 8 February 2024. 9 May 2024.
  42. Web site: Fremantle Set To Acquire Asacha Media Group. Variety. K.J. Yossman. 20 February 2024. 13 May 2024.
  43. Web site: 18 June 2014. FremantleMedia eyes French drama push. 11 December 2020. TBI Vision.
  44. Web site: White. Peter. 7 March 2018. FremantleMedia's High-End Drama Push Helps Bolster Parent Group RTL. 11 December 2020. Deadline.
  45. Web site: White. Peter. 29 August 2018. Drama Push Helps 'American Gods' Producer FremantleMedia's Bottom Line As It Seeks Funding For 35 Projects. 11 December 2020. Deadline.
  46. Web site: Ravindran . Manori . 9 November 2022 . Fremantle Acquires U.K. Documentary Powerhouse 72 Films in Major Deal . . 9 November 2022.
  47. Web site: Ramachandran . Naman . 6 April 2022 . Fremantle Takes Majority Stake in 'The Responder,' The Salisbury Poisonings' Producer Dancing Ledge . . 6 April 2022.
  48. Web site: Ritchie . Kevin . 28 April 2016 . FremantleMedia invests in upstart UK indie Dr Pluto . . 28 April 2016.
  49. Web site: Conlan . Tara . 17 March 2014 . Fremantle set to resurrect Euston Films . . 17 March 2014.
  50. News: Q&A: Euston Films' Kate Harwood. Drama Quarterly. 12 October 2018.
  51. Web site: BBC Studios exec arrives at Euston. 12 October 2018. C21media.
  52. Web site: Growing drama slate. 12 October 2018. www.rtlgroup.com.
  53. Web site: Stephen . Chapman. 7 June 2019. Fremantle seeks "creatively brave" dramas with Castlefield launch. 17 March 2020. Prolific North.
  54. Web site: Alcinii . Daniele . 25 November 2015 . Fremantle sticks down Label1 investment . . 25 November 2015.
  55. Web site: Watson . Ryan . 5 October 2017 . FremantleMedia takes stake in Full Fat TV . C21 Media . 4 October 2017.
  56. Web site: Clarke . Stewart . 10 December 2015 . Fremantle backs former C4 exec's indie . TBI Vision . 10 December 2015.
  57. Web site: Jake . Kanter. 26 February 2020. Simon Andreae To Run Fremantle In The UK After Group Takes Full Control Of Naked Television. 18 May 2020. deadline.com.
  58. Web site: Barraclough . Leo . 21 March 2023 . Fremantle Launches Premium Documentaries Label Undeniable . . 21 March 2023.
  59. Web site: Szalai . Georg . 1 June 2016 . FremantleMedia Buys 25 Percent Stake in U.K. Firm Launched by Former 'Top Gear' Executive Producer . . 1 June 2016.
  60. Web site: Ravindran . Manori . 15 November 2022 . Fremantle Continues Buying Spree With Acquisition of Natural History Producer Wildstar Films . . 15 November 2022.
  61. Web site: Distribution – Element Pictures . Elementpictures.ie . 7 August 2022.
  62. Web site: About us – Element Pictures .
  63. Web site: Cinema & Home Entertainment – Element Pictures .
  64. News: Lieberman. David. 18 July 2016. FremantleMedia Buys Random House Studio With New TV-Movie Alliance. Deadline. Penske Business Media. 4 August 2016.
  65. Web site: Veronica . Villafañe. 31 October 2019. Fremantle Expands Into Latino Market, Buys Stake In Production Company The Immigrant. 19 October 2020. Forbes.
  66. Web site: Fremantle, BRON take stake in the Immigrant | Major Businesses | Business | News | Rapid TV News. 19 October 2020. 20 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020152447/https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2019110157621/fremantle-bron-take-stake-in-the-immigrant.html. dead.
  67. Web site: Fremantle Takes Stake in Graphic Novel Publisher AWA, Sets Thriller 'Devil's Highway'. Variety. Naman . Ramachandran. 14 February 2023. 30 March 2023.
  68. Web site: Contact .
  69. Web site: UFA DOCUMENTARY.
  70. Web site: Kwaï production audiovisuelle - Groupe FremantleMedia . FR-75 . Kwai.tv . 28 January 2021 . 7 August 2022.
  71. Web site: Home | Fiction Valley .
  72. Web site: Home . bluecircle.nl.
  73. Web site: Home | No Pictures Please . Nopicturesplease.nl . 7 August 2022.
  74. Web site: David . de Jong. 30 October 2019. Fremantle neemt No Pictures Please volledig over en begint nieuw label. Fremantle to acquire full ownership of No Pictures Please. 21 March 2020. Nederlands MediaNieuws.
  75. Web site: A new partnership with Dutch company Tebbernekkel | Fremantle .
  76. Web site: Nick . Vivarelli . 23 March 2023 . Fremantle Buys Belgium's A Team Productions, Continuing Its Indie Outfits Buying Spree . 30 March 2023 . Variety.
  77. Web site: Fremantle Buys Italy's Lux Vide, Company Chiefs Unpack Long-Gestating Deal (EXCLUSIVE). Vivarelli. Nick. 3 March 2022. Variety. 3 March 2022.
  78. Web site: Our History . 4 April 2017 .
  79. Web site: Nick . Vivarelli. 20 January 2020. Sky Italia's Vision Distribution to Launch Film Sales Company at Berlin's EFM. 30 September 2020. Variety.
  80. Web site: Fremantle announces new structure in Italy. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609032653/https://fremantle.com/fremantle-announces-new-structure-in-italy/. 9 June 2020.
  81. Web site: SemiColonWeb. FormatBiz - 'Italian and WorldWide Format TV News' Canale5 quiz Chi Vuol Essere Milionario? won pt slot with 3m (14.4%). 19 March 2020. www.formatbiz.it.
  82. Web site: Fremantle Spain Taps Fernando Jerez to Create New Factual and Doc Label En Cero Coma Producciones. Variety. John . Hopewell. 18 November 2021.
  83. Web site: Misofilm . 11 January 2022 .
  84. Web site: 25 May 2018 . Moskito Television Oy . 7 August 2022 . Moskito.fi . 24 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424053150/http://www.moskito.fi/ . dead .
  85. Web site: Playroom Event AS . Playroom . 7 August 2022 . Playroomevent.com.
  86. Web site: About us . 24 June 2022 . 24 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220624141145/http://www.playroomevent.com/whyweexist . dead .
  87. Web site: Hjem - Monster . 7 August 2022 . Monster.as.
  88. Web site: Home . obhf.no.
  89. Web site: Baluba - Contact Info, Job Openings, And Casting . 7 August 2022 . Baluba.se.
  90. Web site: TV Productions Company • ABOT HAMEIRI . Ahe.co.il . 23 May 2019 . 7 August 2022.
  91. Web site: About Us • ABOT HAMEIRI .
  92. Web site: McHugh . Martin . 14 January 2022 . Fremantle winds down Hare and Tortoise . . 14 January 2022.
  93. Web site: Mobile Giant Jam City Acquries Ludia for $165M. The Hollywood Reporter. Trilby. Beresford. 8 September 2021. 9 May 2024.

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