News

1 March 2010

ENDEMOL EXPANDS INTO SCRIPTED PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WEIT MEDIA

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming, today announced a further significant step forward in its strategy for growth in scripted programming with the acquisition of a controlling share in Russian production company WeiT Media.

 

WeiT Media was founded in August 2009 by leading Russian producer Timur Weinstein.  The company incorporates WeiT Media, which focuses on drama, animation and entertainment; WeiT Ship Films, which produces feature movies; WeiT Island Production, specializing in documentaries and TV movies; and WeiT Falcon Content, which is dedicated to the development of digital content.

 

WeiT Media has already produced two TV-films, Snowstorm and I'll Give Myself a Miracle for Russia1 and finished production of two full-length films Who am I? and Under the Streetlights.

 

So far in 2010 WeiT Media has been commissioned to produce 16 local scripted projects. These include sitcoms, a sketch show, soap operas and documentary series for major Russian broadcasters, as well as two feature films and one full-length animated movie.

 

Timur Weinstein is one of Russia's most prominent and successful television producers with more than 30 prime time hits to his name. These include popular TV-movies and sitcoms such as 'Once It Will be Love', 'Happy Together', 'Platina' and 'Soldiers', which have become the highest rating shows on Russia1, TNT, NTV and Ren TV respectively.

 

Timur Weinstein was formerly General Producer of Lean M, one of Russia's top three production companies, which he founded in 2000.  Sony acquired a controlling share of the company in 2006 Timur stepped down from this post last year, but remains a minority shareholder of the company.

 

Marina Williams, CEO of Central and Eastern European Operations at Endemol Group comments: "Timur Weinstein has a well earned reputation as one of Russia's most accomplished television producers and WeiT Media has already secured significant commissions from broadcasters. This partnership will considerably expand our regional business, establishing Endemol as a major local producer of scripted programming and allowing us to bring production expertise and new opportunities to numerous CIS countries."

 

Timur Weinstein adds: "This strategic partnership combines Endemol's global scale, expertise and resources with our experience in the Russian Market.  This presents a new level of opportunity to WeiT Media and strongly positions us for growth.  Endemol is a dynamic company that has built its business on creativity and that makes them the ideal partner for us. "

 

The partnership will see WeiT Media become producer of Endemol's scripted and entertainment formats in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.  Endemol Moscow will operate separately, and will focus on expanding Participation TV, Astrology TV and other interactive business from Russia into CIS and Central and Eastern Europe