You are viewing the archive: “FremantleMedia North America”

FremantleMedia North America Taps Alex Demyanenko SVP Non-Fiction Development

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 4, 2013 @ 9:35am PDTTags: Alex Demyanenko, FremantleMedia North America
Nellie Andreeva

Alex Demyanenko has joined FremantleMedia North America in the newly created position of SVP, Non-Fiction Development and Programming. Under new CEO Thom Beers, FMNA is splitting development and programming for the broadcast and cable networks, with Damyanenko overseeing cable projects, and Julie Uribe, SVP, Non-Scripted Development, shepherding broadcast ones. Both report to Beers. Demyanenko comes from Shed Media US, where he was SVP, producing such series as Basketball Wives and Basketball Wives LA (VH1) and Tough Enough (USA). Prior to that, he was VP, Series Development and Programming at VH1, developing over 20 series in four years, including Celeb Rehab, Tough Love and The T.O. Show. Prior to VH1, Demyanenko was Head of Development at Rocket Science Laboratories, where he developed Fox’s Joe Millionaire, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé and Trading Spouses.

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FremantleMedia North America’s Head Of Scripted Tony Optican Exits

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 20, 2013 @ 5:01pm PSTTags: FremantleMedia North America, Tony Optican
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Tony Optican is leaving FremantleMedia North America after a four-year stint as head of the company’s scripted programming division. I hear his contract was up and was not renewed. FMNA is already looking for a replacement for … Read More »

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Thom Beers To Be Named CEO Of FremantleMedia North America

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday August 28, 2012 @ 3:57pm PDTTags: FremantleMedia North America, Thom Beers
Nellie Andreeva

It’s a done deal. I’ve learned that FremantleMedia this week will announce the long-rumored appointment of Thom Beers as CEO of FremantleMedia North America. The prolific producer will succeed longtime FMNA CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz who on July 1st … Read More »

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Cécile Frot-Coutaz Named CEO Of FremantleMedia, Tony Cohen Exits

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday April 19, 2012 @ 10:46am PDTTags: FremantleMedia North America
Nellie Andreeva

Longtime FremantleMedia North America CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz is being promoted to CEO of the entire FremantleMedia company, which is owned by RTL. Frot-Coutaz will assume her new duties on July 1 and will be based in London. She will replace Tony Cohen who is stepping down. As for FMNA, it is yet unclear who will succeed Frot-Coutaz in the top post. “After being with the group for 17 years, Cécile has the vision and leadership that are needed to further grow FremantleMedia,” Guillaume de Posch, Co-CEO of RTL Group. “She brings expertise and drive from the largest TV market in the world and combines her creative skills as a producer with a sharp business perspective.” De Posch went on to thank Cohen. Read More »

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FremantleMedia Signs Deal With ‘Wipeout’ Creator Matt Kunitz

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday March 20, 2012 @ 8:34am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Fear Factor, FremantleMedia North America, Wipeout
Nellie Andreeva

Matt Kunitz Wipeout FremantleMediaEXCLUSIVE: After six years at NBC Universal and six at Endemol, reality producer Matt Kunitz is teaming with FremantleMedia North America. Kunitz, creator/executive producer of Wipeout and executive producer of Fear Factor, has signed a multi-year overall … Read More »

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‘Family Feud’ Renewed Through 2015 In 75% Of U.S., Goes HD

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday November 2, 2011 @ 11:55am PDTTags: Debmar-Mercury, FremantleMedia North America, Steve Harvey
Nellie Andreeva

Distributor Debmar-Mercury has renewed Family Feud through 2015 in more than 75% of the U.S. on stations that belong to Fox, Sinclair, CBS, Tribune, Cox, Capital, NBC, Sunbeam, Newport and Belo broadcast groups. The show, hosted by Steve … Read More »

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Syfy Picks Up ‘Total Blackout’ Game Show

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday October 11, 2011 @ 1:59pm PDTTags: FremantleMedia North America, Syfy
Nellie Andreeva

Syfy has picked up Total Blackout, a half-hour comedic game show from FremantleMedia North America that places contestants in complete darkness to compete in challenges. The series will start production October 18 for a 2012 premiere. Jaleel White (Family Matters) … Read More »

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Fremantle Reboots ‘Universal Soldier’; Hires ‘National Treasure’ Creator To Pen Treasure Caper TV Series

By TIM ADLER in London | Monday October 3, 2011 @ 3:03am PDTTags: Fremantle, FremantleMedia North America, MIPCOM

MIPCOM: Those of you who cheered when Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren went mano-a-mano in Roland Emmerich’s 1992 sci-flick Universal Soldier will be pleased to know that it is being rebooted as a TV series. Damian Kindler (Stargate, Sanctuary) … Read More »

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Former FremantleMedia North America PR Executive Manfred Westphal Joins APA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday September 6, 2011 @ 9:34pm PDTTags: APA, FremantleMedia North America, Manfred Westphal
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Two weeks after FremantleMedia North America’s PR head Manfred Westphal abruptly resigned his post as SVP communications and marketing at the reality TV indie giant, he is joining talent agency APA as head of PR. At APA, … Read More »

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FremantleMedia North America’s Top PR Exec Manfred Westphal Abruptly Resigns

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday August 23, 2011 @ 4:44pm PDTTags: FremantleMedia North America, Manfred Westphal
Nellie Andreeva

This is a bizarre story that has had people scratching their heads over the past two days. FremantleMedia North America’s communications and marketing head Manfred Westphal has abruptly left the reality TV indie giant behind such shows as American Idol, America’s Got Talent and the upcoming X Factor. Westphal served as SVP of marketing and communications, reporting to CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz. Word is Westphal quietly cleared his office over the weekend, leaving only a resignation letter for Frot-Coutaz on his desk, which his assistant found after he didn’t show up for work Monday. Adding to the mystery, his known personal phones have been disconnected, while his work phone number is automatically transferred to FremantleMedia North America’s main switchboard. The company’s head of human resources Ellen Goldsmith wouldn’t comment on the circumstances surrounding Westphal’s departure but confirmed that he “has resigned to make a change and pursue a new chapter in his life.” “We wish him the best,” she said, adding that the company is “in the process of recruiting” a replacement. Read More »

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IATSE Makes 3-Year Deal With ‘American Idol’ And ‘America’s Got Talent’ Producer Fremantle

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday July 26, 2011 @ 7:07am PDTTags: FremantleMedia North America, IATSE

Los Angeles – The IATSE and Fremantle Media North America (FMNA), the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia, have reached a three year term agreement covering domestic programs produced for network and basic cable, it was jointly announced today by Matthew D. Loeb, International President of IATSE and Dan Goldberg, Executive Vice President of Production for FMNA.

FMNA, whose programs include “American Idol” (FOX), “America’s Got Talent” (NBC) and the upcoming “The X Factor” (FOX), which is co-produced with Simon Cowell’s Syco Television, have already been working with IA crews on a number of their shows. The new agreement establishes parameters across all programs.

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