Indian reality focus for Fremantle

On the back of record ratings for Indian Idol on SET, and a burgeoning appetite for reality formats in the sub-continent, FremantleMedia has relocated its Asian head of production to India.

Hitherto based in Singapore, FremantleMedia’s head of production, Asia, Gavin Wood will now become director of production India and will report to Patrick Schult, director of operations, Asia. He will be responsible for the production of all shows in the region including the upcoming The Apprentice and future series of Idols.

“We have great expectations for our business in India,” said Schult. “FremantleMedia’s production of Indian Idol has set a new standard for quality, locally made programmes and with a slate of new shows in the pipeline for 2005, we felt it was an ideal opportunity to establish a fully-fledged production operation in this territory.”

Wood has been based in Singapore since mid-2002 and has overseen productions across Asia, including such shows as Family Feud, The Price is Right, Small Talk, TXTC, Child’s Play, Touch the Truck, Lyrics Board in addition to the successful roll out of Idols in four countries (India, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia) last year.

Explaining the move, Wood added: “The Indian broadcast networks are attracted to winning formats such as Idols, The Apprentice and The X Factor. Once localised, networks in India are now beginning to enjoy huge success with these formats. Now there is a real opportunity to establish FremantleMedia as a leading producer in this market.”

SET India’s Indian Idol ended its first season on March 5, and was watched by 15.4m viewers, a new record for the cable and satellite Hindi-language general entertainment network. Sony’s LA production team worked with FremantleMedia plus locals Miditech and Optimystix Entertainment to localize the format.

Reality formats are certainly in vogue in India. Not only did Channel V launch its own talent format Super Singer to spoil Indian Idol, but SET India has also ordered a localised version of Endemol’s Australian format Strictly Dancing and has picked up MTV format Punk’d.