MUMBAI: Reality major FremantleMedia (makers of American Idol, Pop Idol) and production house Vogue Planet are setting up shop together in Japan. The joint venture will be called FremantleMedia Japan and will be responsible for securing new production and ancillary rights opportunities.

 
Vogue Planet, which already has a firm hold in Japan with long term relationships with various Japanese broadcasters, currently produces Mirai Model, a Japanese version of its reality contest format, Model Behaviour.

FremantleMedia Group CEO Tony Cohen was quoted in a media report as saying, "As the Japanese television industry is interestingly exporting its creative ideas to the rest of the world, so Japanese broadcasters are now also more willing to consider buying international formats."

Cohen added that the Japanese television industry was instrumental in exporting its creative ideas to the rest of the world and hence Japanese broadcasters were now more willing to consider buying international formats.

Fremantle Productions Asia managing director Sue Adams was quoted in a media report as saying, "This is FremantleMedias first foray into the Japanese market and a significant milestone for us. We have been working closely with Vogue Planet for some time and we are very pleased to formalize this relationship as a joint venture. The Japanese market requires strong local management and deep cultural understanding; which we are confident that Vogue Planet will provide."