News

9 September 2009

ENDEMOL UNVEILS NEW GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OPERATION

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming today unveiled Endemol Worldwide Distribution, a new global operation that will formally launch at MIPCOM 2009.

The new division, resulting from the integration of Endemol International and Southern Star International, brings together the resources and expertise of two leading global distributors.

The merged business incorporates 20,000 hours of content across multiple genres including drama, reality TV, game shows, entertainment, kids programming, animation and comedy. It creates one of the world's largest independent content distribution businesses, which will have direct access to Endemol's global production resources. The business will open with a client portfolio spanning approximately 400 broadcasters, licensees and producers.

Endemol Worldwide Distribution will be managed by CEO Cathy Payne, the former CEO of Southern Star International. Reporting to Cathy Payne will be Matt Creasey, Executive Sales Director Americas, Asia, Australia/New Zealand and Veronique Verges, Executive Sales Director Europe.

Matt Creasey and Veronique Verges will be based at Endemol's offices in London and will each lead their own team of sales executives while working closely with Cathy Payne on growth strategies for the division.

Endemol Worldwide Distribution is opening new regional offices in Paris and Madrid with Rome following later in 2009 and Los Angeles and Miami in 2010. The division will also operate out of Endemol's existing distribution offices in London, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Operating out of Paris will be Claire Taltas - Sales Director Benelux and French speaking territories. In Madrid, Gisela Asimus-Minnbergh takes the post of Sales Director Spain, Portugal, Italy and Africa; whilst in Hong Kong Daniel Edwards is Sales Director Asia and Middle East.

These will operate alongside the company's Sydney office, where the role of Sales Director for Australia, New Zealand and Brand Manager Hi-5, will be held by Kirsten Cargill.

Based at the London office will be James Braham, Sales Director Eastern and Central Europe; Holly Winder, Sales Director Nordic and Cristina Sala - Sales Director Latin America.

As part of its strategy for growth in third party distribution, the company is also due to appoint an Acquisitions Executive based in Los Angeles in the coming months. This role will specifically focus on increasing third party producer representation from North America, to compliment the extensive third party distribution business that has been built up out of Australia and the UK.

Cathy Payne, CEO of Endemol Worldwide Distribution comments: "Following Endemol's acquisition of Southern Star at the beginning of the year we have been working on establishing a world leading distribution operation that will offer a first class service to broadcasters and both internal and third party producers alike. We are extremely excited about the launch of Endemol Worldwide Distribution and I couldn't have greater confidence in the team we have assembled, which is among the very best in the business."

Tom Toumazis, Chief Commercial Officer at Endemol Group adds: "The launch of Endemol Worldwide Distribution is a transformational development for our global business. It creates an operation that is plugged directly into the resources one of the world's largest production networks and which is capable of delivering a service that few in the industry can match. The new division will debut with a fantastic line up of new Endemol shows and third party product this Mipcom and we are looking forward to making a lot of noise in Cannes."

Endemol recently announced two major third party partnerships; an international distribution and production deal with Jerry Seinfeld for his newly created comedy-reality format The Marriage Ref and a global distribution deal with LMNO Productions, one of Hollywood's largest independent producers of reality and non-fiction television programming.

Endemol's full line up for Mipcom will be announced soon.