FremantleMedia Enterprises And Original Productions Partner On Blue Collar Heroism

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has announced an agreement with Thom Beers' Original Productions which will see it acquire all visual rights (excluding North America) to five new shows which are spearheading the demand for "blue collar hero" programming: 'Verminators', 'Amercia's Port, LA', 'Hard Hats', '1,000 Ways To Die' and 'Black Gold' and will be launched at MIPCOM in October.
The "blue collar hero" genre has been a ratings sensation in the US with 'Verminators' exceeding the Discovery Channel time slot average by 33% and 'Black Gold' attracting an audience 27% higher than TruTV's prime time average. This success has been duly noted in the domestic press with reports appearing in Time Magazine and The New York Times, naming Beers "The genre-defining producer".
Thom Beers, CEO and Executive Producer at Original Productions said: "I couldn't have asked for a better international partner for these five shows. This deal will firmly establish the Original Productions brand in the global market."
Philip Segal, President of Original Productions, said: "As a worldwide distributor, FremantleMedia Enterprises offers an outstanding opportunity to reach 150 countries. We are excited to introduce our unique brand of authentic reality programming to millions of new viewers."
Jeff Tahler, FME VP Acquisitions and Development, Americas, who brokered the deal, commented: "Original Productions is at the absolute forefront of this exciting genre and it's great to be in business with producers who are at the height of their game."
Speaking about the deal, FME CEO David Ellender added: "These shows bolster a new and important part of the FME catalogue. Reality programming is continuously evolving and maturing and we now have something rugged, bold and adventurous for the male audience. Blue-collar reality has a clear following and we are confident that it will appeal universally. We look forward to working alongside Original Productions within this new genre and delivering these distinctive shows to a global audience."
Further information is available at: www.fremantlemedia.com and www.originalproductions.com.
(KMcA/JM)