LONDON -- Shed Media, the independent production house behind Supernanny, Fat March and Footballers' Wives continued its spending spree Thursday, saying it has acquired leading British rival Wall to Wall Prods. for 25 million pounds ($51.2 million).
Shed, which acquired Twenty Twenty Prods. for 19 million pounds ($39.1 million) in September and also owns Ricochet, said that Wall to Wall will be "an excellent fit" for its burgeoning U.K. and stateside business.
"Wall to Wall has some of the most successful television brands around, and Alex Graham, who joins the Shed board with immediate effect, will make a great contribution to growing the group," Shed CEO Eileen Gallagher said.
Added Graham: "What I like about Shed is that it understands that commercial success is built on long-running program brands, and I'm looking forward to playing my part in creating the next generation of hit Shed shows."
Wall to Wall is one of the U.K.'s most respected production companies, creating the hit genealogy show "Who Do You Think You Are?" as well as such factual hits as Frontier House and award-winning dramas including A Rather English Marriage and Our Boy.
Founder Alex Graham will reap 5.7 million pounds ($11.7 million) in shares as part of the deal
Shed said that pretax profits totaled 8.5 million pounds ($17.5 million) on revenue of 43.6 million pounds ($89.8 million) for the year through Aug.
Shed, which acquired Twenty Twenty Prods. for 19 million pounds ($39.1 million) in September and also owns Ricochet, said that Wall to Wall will be "an excellent fit" for its burgeoning U.K. and stateside business.
"Wall to Wall has some of the most successful television brands around, and Alex Graham, who joins the Shed board with immediate effect, will make a great contribution to growing the group," Shed CEO Eileen Gallagher said.
Added Graham: "What I like about Shed is that it understands that commercial success is built on long-running program brands, and I'm looking forward to playing my part in creating the next generation of hit Shed shows."
Wall to Wall is one of the U.K.'s most respected production companies, creating the hit genealogy show "Who Do You Think You Are?" as well as such factual hits as Frontier House and award-winning dramas including A Rather English Marriage and Our Boy.
Founder Alex Graham will reap 5.7 million pounds ($11.7 million) in shares as part of the deal
Shed said that pretax profits totaled 8.5 million pounds ($17.5 million) on revenue of 43.6 million pounds ($89.8 million) for the year through Aug.
- 11/30/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- A repeat Two and a Half Men led CBS to a wide victory in Monday night's primetime.
Two and a Half Men averaged 11 million viewers and a 3.6 rating/9 share in the adults 18-49 demographic to become the night's top show, according to preliminary estimates released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. Rules of Engagement (8.8 million, 3.2/8) dropped three million viewers a half hour later but held up most of its demo lead-in.
The two sitcoms combined to crush the 9 p.m. competition, which included the season finale of Fat March (4.9 million, 1.9/5) as well as repeats of Heroes (3.7 million, 1.2/3) and Prison Break (3.3 million, 1.2/3).
CBS won in the 8 p.m. hour with repeats How I Met Your Mother (6.8 million, 2.4/7) and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.1 million, 2.6/7) beating repeats on the other networks. A repeat CSI: Miami (9.1 million, 2.8/7) prevailed against a new Dateline: NBC (5.4 million, 1.9/5) and an old Supernanny (3.7 million, 1.4/4).
Monday averages: ABC (4.8 million, 1.8/5); CBS (8.7 million, 2.9/8); NBC (4 million, 1.4/4); Fox (3.7 million, 1.4/4); and The CW (2 million, 0.8/2).
Two and a Half Men averaged 11 million viewers and a 3.6 rating/9 share in the adults 18-49 demographic to become the night's top show, according to preliminary estimates released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. Rules of Engagement (8.8 million, 3.2/8) dropped three million viewers a half hour later but held up most of its demo lead-in.
The two sitcoms combined to crush the 9 p.m. competition, which included the season finale of Fat March (4.9 million, 1.9/5) as well as repeats of Heroes (3.7 million, 1.2/3) and Prison Break (3.3 million, 1.2/3).
CBS won in the 8 p.m. hour with repeats How I Met Your Mother (6.8 million, 2.4/7) and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.1 million, 2.6/7) beating repeats on the other networks. A repeat CSI: Miami (9.1 million, 2.8/7) prevailed against a new Dateline: NBC (5.4 million, 1.9/5) and an old Supernanny (3.7 million, 1.4/4).
Monday averages: ABC (4.8 million, 1.8/5); CBS (8.7 million, 2.9/8); NBC (4 million, 1.4/4); Fox (3.7 million, 1.4/4); and The CW (2 million, 0.8/2).
- 9/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's a perfect storm for aspiring TV writers, producers and performers. Los Angeles is hosting back-to-back television festivals this week that will feature some of the top names in the business sharing insights about their craft, showcase new talent and give attendees the chance to pitch ideas to TV networks, production companies and agencies.
NATPE's inaugural LATV Festival, coinciding with its fifth annual TV Producers' Boot Camp, runs today through Friday at numerous locations, while the Independent Television Festival kicks off its second year Friday and runs through Sunday at Raleigh Studios. (The fests joined Tuesday night to co-host a gala opening-night celebration at Raleigh Studios.)
For their part, NATPE executives decided to launch the LATV Fest to spotlight the work of producers here in Los Angeles. NATPE senior vp marketing Beth Braen says that the decision to schedule both fests in the same week was made to create a "nice week of video content celebration" in Los Angeles.
The LATV Fest will feature top executives from such networks as Showtime, Sci Fi Channel, Fox Reality Channel and TV Guide Network and from production companies including Lionsgate and FremantleMedia North America. Also on hand will be writers and producers from such shows as Weeds, Friends, Sex and the City, Entourage and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a number of agency representatives.
The festival officially kicks off this morning with the first of three Deconstructing a Hit breakfast panels -- spotlighting NBC's The Office and ABC's Supernanny and Lost -- that are being produced by the Producers Guild of America and sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter.
ITVF founder and director AJ Tesler says there is a need for TV festivals -- even two that are running almost concurrently in the same city.
"I had a lot of friends who were writers and a lot of really talented people who weren't finding the opportunities I thought they deserved," he said. "There are a million film festivals; why aren't there television festivals?"
Perhaps demonstrating that need, the ITVF had 4,000 attendees last year, and Tesler is expecting to double that this year. The event, in which The Hollywood Reporter is a media partner, also is drawing A-list talent: Nicolas Cage will be at a Friday night screening for his ex-wife Christina Fulton's documentary When Giants Collide, which stars their son Weston Coppola-Cage as well as fellow members of his high school wrestling team.
NATPE's inaugural LATV Festival, coinciding with its fifth annual TV Producers' Boot Camp, runs today through Friday at numerous locations, while the Independent Television Festival kicks off its second year Friday and runs through Sunday at Raleigh Studios. (The fests joined Tuesday night to co-host a gala opening-night celebration at Raleigh Studios.)
For their part, NATPE executives decided to launch the LATV Fest to spotlight the work of producers here in Los Angeles. NATPE senior vp marketing Beth Braen says that the decision to schedule both fests in the same week was made to create a "nice week of video content celebration" in Los Angeles.
The LATV Fest will feature top executives from such networks as Showtime, Sci Fi Channel, Fox Reality Channel and TV Guide Network and from production companies including Lionsgate and FremantleMedia North America. Also on hand will be writers and producers from such shows as Weeds, Friends, Sex and the City, Entourage and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a number of agency representatives.
The festival officially kicks off this morning with the first of three Deconstructing a Hit breakfast panels -- spotlighting NBC's The Office and ABC's Supernanny and Lost -- that are being produced by the Producers Guild of America and sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter.
ITVF founder and director AJ Tesler says there is a need for TV festivals -- even two that are running almost concurrently in the same city.
"I had a lot of friends who were writers and a lot of really talented people who weren't finding the opportunities I thought they deserved," he said. "There are a million film festivals; why aren't there television festivals?"
Perhaps demonstrating that need, the ITVF had 4,000 attendees last year, and Tesler is expecting to double that this year. The event, in which The Hollywood Reporter is a media partner, also is drawing A-list talent: Nicolas Cage will be at a Friday night screening for his ex-wife Christina Fulton's documentary When Giants Collide, which stars their son Weston Coppola-Cage as well as fellow members of his high school wrestling team.
- 7/25/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Andrea Wong, executive vp alternative programming, specials and late-night at ABC Entertainment, has been named president and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services, replacing Betty Cohen, who resigned Wednesday. The announcement had been expected (HR 4/26).
Wong will oversee all the day-to-day operations for Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including LifetimeTV.com), including advertising sales, affiliate sales, research, programming, public affairs, marketing, business and legal affairs and strategic planning and operations.
Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, and John Conomikes, director of the Hearst Corp., praised Wong in making the announcement. (Lifetime is a 50-50 joint venture of the Hearst Corp. and the Walt Disney Co.)
"Andrea is a straight shooter who is smart enough to know which challenges to undertake and fearless enough to see them through," Sweeney said. "She is also a true 'consumer-facing' executive, one who understands her audience and uses her experience to speak to them in compelling ways."
Added Conomikes: "Andrea is smart, creative and strategic. Her key relationships in the Hollywood community and her knowledge of the intricacies of the television business make her the perfect candidate to lead Lifetime into the future."
Wong has been a rising star at ABC. As head of the network's alternative department, she scored ABC's first reality hit with the 2000 series The Bachelor and its spinoff, The Bachelorette. She built the network's "feel-good reality" brand with such hits as Dancing With the Stars and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and such solid performers as Supernanny and Wife Swap. In 2004, she was elevated to executive vp, adding oversight of ABC's late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live to her portfolio.
Wong will oversee all the day-to-day operations for Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including LifetimeTV.com), including advertising sales, affiliate sales, research, programming, public affairs, marketing, business and legal affairs and strategic planning and operations.
Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, and John Conomikes, director of the Hearst Corp., praised Wong in making the announcement. (Lifetime is a 50-50 joint venture of the Hearst Corp. and the Walt Disney Co.)
"Andrea is a straight shooter who is smart enough to know which challenges to undertake and fearless enough to see them through," Sweeney said. "She is also a true 'consumer-facing' executive, one who understands her audience and uses her experience to speak to them in compelling ways."
Added Conomikes: "Andrea is smart, creative and strategic. Her key relationships in the Hollywood community and her knowledge of the intricacies of the television business make her the perfect candidate to lead Lifetime into the future."
Wong has been a rising star at ABC. As head of the network's alternative department, she scored ABC's first reality hit with the 2000 series The Bachelor and its spinoff, The Bachelorette. She built the network's "feel-good reality" brand with such hits as Dancing With the Stars and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and such solid performers as Supernanny and Wife Swap. In 2004, she was elevated to executive vp, adding oversight of ABC's late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live to her portfolio.
- 4/27/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In one fell swoop, ABC has picked up three freshman and eight returning series for next season.
Rookies Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters and Men In Trees have been given an early second-season order.
Dramas Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Boston Legal, dramedy Desperate Housewives, reality series Dancing with the Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and The Bachelor and late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live also have also been picked up for next season, joining recently renewed America's Funniest Home Videos, Supernanny and Wife Swap.
"We have had a strong year, with two of the season's breakout hits, 'Ugly Betty' and 'Brothers & Sisters,' and the solid performance of 'Men In Trees,'" said ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson, who made the pickup announcement at the network's March development meeting with advertisers Wednesday. "We are pleased that viewers have invested in these new favorites along with our other returning series."
Though the pickups for hits like Grey's, Lost, Housewives, Betty, Dancing and Home Edition have been widely expected, the early vote of confidence for freshmen Men In Trees and Boston Legal, which have developed smaller but devoted fan base, was somewhat of a surprise. Remaining on the fence is another drama with limited following, sophomore What About Brian. No half-hour comedy made the cut for an early pickup, though veterans According to Jim and George Lopez are considered strong candidates to return.
Rookies Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters and Men In Trees have been given an early second-season order.
Dramas Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Boston Legal, dramedy Desperate Housewives, reality series Dancing with the Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and The Bachelor and late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live also have also been picked up for next season, joining recently renewed America's Funniest Home Videos, Supernanny and Wife Swap.
"We have had a strong year, with two of the season's breakout hits, 'Ugly Betty' and 'Brothers & Sisters,' and the solid performance of 'Men In Trees,'" said ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson, who made the pickup announcement at the network's March development meeting with advertisers Wednesday. "We are pleased that viewers have invested in these new favorites along with our other returning series."
Though the pickups for hits like Grey's, Lost, Housewives, Betty, Dancing and Home Edition have been widely expected, the early vote of confidence for freshmen Men In Trees and Boston Legal, which have developed smaller but devoted fan base, was somewhat of a surprise. Remaining on the fence is another drama with limited following, sophomore What About Brian. No half-hour comedy made the cut for an early pickup, though veterans According to Jim and George Lopez are considered strong candidates to return.
- 3/22/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- NBC won Monday's primetime in viewership and split the adults 18-49 victory with Fox with a two-hour Deal or No Deal in place of Heroes and with CBS airing repeats of Two and a Half Men and CSI: Miami.
With Heroes taking the week off, NBC extended the Howie Mandel-hosted Deal to two hours. Deal trounced everything else in the 8 p.m. hour and then overpowered Fox's superagent Jack Bauer and 24 at 9 p.m., according to preliminary data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
Deal averaged 16.7 million viewers and a 4.7 rating/13 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, well ahead of Fox's repeat House (9.7 million, 3.5/10) and a double shot of the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine that averaged 8 million viewers and a 2.7/8 in the demo. It also bested at 9 p.m. a new "24" (12.3 million, 4.5/11) plus the finale of ABC's Supernanny (7.4 million, 3.0/7) and a repeat Two and a Half Men (12.6 million, 4.3/11) and a new Rules of Engagement (11.5 million, 4.3/11).
With Heroes taking the week off, NBC extended the Howie Mandel-hosted Deal to two hours. Deal trounced everything else in the 8 p.m. hour and then overpowered Fox's superagent Jack Bauer and 24 at 9 p.m., according to preliminary data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
Deal averaged 16.7 million viewers and a 4.7 rating/13 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, well ahead of Fox's repeat House (9.7 million, 3.5/10) and a double shot of the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine that averaged 8 million viewers and a 2.7/8 in the demo. It also bested at 9 p.m. a new "24" (12.3 million, 4.5/11) plus the finale of ABC's Supernanny (7.4 million, 3.0/7) and a repeat Two and a Half Men (12.6 million, 4.3/11) and a new Rules of Engagement (11.5 million, 4.3/11).
- 3/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Fox blew away the competition in primetime Monday as surely as Florida defeated Ohio State, 42-14, to take the Bowl Championship Series.
While it will be later today when final data is in, Fox took an early commanding lead in broadcast primetime with an estimated 26.4 million viewers and a 9.5 rating/22 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. The game peaked at 9 p.m. with 29.4 million viewers.
CBS mounted a challenge against the BCS with its entire Monday night schedule in originals. Its ratings were down but still respectable against the BCS. Deal or No Deal (14 million, 3.9/10) on NBC led the best of the rest at 8 p.m., with How I Met Your Mother (8.4 million, 3.1/8) down slightly and The Class (7.7 million, 2.9/7) just about average, as was ABC's Wife Swap (8 million, 3.3/8).
The 9 p.m. hour beyond the BCS went firmly to CBS, with Two and a Half Men (14.8 million, 4.7/11) and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (12.1 million, 4.1/9) about average along with ABC's Supernanny ( 8.1 million, 3.3/8).
While it will be later today when final data is in, Fox took an early commanding lead in broadcast primetime with an estimated 26.4 million viewers and a 9.5 rating/22 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. The game peaked at 9 p.m. with 29.4 million viewers.
CBS mounted a challenge against the BCS with its entire Monday night schedule in originals. Its ratings were down but still respectable against the BCS. Deal or No Deal (14 million, 3.9/10) on NBC led the best of the rest at 8 p.m., with How I Met Your Mother (8.4 million, 3.1/8) down slightly and The Class (7.7 million, 2.9/7) just about average, as was ABC's Wife Swap (8 million, 3.3/8).
The 9 p.m. hour beyond the BCS went firmly to CBS, with Two and a Half Men (14.8 million, 4.7/11) and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (12.1 million, 4.1/9) about average along with ABC's Supernanny ( 8.1 million, 3.3/8).
- 1/10/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Deal or No Deal and a new game show, Identity, made NBC victorious in Monday primetime during a night of mostly repeats on the other networks.
Deal Or No Deal was the night's top show in viewership and tied with Identity was the night's top show in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
Deal or No Deal (15.3 million, 4.4/12) was the runaway winner at 8 p.m., handily defeating repeats of ABC's Wife Swap (6.6 million, 2.4/7), Fox's House (7.6 million, 2.5/7) and CBS sitcoms How I Met Your Mother (6.5 million, 2.2/6) and The Class (5.7 million, 2.0/5).
NBC got good news with the premiere of Identity (12.2 million, 4.4/11), the Penn Gillette-hosted game show that takes the place of Heroes until the runaway hit drama returns. It held its adults 18-49 lead-in and dropped only slightly in viewership from half hour to half hour although it was down significantly in the demo from Heroes.
Only ABC's Supernanny (6.5 million, 2.4/6) was original against Identity and only a repeat of Two and a Half Men (10.9 million, 3.4/9) could muster any competition.
Deal Or No Deal was the night's top show in viewership and tied with Identity was the night's top show in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
Deal or No Deal (15.3 million, 4.4/12) was the runaway winner at 8 p.m., handily defeating repeats of ABC's Wife Swap (6.6 million, 2.4/7), Fox's House (7.6 million, 2.5/7) and CBS sitcoms How I Met Your Mother (6.5 million, 2.2/6) and The Class (5.7 million, 2.0/5).
NBC got good news with the premiere of Identity (12.2 million, 4.4/11), the Penn Gillette-hosted game show that takes the place of Heroes until the runaway hit drama returns. It held its adults 18-49 lead-in and dropped only slightly in viewership from half hour to half hour although it was down significantly in the demo from Heroes.
Only ABC's Supernanny (6.5 million, 2.4/6) was original against Identity and only a repeat of Two and a Half Men (10.9 million, 3.4/9) could muster any competition.
- 12/21/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- U.K. drama house Shed Productions said Friday it had acquired entertainment and format venture Ricochet -- creator of the Supernanny franchise -- in a £30 million ($51.6 million) deal that unites two of the U.K.'s fastest-growing independent producers. Shed, creator of Footballers Wives, also said it had closed a two-year first-look and script deal with the Fox Network, as well as a format deal for prison drama Bad Girls with FX. Shed chief executive Eileen Gallagher said the two-year first-look deal with Fox Entertainment president Peter Ligouri would require Shed to develop creative ideas for U.S. primetime.
- 11/25/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- U.K. drama house Shed Productions said Friday it had acquired entertainment and format venture Ricochet -- creator of the Supernanny franchise -- in a £30 million ($51.6 million) deal that unites two of the U.K.'s fastest-growing independent producers. Shed, creator of Footballers Wives, also said it had closed a two-year first-look and script deal with the Fox Network, as well as a format deal for prison drama Bad Girls with FX. Shed chief executive Eileen Gallagher said the two-year first-look deal with Fox Entertainment president Peter Ligouri would require Shed to develop creative ideas for U.S. primetime.
- 11/25/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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