view the complete announcement - Randomhouse.biz
view the complete announcement - Randomhouse.biz
view the complete announcement - Randomhouse.biz
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FremantleMedia Limited 1 Stephen Street London W1T 1AL United Kingdom<br />
T +44 (0)20 7691 6000 F +44 (0)20 7691 6100 E firstname.lastname@fremantlemedia.com www.fremantlemedia.com<br />
PRESS RELEASE<br />
FREMANTLEMEDIA & RANDOM HOUSE FORM EXCLUSIVE<br />
TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP<br />
- Newly Established Random House Television To Be Headed By Jeffrey Levine -<br />
July 25, 2012 – FremantleMedia, <strong>the</strong> producer and distributor of several of <strong>the</strong> world’s most widelywatched<br />
television series, and Random House, Inc., <strong>the</strong> U.S. division of Random House, <strong>the</strong><br />
world's largest trade-book publisher, both companies of Bertelsmann AG, announced today a<br />
major new creative and strategic partnership to develop scripted television programming for <strong>the</strong><br />
U.S. and international markets based on <strong>the</strong> fiction and nonfiction books published by Random<br />
House's imprints in North America and internationally.<br />
The first-look deal with FremantleMedia will reside within Random House Television, a newly<br />
created part of Random House Studio, <strong>the</strong> publisher's rebranded and expanded entertainment<br />
division led by Peter Ge<strong>the</strong>rs, President. Random House Television will work toge<strong>the</strong>r with<br />
Random House's editors and publishers, and <strong>the</strong>ir authors' agents, to identify and acquire<br />
performance rights for <strong>the</strong> full range of broadcast network, cable, and premium television scripted<br />
formats.<br />
The partnership will also seek to collaborate with Random House authors to develop original<br />
scripted television properties <strong>the</strong>y might create.<br />
United Talent Agency represented Random House Studio and negotiated <strong>the</strong> first-look deal with<br />
FremantleMedia.<br />
Jeffrey Levine has been appointed Head of Television for Random House Television, based in<br />
FremantleMedia's Los Angeles offices, reporting to Mr. Ge<strong>the</strong>rs. He will work closely with Jeff<br />
Tahler, FremantleMedia Enterprises Senior Vice President of Global Content, and Tony Optican,<br />
Senior Vice President of Scripted Programming for FremantleMedia North America, and with <strong>the</strong><br />
entire Random House Studio team.<br />
FremantleMedia Ltd An RTL Group Company<br />
Registered office as above Registered in England Number 353 341 VAT Number GB 222 715 193
FremantleMedia Limited 1 Stephen Street London W1T 1AL United Kingdom<br />
T +44 (0)20 7691 6000 F +44 (0)20 7691 6100 E firstname.lastname@fremantlemedia.com www.fremantlemedia.com<br />
Mr. Levine joins <strong>the</strong> company from Spring Creek Productions, where he worked on <strong>the</strong><br />
development of many of <strong>the</strong> company’s features including "Blood Diamond," “Monster-In-Law” and<br />
<strong>the</strong> now casting “This Is Where I Leave You.” Levine was an Executive Producer on HBO's "Too<br />
Big To Fail," which garnered 11 Emmy® nominations and won <strong>the</strong> WGA award for best adaption<br />
for Long Form. Previously Mr. Levine was Vice President, Movies and Mini-Series at Turner<br />
Broadcasting Company, where he oversaw <strong>the</strong> development of such projects as "James Dean"<br />
(Golden Globe®, Emmy®, ACE, and BFC winner), and "Mists of Avalon" (9 Emmy® nominations,<br />
WGA nominee).<br />
Also joining <strong>the</strong> Random House Television team in Los Angeles is Christina Malach, Executive<br />
Story Editor, Random House Studio. The New York team under Mr. Ge<strong>the</strong>rs is Valerie Cates and<br />
Claudia Herr, both Executive Story editors, and Brady Emerson, Story Editor, Random House<br />
Studio.<br />
In announcing <strong>the</strong> partnership, David Ellender, Global CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, said<br />
"This is a hugely exciting coming toge<strong>the</strong>r of two companies in <strong>the</strong> Bertelsmann family. As one of<br />
<strong>the</strong> world's most successful book publishers with a global roster of admired authors, Random<br />
House is <strong>the</strong> perfect partner for FremantleMedia as we continue to develop and expand our slate<br />
of world-class scripted content for international audiences. We warmly welcome Peter, Jeff and <strong>the</strong><br />
entire Random House Television team, and look forward to working with <strong>the</strong>m to develop highquality<br />
television projects with wide appeal."<br />
Peter Ge<strong>the</strong>rs said, "Partnering with <strong>the</strong> very talented and savvy FremantleMedia team gives us a<br />
wonderful opportunity to significantly increase <strong>the</strong> many options we already offer to Random House<br />
authors around <strong>the</strong> world. This alliance will enable us to help <strong>the</strong>m expand into new creative and<br />
commercial areas to broaden <strong>the</strong>ir audience. Random House Television is a natural extension of<br />
<strong>the</strong> partnership we already enjoy with our writers and will help <strong>the</strong>m flourish in an increasingly<br />
complex, exciting, and interdependent global entertainment business. I'm thrilled to have Jeff on<br />
board with us, and with <strong>the</strong> opportunity to work with FremantleMedia in <strong>the</strong> U.S. and<br />
internationally."<br />
# # #<br />
ABOUT RANDOM HOUSE<br />
Random House, Inc.'s mission is to connect readers worldwide to adult and children's fiction and nonfiction<br />
authors both familiar and new. It is home to more than 50 Nobel Prize laureates, 100 Pulitzer Prize winners,<br />
and many of <strong>the</strong> most widely read authors of our time. As <strong>the</strong> world's largest print and digital trade book<br />
publisher with 200 editorially-independent imprints, it publishes approximately 10,000 new books annually in<br />
print, digital, and audio formats, and sells more than 400 million books a year across <strong>the</strong> globe. Random<br />
House, Inc. (www.randomhouse.com) is <strong>the</strong> U.S. division of Random House, <strong>the</strong> book division of<br />
Bertelsmann AG, one of <strong>the</strong> world's leading media companies.<br />
FremantleMedia Ltd An RTL Group Company<br />
Registered office as above Registered in England Number 353 341 VAT Number GB 222 715 193
FremantleMedia Limited 1 Stephen Street London W1T 1AL United Kingdom<br />
T +44 (0)20 7691 6000 F +44 (0)20 7691 6100 E firstname.lastname@fremantlemedia.com www.fremantlemedia.com<br />
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA<br />
FremantleMedia is one of <strong>the</strong> leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
FremantleMedia is part of <strong>the</strong> RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is<br />
in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of <strong>the</strong> world's major media and entertainment companies.<br />
FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of <strong>the</strong> world’s highest rated prime time<br />
entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is<br />
<strong>the</strong> brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and<br />
Home Entertainment around <strong>the</strong> world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North<br />
America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst o<strong>the</strong>rs)<br />
has operations in 22 countries, one of <strong>the</strong> most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000<br />
hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles.<br />
FremantleMedia has some of <strong>the</strong> world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and<br />
globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in <strong>the</strong> US), Hole In The<br />
Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in <strong>the</strong> UK and <strong>the</strong> US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in <strong>the</strong><br />
UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten,<br />
and Neighbours.<br />
Since it launched its global drama strategy three years ago, FremantleMedia Enterprises has announced a<br />
number of high profile partnerships with some of <strong>the</strong> industry’s most powerful players including Mike Tollin,<br />
executive producer of Wedding Band, which will launch on TBS later this year; Paul Abbott’s AbbottVision,<br />
creators of Hit & Miss, commissioned by Sky Atlantic HD and currently airing on DIRECTV in <strong>the</strong> US; Pukeko<br />
Pictures, <strong>the</strong> affiliate television company of Richard Taylor’s Weta Workshop; Justin Bodle, creator of<br />
premium slate drama series as The Day of <strong>the</strong> Triffids, Flood, Colditz, Archangel, Crusoe, Ice and XIII: The<br />
Conspiracy, which between <strong>the</strong>m have sold to more than 240 broadcasters; and Barry Josephson, executive<br />
producer of global hit TV drama Bones.<br />
Press Contacts:<br />
Oliver Rawlins<br />
VP, Global Communications<br />
FremantleMedia Enterprises<br />
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7691 6101<br />
oliver.rawlins@fremantlemedia.com<br />
Neil Schubert<br />
FremantleMedia North America<br />
818-748-1148<br />
Neil.Schubert@fremantlemedia.com<br />
Stuart Applebaum<br />
EVP, Communications<br />
Random House, Inc.<br />
212-782-9623,<br />
SApplebaum@randomhouse.com<br />
FremantleMedia Ltd An RTL Group Company<br />
Registered office as above Registered in England Number 353 341 VAT Number GB 222 715 193