FremantleMedia Forms "New Platforms" Division

--Will be Headed Up by Catherine McKay

UK-based FremantleMedia (the company behind "Pop Idol" and "American Idol") has created a new content division, dubbed New Platforms, and has named Catherine McKay as its CEO. The division will, as its name suggests, have the primary responsibility within FremantleMedia for creating and supplying new content to telcos, mobile operators, broadband Internet providers, and other companies offering entertainment on new platforms (note: according to the company, the new division will attempt to ensure that that content can be offered as global formats). In addition, the division will be tasked with investing in opportunities to build direct-to-consumer entertainment businesses. McKay will continue to serve as a FremantleMedia board member and as CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, the division that incorporates the company's ancillary rights and international distribution businesses, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide and Fremantle International Distribution. According to the company, the new division will work closely with those businesses, "integrating, supporting and building on" new platform programming initiatives that those businesses are already developing. McKay will also continue to manage FremantleMedia's Technology Investment Fund and coordinate other technology activities around the company. "I am thrilled that Catherine has agreed to spearhead the company's efforts to establish a significant global creative business in this new area," FremantleMedia CEO, Tony Cohen, said in a prepared statement. "Digital technology means that there is a tremendous opportunity for FremantleMedia to entertain viewers via the new platforms as well as our growing core business producing for broadcasters. Catherine has already made an enormous impact on the growth of our business and, with her great talent and wealth of experience, she will rapidly strengthen our position as a leading cross-media player. The appointment of a board member like Catherine to run this area demonstrates how important it is now to our future."

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