MIPCOM 8 October, 2012 – FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and Vuguru LLC today announce a major new first-look deal for international rights to the independent studio’s original commission programming. The deal will see FME distribute Vuguru original content across all digital, linear and home entertainment platforms outside North America from 2013, further diversifying FME’s catalogue of high-quality, distinctive scripted programming and forging a new partnership between one of the most exciting content producers and one of the most powerful content distributors in the industry.
An independent multi-platform studio, Vuguru was founded in 2006 by former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner and is also backed by Rogers Media of Canada In the intervening years it has developed and financed premium, award winning and immensely popular scripted multiplatform titles that have been distributed across online, mobile, and linear television platforms in over 40 countries around the world, attracting global audiences and global advertisers.
David Ellender, Global CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, said, “This deal with Vuguru builds on and augments FME’s burgeoning digital strategy. New media studios such as Vuguru are home to some of the best and most exciting content and ideas anywhere in the industry, and FME is one of the best-positioned and best-networked global distributors to capitalise on the creative and commercial opportunities that that presents.”
“Vuguru prides itself on creating premium content through great storytelling and are looking forward to utilizing FME’s unprecedented global reach to continue to introduce these incredible stories to new audiences all over the world,” said Larry Tanz, CEO of Vuguru.
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ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of television entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn 92 percent owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
www.fremantlemedia.com
About Vuguru LLC
Vuguru LLC is an independent studio that develops and finances scripted, story-driven content for digital and international platforms. Founded by Michael D. Eisner’s Tornante Company and backed by Canada’s Rogers Media, the company develops, finances and licenses premium scripted content to a global set of distribution partners with large audiences. Vuguru programming has been distributed in over 40 countries around the world, and in 2010, the company structured a first-of-its-kind international sales & distribution commitment for 10 projects with UK-based Content Media Corporation. In the U.S., Vuguru has multi-project licensing and distribution deals with AOL and Yahoo!.
Vuguru’s inaugural series, Emmy®-nominated “Prom Queen,” pioneered the online serial space with its unique format and distribution. Most recently in the U.S., Vuguru’s “Little Women Big Cars” and “Fetching” launched on AOL to millions of views. The second season of the global hit, “The Booth at the End” launched on Hulu in August and debuts internationally in fall 2012. Additional Vuguru series include “Greetings From Home”, “Playdate”, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”, “Pretty Tough”, “The Millionaire Tour”, “Nuclear Family”, “Off Season”, “Crawlspace”, “Stan Lee’s World of Heroes”, “Deep Powder” and the Emmy®-nominated “Back on Topps”.
For further information:
Belinda Thomas-Dunphy
Sr PR Manager, FME
+44 (0) 207 691 6911 / +44 (0) 783 309 3351
belinda.thomas@fremantlemedia.com
Jumana Rizwan
PR Manager
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7691 6114 / +44 (0) 7775 035 317
jumana.rizwan@fremantlemedia.com
DKC Public Relations
Melisa Gotto
melisa_gotto@dkcnews.com
(310) 280-2013