Christian Schneider-Sickert, FremantleMedia’s Director of Operations and Strategy, said: “The Talent Fund will allow FremantleMedia to build on one of our most important assets, our strong relationships with talent. We have a great track record in partnering up with some of the industry’s best creative and on-screen talent and turning ideas into global entertainment and drama brands, while exploiting the relevant intellectual property throughout the world and across all platforms. We are now looking to substantially increase our investment in such relationships across our key markets”.
“FremantleMedia is creating a great package: investment, a track record of supporting and developing talent, a back-office infrastructure and a proven ability to deliver financial returns on creative ideas. Investments made through the new fund will enable us to cover a wide range of talent, from emerging to established brand names. We always take a long-term view of the creative process, so that talent can flourish both on and off screen”, Schneider-Sickert added.
The first deals under the fund initiative include a TalkbackThames label deal with comedy writer Graham Linehan (IT Crowd); a partnership with the distinguished actor Trevor Eve (Waking The Dead); and an investment in Hillbilly, Polly Leys’ and Kate Norrish’s independent drama production company.
The new FremantleMedia Talent Fund will invest in a range of talent partnerships, including label deals and the formation of jointly-owned production companies. The fund will initially focus on the UK and the USA, but will eventually target opportunities across the company’s global production network. It is part of a major investment-led growth strategy being pursued by the company, which will also see FremantleMedia pursue acquisitions in continental Europe, the UK and the USA over the next few years.
Lorraine Heggessey, Chief Executive Officer of TalkbackThames, part of the FremantleMedia group, said: “It's a real coup to have such high-profile talent in comedy and drama join forces with TalkbackThames. The Talent Fund will help us expand our business and, working with established talents like Graham Linehan and Trevor Eve, will ensure that we broaden our creative base in these genres. It's fantastic to see our parent company supporting Talkback’s ambitious growth plans”. |
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