Essential Media Group


EQ Media co-founder Jesse Fawcett launches US, Canadian firm Fireworks

EQ Media Group co-founder Jesse Fawcett has launched a North American production company to develop and produce unscripted and scripted content. Fireworks Media Group is producing the new original series Pamela Anderson’s Home Reno Project (working title) for HGTV Canada and has also struck a first-look scripted development deal with social media celeb Kris Collins. […]

Essential Media’s Greg Quail & Jesse Fawcett buy prodco back from Kew Media

The CEO and North American president at Australia and LA-based production group Essential Media Group have re-acquired the company from Kew Media Group. Essential’s CEO Greg Quail and North American chief Jesse Fawcett will now regain full control of the producer, which was acquired by the now-collapsed Kew Media two years ago. The Canadian company, […]

Federation Entertainment links with Essential in Oz for ‘Aftermath’ drama

France’s Federation Entertainment is working with Kew Media’s Australian prodco Essential Media Group on a new crime drama. Aftermath (8 x 52 minutes) is in advanced development and will be co-produced by the two companies, with the story set in Australia in 1992 and the present day. It has been created by director, Erin White, […]

US greenlights: A&E bets on live, ID explores NXIVM, Paramount reins cowboy competition

A&E bets on live with daredevil series A&E is betting on live events in a big way with programmes featuring high-octane stunts. The A+E Networks-backed channel has partnered with Kew Media Group-backed Essential Media Group on stunt series The Impossible Live (w/t), in which daredevils risk their lives to pull off major stunts. The 5 […]

Essential Media Group opens shop in New Zealand

Essential Media Group has opened shop in New Zealand, scoring a local commission from Sky-owned free-to-air broadcaster Prime. The new business, Essential Media Group NZ, is a Wellington-based joint venture with Libertine Pictures. The outfit opens doors with a commission in hand, having recently struck a deal for a 4 x 60-minute series entitled Griff’s […]

The ascent of Aussie drama

Drama from down under is enjoying a watershed moment as productions attract the attention of global SVODs and travel seamlessly around the world – what’s behind Australian TV’s global walkabout? Manori Ravindran reports. Once on the periphery of the international drama market, global-facing offerings such as ABC’s The Letdown are drawing the interest of global […]

Essential taps Seven Network exec for commercial partnerships

Sydney and Los Angeles-based Essential Media Group has hired Seven Network exec Lauren Peacock as its head of commercial partnerships. Peacock, who most recently served as brand partnerships manager at Seven Network Australia, will be tasked with securing and managing commercial agreements across the Kew Media Group-owned business’s production slate, which includes The Pacific in […]

Kew-backed EMG launches Essential Scripted

Sydney and LA-based Essential Media Group (EMG) has launched Essential Scripted, a new international arm focused on producing premium international scripted content for the small and big screen. The move follows the recent acquisition of the EMG by Kew Media Group. It also signals a return to the scripted market for Essential Media, following the sale of its […]

Essential, Quail create LA joint venture

Australian prodcos Quail Television and Essential Media and Entertainment has entered into a production joint venture, with a series of hires also revealed. Essential’s existing LA arm, Essential Media USA, and Quail have created Essential Quail Television (EQTV), which is already in production on DIY Network series Texas Flip N Move, spin-offs Louisiana Flip N […]

New-look Essential emerges after Canada MBO

Toronto-based 11 Television Canada has rebranded under a new CEO after a management buy-out. The firm will now be known as Essential Media Canada, with executive producer Jonathan Dueck (pictured, left) installed as CEO and Joey Case (right) named executive producer and creative director. This comes after Dueck and Case bought former CEO Michael McMahon […]