Talent Competition Series Set To Debut on AXN in Early 2015, Begins Widest Ever Talent Search Across 13 Countries
SINGAPORE (September 5, 2014) – The record-breaking global hit “Got Talent”, co-owned by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment, is set to extend its search for talent further than ever following Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia’s commission of “Asia’s Got Talent”, a pan-Asian version of the hit format.
“Asia’s Got Talent” will debut in early 2015 on AXN, the number one English general entertainment channel in Asia, which spans 20 territories, including South East Asia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Production for “Asia’s Got Talent” will commence this month and will be open to contestants across Asia. The series will scout for talent across 13 countries in Asia, with auditions planned in major cities including Jakarta, Indonesia; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; and Bangkok, Thailand.
Hui Keng Ang, senior vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia said, “As the trailblazer in high quality local productions, ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ furthers our commitment to creating engaging content that truly resonates with audiences across the region. We look forward to providing aspiring Asian performers with an incredible international platform to showcase their talent. The next Asian star is about to be discovered on AXN!”
George Levendis, Head of International TV, Syco Entertainment, said, “It is very exciting for the 63rd version of our show to be a pan-regional production which offers viewers the chance to enjoy the wonderful shared values of the Asian region whilst also celebrating the unique talents of individual cultures.”
FremantleMedia Asia managing director Paul O’Hanlon said, “This is a hugely exciting step for the ‘Got Talent’ format in Asia. This latest commission further builds on the success of the existing ‘Got Talent’ versions in the region and we are looking forward to working with all partners on launching this mammoth pan-regional version of the show.”
FremantleMedia has also secured deals with local free-to-air channels in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and India to broadcast the series soon after its original airing on AXN. Additionally, for the first time, Chinese digital platform Youku will bring the “Got Talent” format to a vast online audience in that country.
The new deal follows FremantleMedia’s recent announcement that “Got Talent” won the Guinness World Records title for being the world’s “Most Successful Reality TV Format”. With the addition of “Asia’s Got Talent”, an impressive 63 versions of the international ratings phenomenon have now been commissioned worldwide across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle-East.
AXN is a leader of regionally produced original content in Asia, with notable ratings successes including four seasons of the international Emmy-nominated “The Amazing Race Asia”; the Asian Television Award-winning “Cash Cab Asia”; “The Apprentice Asia”; “Cyril: Rio Magic”; “Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition”; and the Asian Television Award-nominated “Cyril: Simply Magic”.
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About FremantleMedia Asia
With offices in Singapore, Beijing, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Mumbai, and servicing the entirety of Asia, FremantleMedia Asia is one on the preeminent production companies in the region, producing world class content from the large scale talent competitions for which it is best known, including Idol, X Factor, and Got Talent, to long running game shows such as Family Feud. In addition to creating and developing local content, FremantleMedia Asia is no stranger to localization and is uniquely positioned as one of the most accomplished adaptors of international formats in the region, ensuring continuing success season after season in territory after territory. Beyond single market productions, FremantleMedia Asia has also demonstrated its strength in pan-regional production having recently produced the widely successful The Apprentice Asia.
About Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia was established in 1997 with Singapore as the Asian headquarters of Sony Pictures Television’s networks business. It operates six ad-supported 24/7 channels which are wholly-owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
AXN is the home of thrilling entertainment; beTV is the place to be for the best of TV; Sony Entertainment Television offers wickedly juicy TV for modern females; Animax offers anime for all; ONE is powered by prime and current South Korean entertainment content; and GEM serves up star-studded and popular general entertainment programming from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
For further information, please contact: For Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia:
Paul O’Hanlon Jennifer Doig
Managing Director, FremantleMedia Asia Executive Director, Communications
T: +65 6223 8771 T: +65 6622 4278
E: paul.ohanlon@fremantlemedia.com E: jennifer_doig@spe.sony.com