MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced that the reality show ?Big Brother? is making a comeback in two more markets.

In Germany the show is returning for the first time since 2011 having been commissioned by Sat 1 for a new celebrity series, which will launch later this year. Endemol Germany previously produced 11 series of Big Brother for RTL2 starting in 2000.

In Portugal the show is returning to TVI for the first time in 10 years for a celebrity version that is due to launch soon. Endemol Portugal previously produced six series for the channel, which first broadcast the show in 2000.

Over 20 series were broadcast in over 60 countries last year. This announcement is the latest in a series of comebacks for the format, which has successfully returned in territories such as the UK, where the show is now an established hit on Channel 5 and Australia where having previously aired on Ten Network until 2008 the show?s return on Nine Network in August 2012 was a breakout hit.

In February it was also announced that Endemol India will launch two regional language productions of the format in addition to the long running national Hindi version.

Endemol MD creative operations Iris Boelhouwer said, "Most big formats tend to have a lifespan of around five years or so but ?Big Brother? has broken this rule more than twice over. The format is still a trailblazer, which continues to roll out in new territories and deliver hit ratings in the major markets. It?s here to stay."

?Big Brother?s most recent outing was in Brazil where the thirteenth and first ever 3D series wrapped up on Globo TV on 26 March.

MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced that talent from the new drama series ?Low Winter Sun?, a co-production between Endemol Studios and AMC Studios, and TV series ?Steve Harvey? will be appearing at next month?s television trade event MipTV 2013 in Cannes, France.

Hollywood actors Mark Strong and Lennie James will be in Cannes with showrunner Chris Mundy to represent ?Low Winter Sun?, the new crime drama premiering on AMC later this year.

A press conference featuring all three alongside representatives from Endemol Studios will be held on 8 April.

Steve Harvey will be in town to represent his US syndicated daytime series, ?Steve Harvey?. It is produced by Endemol USA and is distributed by NBCUniversal, with Endemol Worldwide Distribution handling outside the US. Endemol will host a ?Steve Harvey? cocktail party for buyers and press on 8 April.

Endemol Worldwide Distribution CEO Cathy Payne said, "We are proud to be bringing talent of this calibre to the 50th anniversary of MipTV for two very different shows; both created, produced and distributed by Endemol. The drama of ?Low Winter Sun? is defined by grit and action whilst the fabulous ?Steve Harvey? delivers nothing but humour and entertainment."

?Low Winter Sun? is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption in a world where the line between cops and criminals is blurred. It begins with the murder of a cop by a fellow Detroit detective. Seemingly the perfect crime, in reality, the murder activates forces that will forever alter the detective?s life, and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld.

?Low Winter Sun? is based on the 2006 British two-part mini-series of the same name written by Simon Donald and produced by Tiger Aspect Productions (an Endemol Company).

It was recently announced that Fox International Channels acquired the exclusive first Pay-TV window rights for the Low Winter Sun outside of the U.S, Canada and France and will launch in 120 countries in Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 2013.

?Steve Harvey? aims to bring a funny, fresh and insightful approach to everyday problems. Drawing from his varied life experiences, Harvey entertains, informs and inspires, covering a vast range of relatable topics such as marriage, dating, finance, parenting, work place issues, friendship and the daily dramas we face throughout our lives, all with his comedic spin.

MUMBAI: The television and movie content companies are combining in India as a way to scale up their businesses. Eros International Media, the leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry, and Endemol India, producers of some of the most spectacular television content, have entered into a strategic alliance to co-produce three feature films as well as original programming for television.

The deal will allow Endemol to penetrate into the mainstream Bollywood market while Eros gets an opportunity to enter into the television content business. While Endemol is widely known for its versatile TV formats across genres, Eros has a vast film library.

Says Eros International Media Executive Director Jyoti Deshpande, "We both are IP driven companies and Eros having been market leaders in the filmed entertainment arena, while film co-production has its natural synergies, we will also create original high quality compelling television content as digitization takes Indian television into the premium subscription phase. The alliance is founded on the coming together of our respective core competencies in film and television."

As a part of the three film deal, Eros and Endemol will be co-producing an action comedy which will be a remake of a South Indian blockbuster, an original romantic comedy and a comic caper.

The collaboration has earmarked Rs 1 billion to fund these three productions. Targeted at Bollywood enthusiasts across genres, the first film to be made will be a romantic comedy, which will go on floors later this year.

Says Endemol India CEO Deepak Dhar, "After successfully producing content for some of the biggest format shows in the country, we are expanding our portfolio to films and are delighted to partner with leaders in this space. Through this association, we look forward to making a mark on the big screen as well."

Television formats and original programming for television is another area that Eros and Endemol plan to collaborate on. Many of Eros owned filmed Intellectual Property Rights will be considered for adaptation for the television format and vice versa for Endemol owned IP.

The production house, which holds IP rights for various scripted and non-scripted formats, had entered the film production business last year taking the re-make rights for Sujoy Ghosh?s Kahaani.

Endemol India had last year sold 49 per cent stake in the company to Peter Chernin?s CA Media. The strategic investment was raised with the intention of acquiring small production houses and producing films in multiple languages.

Eros recently entered into a deal with HBO for creation of a premium television channel housing English and Hindi movies. "Eros gets associated with two strong brands like HBO and Endemol. But how much of a revenue jump it gets remains to be seen. Endemol, on the other hand, gets a foothold into the Bollywood market. But it is not an exclusive alliance and the confirmed commitment at this stage is for three co-produced movies," says a media analyst.

MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced that Fotini Paraskakis has been appointed as Managing Director of Asian Operations.

Fotini was formerly FremantleMedia Asia director of content, managing creative, production and content for all the company?s formats in the region including Idols, Got Talent and X Factor and supervising over 1000 prime time hours since taking the role in 2005. She also created and supervised the first ever live Asia-wide event Asian Idol, bringing together six Asian winners for a successful Idol contest, targeting 250 million households.

Fotini began her career in television with BBC Drama in the UK and has been based in Asia since 1995. Prior to joining Fremantle she produced and managed major projects for leading networks across Asia and the UK, including Star TV, Disney, ESPN, Channel 4, BBC and MTV; holding numerous senior roles on multi-award winning shows.

As Asian Operations MD, Fotini will be responsible for Endemol?s creative, production and format sales activities across Asia on a day-to-day basis including the company?s joint venture with Astro in Malaysia. She will report to Asian Operations CEO Arjen van Mierlo, who will increasingly focus on exploring new opportunities for Endemol to further expand in the region.

Mierlo said, ?Having someone of Fotini?s calibre helping to lead our business in Asia places us in a strong position to pursue further growth here. She has an extraordinary wealth of experience and will be a valuable asset to our operations across the region.?

Paraskakis said, "Endemol is a creative powerhouse with great prospects for further growth in Asia. The industry here is hungry for ideas and Endemol?s shows have already proven to be enormously popular with audiences throughout the region. I?m thrilled to be part of the team and I?m enormously looking forward to the challenges ahead.?

Endemol?s recent projects in Asia include a first series of Fear Factor for Astro in Malaysia; shot in South Africa and co-produced by Endemol Malaysia and Endemol South Africa. Also in Malaysia, hit game show The Money Drop has returned for a second season on Astro whilst in China Endemol?s latest international hit Your Face Sounds Familiar continues to be the number one Thursday evening show across all channels for the third season in a row on Hunan Satellite TV. In the Philippines Deal or no Deal has successfully returned on ABS-CBN with a new host and The Money Drop was recently launched at ABC?s TV5. In Vietnam the first season of Your Face Sounds Familiar is outperforming the competition on VTV3 while Step Right Up is performing strongly on Channel 9 in Thailand.

MUMBAI: Endemol, the world?s largest independent TV and digital media production house, has re-organised its commercial and global brands business.

A newly created Group Commercial Board comprising senior Endemol executives from around the world has been established in place of Endemol Worldwide Brands (EWB). Former EWB Regional Director International Branco Scherer has been promoted to the new board as executive director, commercial affairs.

His role will be to liaise and coordinate with Endemol?s commercial teams around the world and to ensure that ideas and information are shared across the Group.

Scherer reports to Lucas Church who becomes chair of the group commercial board in addition to his ongoing role as Endemol UK CEO.

Former EWB executives based in Endemol?s offices around the world will now report directly to local MDs in each territory whilst working closely with Branco Scherer and his team.

The re-organisation mirrors Endemol?s creative structure and more closely integrates the company?s commercial and creative activities, giving greater control to the Group?s local operations around the world.

Endemol Group president Tim Hincks said, "Our aim with these changes is to continue expanding our day-to-day commercial business locally whilst sharing ideas across the Group about the big opportunities for Endemol in today?s fast changing global market."

Endemol?s recent commercial projects include partnerships with YouTube for specialised channels in European territories; an online play along game for the format ?The Money Drop?, which has so far had over 18 million players across 15 territories and over 30 million games played; an iPhone game for blockbuster format Wipeout, which ranked for three weeks as number one premium app on the iTunes app store in the US; and a wide range of digital brand extensions and onscreen product placement deals for shows such as ?Deal or No Deal? and ?Big Brother?.