#GreatJobs C NTENT page 7 www.contentasia.tv l www.contentasiasummit.com Endemol Shine production exits Singapore Production goes global Singapore focus on sales Endemol Shine Group is pulling the plug on Singapore-based production, shifting regional production to global hubs and refocusing a pared-down team in Singa- pore on format sales. The decision tops a record three years in both format sales and production across Asia, including co-development projects such as The Society Game with CJ E&M In Korea and a co-development deal with JTBC, also in Korea. The transition, expected to be com- plete by mid-2018, will be overseen by Asia managing director, Fotini Paraskakis out of Singapore. Operations in China and India, which are run separately from Southeast Asia and the rest of North Asia, are not impacted. More on page 2 A+E Networks ups China originals Nanking doc boosts 2017 co-pros to nine hours A+E Networks has upped its global China originals announced this quarter to three hours, adding Nanking docu- drama Scars of Nanking with Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation to the Silk Road feature, Silk Road – Reborn, an- nounced in October. More on page 3 20-26 november 2017 page 1. C NTENTASIA 20-26 november 2017 Page 2. Endemol Shine pulls the plug on Singapore production base Asia restructure shifts global, Mumbai/Singapore teams to focus on sales Endemol Shine Group is pulling the plug on Singapore-based regional produc- tion, shifting to global hubs for formats production and refocusing a pared- down team in Singapore on both format licensing and finished tape sales. The transition, expected to be com- plete by mid-2018, will be overseen by Asia managing director, Fotini Paraskakis out of Singapore, who will move to a new venture in the second half of 2018. Endemol Shine employs about 25 peo- ple in its Singapore office. It’s not yet clear how many jobs are being cut, but indications are that most of the current team will exit as the new structure takes shape. The dedicated sales operation will include senior sales director, The Society Game Daryl Kho, and sales director, Jasmine Goh, in Singapore, excellence to serve our within budgets scaled to fit different sized with executive director Asian clients, rather than markets,” Turner Laing added. Rashmi Bajpai in Mumbai producing out of Singa- The decision to take a more global ap- leading the team. pore”. proach in growing the Asia business tops Further details have not “This will allow us to a record three years for Endemol Shine in been disclosed. dedicate our resources both format sales and production across Paraskakis has not dis- in Singapore to further Asia, including co-development projects closed details of her new build on our hugely suc- such as The Society Game with CJ E&M In venture. She said only that cessful format sales business, Korea and a co-development deal with “there is so much untapped po- which has been the clear mar- JTBC, also in Korea. Fotini Paraskakis tential in the Asia market”. ket leader over the last five years, Endemol Shine had 55 formats titles “This new structure will play to Endemol a position we are committed to main- on air or sold in Asia in the first half of this Shine Asia’s principle strengths as the num- taining,” Turner Laing said. year – a market share of 19% – excluding ber one formats company in the region, The regional sales team based out of co-developed originals out of the region, while adopting a more international ap- Mumbai/Singapore will be supported according to ContentAsia’s Formats Out- proach to producing for Asian platforms,” centrally by the group, reporting to Cathy look for the first half of this year. she said in a prepared statement. Payne in London. The only other company that comes Endemol Shine operations in China The Creative Networks team, also in Lon- close is FremantleMedia Asia, which shut and India, which are run separately from don, will drive development partnerships down regional production in Singapore Southeast Asia and the rest of North Asia, in Asia. CEO of international operations, completely in a restructure that lasted are not impacted. Nicola Bamford, appointed in July this from July 2015 to June 2016. Although In a note to staffers this morning, En- year will continue to oversee the whole FremantleMedia never said it, their de- demol Shine Group’s London-based chief Asia business as part of her wider remit. cision is widely believed to be linked to executive, Sophie Turner Laing, said the “On the production side, we will con- multi-million dollar loses on the first season marketplace had become “ever more tinue to focus our strategy in line with the of Asia’s Got Talent. global” and that the company planned shifting regional and global marketplace, The Endemol Shine restructure comes “to play to our strengths by focusing on including greater use of shared hubs for amid mounting speculation about the our long-established production opera- international formats, given these allow sale of key FOX assets. Endemol Shine tions around the region as centres of us to deliver world-class production value Group is 50% owned by 21st Century Fox. C NTENTASIA 20-26 november 2017 Page 3. Legendary TV/film A+E Networks ups China originals exec Mona Fong Nanking doc boosts co-pros to nine hours this year dead at 83 Legendary Hong Kong film and television force Mona Fong died in Hong Kong on 22 November. She was 83. A singer and actress before she turned film and TV mogul, Fong held various po- sitions at Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers film studio from the late 1960s/early 1970s. She was appointed deputy chairper- son of Hong Kong’s leading broadcaster Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) in Oc- tober 2000, and was managing director of TVB from May 2006 until her retirement in March 2012. Fong remained a non- executive director of TVB until her death. TVB said Fong died due to illness. She was the widow of TVB founding director Sir Run Run Shaw. Sir Run Run died at the Scars of Nanking age of 106 in January 2014. A+E Networks has upped its global China missionaries’ struggle to save Chinese ci- originals announced this quarter to three vilians from Imperial Japanese forces and hours, adding Nanking massacre doc to smuggle out evidence of the 1937 mas- ESPN picks up with Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation sacre. The programme tracks those who Premier League to the Silk Road feature announced in chose to stay despite the danger, includ- October. The new co-pros will air in Asia ing teacher Minnie Vautrin, who single clips from Singtel and globally. handedly prevented hundreds of rapes, Scars of Nanking and The Silk Road – Re- Father John Magee who films the after- ESPN’s Digital Network has signed a deal born bring the number of A+E Networks math, and George Fitch, who smuggles with Singapore telco Singtel TV that adds mainland Chinese co-produced hours on the films out of the city. Premier League clips to ESPNFC.com, air or in production this year to nine. A 90-minute extended version – Scars ESPN.com and the ESPN app. Scars of Nanking marks the 80th an- of Nanjing: 80 Years After – involves Ko- Video clips include in-match high- niversary of the massacre in Nanking by rean American filmmaker Christine Choy, lights, match recaps, round ups and Japanese forces during World War II. who co-directed 1995 feature In the special moments. The one-hour docu-drama premieres Name of the Emperor about atrocities comScore data supplied by ESPN simultaneously on History channels in Asia committed by Japanese troops. shows that ESPN was the top digital and the U.S. and on Jiangsu Satellite TV in The Silk Road – Reborn was an- sports platform in Singapore in Sep- China on 13 December. nounced in October. The two-hour show tember, up 11% from last year. ESPN FC A+E Networks’ Asia Pacific managing racks the transformation of the ancient was the number one football site, with director, Alan Hodges, says the new co- trade route. growth of 10% compared to last year. pro forms part of Jiangsu Broadcasting The documentary is a co-production Anurag Dahiya, head of content and Corporation’s efforts over the past few with China’s state-backed China Central advertising sales of Singtel’s Singapore years to build “strong awareness of these Television (CCTV) and China Internation- home business, said the new collabora- horrible events with a number of impact- al Television Corporation (CITVC). tion “marks positive steps we are taking ful documentaries”. The full version will air on the History in our involvement in the digital-sphere. Scars of Nanking expands this effort by channel across Asia, with a one-hour ver- With ESPN FC’s hugely popular follow- telling the story from a western perspec- sion produced for broadcast in the U.S. ing as a top football content source, we tive and narrative that will be shared with a This is the first time A+E Networks is work- see this as a great opportunity for our much broader audience, Hodges added. ing with CITVC to co-produce factual pro- partner brands to have further avenues Scars of Nanking is the story of American gramming for the global marketplace. to connect with their audience.” Brand New Gameshow Everyday people face the challenge of a lifetime, trick an audience into thinking they are a professional entertainer. formats that innovate from talent that resonates @all3media_int ĂůůϯŵĞĚŝĂŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ 20-26 november 2017 page 4.