Original Productions


Max goes ‘Chasing Flavor’ with new Carla Hall-hosted food series

Warner Bros. Discovery streamer Max has commissioned Chasing Flavor, a new unscripted food & travel series hosted by celebrity chef Carla Hall. Produced by Fremantle’s Original Productions and launching on 1 February, the 6 x 30-minute series follows Hall as her curiosity about America’s most delicious dishes – from chicken pot pie to ice cream […]

Original taps Kagan 7’s Stepp for development

Fremantle’s Original Productions has hired Kagan 7’s producer and development exec Jeff Stepp (pictured) as its vice president of development. In his new role Stepp will report to Original’s VP of programming and development Brian Lovett, who joined the company in August. Stepp will cultivate new original intellectual property for Original and work with the […]

Nice Drama appoints Mikael Newihl as development head

Nordic Entertainment Group-owned Nice Drama has appointed Mikael Newihl as its head of development. Newihl has shuffled to Nice Drama from NENT Group, where he has worked for seven years, most recently as VP of Nordic drama. The exec is behind poplar Viaplay titles such as The Lawyer, Conspiracy of Silence and Black Lake. Newihl […]

Tandem, Bron Studios set for thriller from The Bridge scribe

Tandem Productions, a Studiocanal company, and Bron Studios are set to produce a gritty dramatic thriller from The Bridge (pictured) writer Måns Mårlind. The two production outfits will co-produce the eight-part series with Germany’s ZDF. It will be co-financed by a line-up of major international networks, including Viaplay, CCanal+, Canal + Poland and Holland’s NPO. Set […]

FremantleMedia hooks Hasler to run Original Productions

LA-based unscripted specialist Original Productions (OP) has hired Jeff Hasler to serve as president of the FremantleMedia-owned firm. Hasler will supervise and lead all development, production, business and strategic aspects of the company with the support of Ernie Avila, COO and EVP, business affairs and Sarah Whalen, EVP development and programming, both of whom will […]

Segal exiting CEO post at Fremantle prodco

Philip Segal is to leave FremantleMedia North America-owned Original Productions this spring. Segal will exit his CEO post at the end of his current contract, with Original COO and executive VP of business affairs Ernie Avila and EVP of development and programming Sarah Whalen taking over in the interim. Original sits alongside unscripted prodcos such […]

Exec pair replacing Beers at FremantleMedia

Craig Cegielski and Jennifer Mullin have been named co-CEOs of FremantleMedia North America to replace current incumbent Thom Beers (pictured left). Cegielski (right) is currently executive VP, scripted programming and Mullin (below, left) EVP of current programming. They will step up when Beers exits upon the end of his contract this summer, both reporting to […]

ITV cuts deal with Storage Wars’ Killion

The US-based content division of UK commercial broadcaster ITV has inked an overall and first-look deal with Justin Killion (pictured), the exec who developed and sold fact-ent series including Storage Wars. He will develop and exec produce series for ITV Studios and has also brought on development exec Tim Urian to work with him. Killian […]

Thom Beers named FremantleMedia US boss

  Ice Road Truckers producer Thom Beers has been appointed as chief executive officer, FremantleMedia North America. Beers, who was previously chief executive of Original Productions, which he sold a stake to FremantleMedia in 2009, will assume the role at the start of September. He replaces and reports to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia, who […]