Andreae, FremantleMedia join forces

FremantleMedia has taken a 25% stake in a newly formed production company led by former Fox and Channel 4 exec Simon Andreae.

Simon Andreae

Based in London, Naked Entertainment will develop original entertainment, factual and factual entertainment formats, with series and one-off specials.

FremantleMedia said the deal will further strengthen its content pipeline for the UK and global distribution markets.

Andreae was appointed executive VP of alternative entertainment at Fox Broadcasting in the US in October 2013.

While there, he oversaw all the network’s unscripted series and specials, including MasterChef, Hell’s Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, World’s Funniest Fails, Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution and Hilary Swank’s Cause for Paws.

But he left the position and moved into a production role after just over a year when the channel’s big summer format Utopia, from John De Mol, failed to rate.

Prior to Fox, he was senior VP of development and production for Discovery, where he developed ratings hits Naked & Afraid and Fast N Loud.

Before moving to the US, Andreae was head of science and education at UK broadcaster Channel 4, where he commissioned shows including The Autopsy, Anatomy for Beginners and BodyShock.

He was also a founding partner of UK indie Optomen Television.

“We are actively looking for the right companies and talent to expand and strengthen our business,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia.

“Simon is one of the industry’s pre-eminent factual entertainment producers with a long history of delivering hits with global appeal. He already has a strong development slate and I’m really pleased to be partnering with him to bring his projects to audiences around the world.”