Fremantle Australia, Keshet Int’l strike formats deal

Fremantle Australia has struck a first-look deal with Keshet International, giving them access to the Israeli distributor’s non-scripted formats catalogue for Australia and New Zealand.

The deal is the first of its kind between Keshet International and Fremantle, and covers rights to KI’s unscripted formats catalogue, which includes TBI MIPCOM Hot Pick Showdown – Aviv/Eyal, dance series Masters of Dance and celeb-fronted docu-reality series Anna’s 12 Steps To Love, as well as new titles.

The deal also covers entertainment and factual entertainment formats from the UK’s Greenbird Media, in which KI acquired a majority stake earlier this year.

Greenbird formats included in the deal are Tuesday’s Child musical gameshow Playlisters, Crackit Productions’ reality series Bad Habits, Holy Orders, Rumpus Media’s dating show Personal Dater and Top Hat’s social experiment Bussing.

Fremantle Australia’s unscripted slate includes Take Me Out, Family Feud, Great Australian Bake Off, Grand Designs Australia, The X Factor and Australia’s Got Talent.

Kelly Wright, VP of distribution and new business at Keshet International, said: “Fremantle’s tremendous production strength in Australia and New Zealand, as well as their ability to successfully adapt formats to the needs of the local market, makes this an incredibly exciting opportunity.

“We’re looking forward to bringing our diverse slate of innovative non-scripted formats, backed by Fremantle’s development twists and production might, to the region.”

Chris Oliver-Taylor, CEO Asia Pacific for Fremantle, added: “The opportunity to partner with creative powerhouse Keshet gives our Australian development slate great depth, and enhances our ability to sell and create amazing content.

“Our brilliant creative team, led by director of content Jennifer Collins and director of unscripted Caroline Spencer are exceptional at adapting international formats for our local market, and we expect great success to come from our partnership with Keshet International.”