News

3 February 2009

ENDEMOL FURTHER GROWS MIDDLE EAST PRESENCE WITH NEW DEALS

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming, today revealed its Middle East operation has secured two significant new commissions following a sustained period of growth and ratings successes.

Endemol Middle East has landed its first deal in Egypt with the commission of thirteen weekly episodes of the adrenaline packed challenge series Fear Factor Extreme on Al Hayat TV. The show is due go into production in early March and will launch in a prime time slot later this year.

Meanwhile, Ton of Cash, has been booked for a second run on Abu Dhabi TV following the success of the first series last year. Thirteen weekly episodes alongside daily access shows of the exhilarating physical and psychological game show are now due to launch in peak time later this year.

Under the management of Managing Director Ziad Kebbi and Creative Director Dany Karam, Endemol Middle East now also has a significant line up of hit shows that are currently on air and attracting large audiences across the region. These include talent series The Manager and chart show Top 20 for Rotana Music; entertainment series Male Female for MBC and ‘no talent' show Top of the Flops for Abu Dhabi TV.

Other forthcoming productions include the Middle Eastern version of Endemol's global blockbuster Wipeout, which is due to premier on MBC later this year. Endemol Middle East's version of Sony/Two Way Traffic's game show format Ba Ba Boom is also about to go into production and is scheduled to debut on Future TV in early March. This follows the success of Star Mobile, which has just completed its first series on Future TV.

Ziad Kebbi, Managing Director of Endemol Middle East, comments: "Since launching in 2007, Endemol Middle East has become the region's leading producer and distributor of entertainment programming. We have an extraordinarily rich and varied slate of shows in place and the success we are having with these continues to further build the local demand for Endemol's formats.

"Dany Karam, Creative Director of Endemol Middle East adds: "I'm delighted to have secured our first commission in Egypt with Al Hayat TV and have every confidence it will be the first of many. It's also great to have Ton of Cash coming back for a second run having seen it become such a hit for Abu Dhabi TV. It was our first show to be commissioned when we launched Endemol Middle East and so this represents another landmark in our continuing growth."