News

24 August 2010

ENDEMOL USA AND KOBE BRYANT PARTNER TO DEVELOP GLOBAL MULTI-PLATFORM CONTENT

Endemol USA, a global leader in entertainment and digital programming, announced that they have signed a production deal with Kobe Bryant to develop multi-platform original content that will be distributed globally.

The partners will executive produce a web series entitled "Dream Makers: Kobe Bryant" that will be distributed across multiple platforms. The first series will premiere in the Philippines with 8 webisodes and a one-hour television special, which can then be distributed globally.

The series takes place at the Kobe Bryant Basketball Academy, a five-day camp where deserving Filipino kids get a chance of a lifetime to learn and work with five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and 3-time All-Star MVP, Kobe Bryant.  The children get the privilege to learn basketball skills from the very best and also learn how to relate and apply the sport to valuable life lessons including leadership, teamwork, family, commitment, discipline and loyalty.

David Armour, Endemol USA's Vice President of Digital Media said: "Kobe's global appeal, and his interest in giving back to youth around the world, made him the perfect partner to work with on this project.  We are excited about this series which is not only an interactive entertainment experience, but also gives back to deserving young people.  We look forward to making this format a global multi-platform success."

Kobe Bryant added, "it's extremely important for me to give back and utilizing my basketball academy as the platform to make a difference in the lives of these Filipino children is something I am very proud of"

Jerry Kowal, Endemol USA's SVP of Digital Media said: "We are thrilled at the opportunity to partner with Kobe and leverage Endemol's global reach and expertise in creating compelling interactive content to help build a lasting franchise that will entertain and engage viewers around the world."

This web series marks a further step in Endemol's digital media growth, which has been very successful over the last few years in producing original multi-platform content.  This has included the hit web series Married on MySpace 1 & 2, Coupon Mom and Vidas Cruzadas.  Married on MySpace 1 also marked the first web series to be spun off into a reality television series, Elle & Tito: The Married Life.