FremantleMedia News

FremantleMedia International has signed a series of major deals totaling more than 220 hours of programming, with broadcasters in Germany and Austria, including package deals with ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL Group channels.

The production company behind American Idol has moved quickly to hire a new executive producer to take over the show.

Swedish television executive Pers Blankens steps in for Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, who recently confirmed their exit from the Fox show.

Rachel Brill was promoted June 6 to VP, unscripted programming, TNT Originals . She will oversee development of unscripted series and report to David Eilenberg, senior VP, unscripted development, TNT and TBS.

FremantleMedia North America has named Craig Cegielski to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Scripted Programming and Development.

MUMBAI: The television trade event Mipcom which is organised by Reed Midem has announced the initial line-up for the Media Mastermind conference programme to take centre-stage in the Palais des Festivals' Grand Auditorium in Cannes.

AUSTRALIAN viewers enamoured with the prison drama Wentworth will get a second dose with the announcement today itA's been commissioned for a second series.

Don't expect Bacharach, Motown and British Invasion themes for Season 13 of American Idol .

International television confab Mipcom has lined up another impressive list of keynote speakers for its 2013 edition, with industry luminaries including Bravo and Style Media president Frances Berwick , FremantleMedia CEO Ceclie Frot-Coutaz , Amazon Studio director Roy Price and Relativity Media boss Ryan Kavanaugh set to make the trip to Cannes ... (more)

It's official, daaaahling. Mariah Carey will not return to American Idol, Fox and FremantleMedia have confirmed.

The hip-hop diva posted Thursday on Twitter that it was "time to focus on the music," just a few hours after Carey announced she wasn't coming back to the Fox talent competition so that she could focus on her upcoming tour.

Marking the first dedicated second screen experience for a kids' TV show in the U.S., the Wizards vs Aliens app is available now on the App Store, two days prior to the show premiere on Hub Network on June 1, 2013.

FremantleMedia and KarmYog Education Network today announced a partnership for Indian Idol Academy, a first of its kind performing arts academy for young learners.

"As our development slate broadens into the prime-time scripted space, expanding our presence in L.A. is a natural next step," Matt Hornburg, co-CEO and executive producer at Marblemedia, said in a statement.

The May 20 hiring of Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio as season-three judges is likely to save Fox and producers FremantleMedia and Cowell's Syco a lot of cash.