News

8 October 2009

ENDEMOL SECURES INTERNATIONAL DEALS WITH ABU DHABI MEDIA COMPANY FOR JERRY SEINFELD'S THE MARRIAGE REF

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming today announced it has secured the first international deals for Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref, having launched the show at this week’s Mipcom market in Cannes.

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming today announced it has secured the first international deals for Jerry Seinfeld's The Marriage Ref, having launched the show at this week's Mipcom market in Cannes.

Abu Dhabi Media Company has acquired the NBC version of the show whilst also commissioning a local version to be produced by Endemol Middle East.

Endemol is the exclusive distributor of The Marriage Ref format across all platforms outside of the USA and will produce local versions of the show around the world. Endemol's newly launched operation, Endemol Worldwide Distribution, is also globally distributing the NBC series, which is being Executive Produced by Jerry Seinfeld and the show's Co-Creator Ellen Rakieten. Rakieten's previous credits include twenty-three years with "The Oprah Winfrey Show".

Both Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen Rakieten have been in Cannes this week to promote the show and further international deals for both the format and the NBC version are expected to be announced by Endemol during the Mipcom market.

Karim Sarkis, Executive Director, Broadcast at Abu Dhabi Media Company comments: "Abu Dhabi Media Company is constantly looking for original and innovative content for our viewers. We are confident The Marriage Ref will be a hit with our audience as it addresses the universal theme of marital life in a fun and entertaining way."

Ziad Kebbi Managing Director of Endemol Middle East comments: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Abu Dhabi Media Company for The Marriage Ref. This is the show that everyone is talking about and we are extremely excited about producing a local version for the Middle East. The theme of the format couldn't be more universally appealing and I'm in no doubt that audiences across the region will love it."

Paul Romer, Chief Creative Officer of Endemol Group adds: "The reaction to the launch of The Marriage Ref at Mipcom this week has been quite phenomenal. It's becoming clear that people see this as a must-have show and are rushing to buy it before the competition does. Having Jerry and Ellen here in Cannes to share their belief and enthusiasm in this project has been another major boost to this momentum."

The Marriage Ref marks Jerry Seinfeld's first television series since "Seinfeld" ended its record-breaking nine year run in May 1998. Seinfeld will be behind the camera for the show, which has been commissioned for a prime time run of six hour-long episodes on NBC in March 2010.

The Marriage Ref will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians, sports personalities and international A-list stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies to real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute. The show vows to look at relationships unlike anything you've ever seen on TV.