MH
Don't know if anyone posted this (if so, I apologize in advance), but this is a release from NBC Enterprises:
NBC ENTERPRISES AND LIVINGTV APPOINT VIADIGITAL TO PRODUCE QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY IN THE UK
Published: November 17, 2003
PRODUCERS ALSO BEHIND FLEXTECH’S NEW UK ACCESS HOLLYWOOD
LONDON, England -- November 17, 2003 -- Flextech-owned entertainment channel LivingTV, NBC Enterprises and Scout Productions (US) have appointed UK independent production company ViaDigital to produce a British version of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. ViaDigital is also producing NBC Enterprises and LivingTV’s new weekly version of U.S. hit newsmagazine Access Hollywood.
Via Digital will immediately start production on ten one-hour episodes for LivingTV. Queer Eye is expected to debut in the UK on LivingTV in the first quarter of 2004. Executive Producers for LivingTV are Richard Woolfe, Director of Programming, and Clare Hollywood, Commissioning Editor. Executive Producers for ViaDigital are David Hall and David Hedges.
The Queer Eye format centres around a group of five gay consultants who embark on a mission during each show to improve a straight man’s lifestyle. The “makebetter” experts each cover a different area: personal grooming, fashion, etiquette and culture, food and wine, and interior design. Viewers witness the transformation of a typical straight `uncultured and crude guy’ into a `polished and stylish Renaissance man’.
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has re-written U.S. cable network Bravo’s record books and has become a ratings hit for NBC network as well. This past summer, Queer Eye achieved all-time record levels and boosted Bravo to its most successful ratings in the network’s 22-year history. Following Bravo’s strong performances and capitalizing on the incredible American media attention surrounding the series, the NBC network added it to its primetime schedule.
Flextech Television
Flextech is the content division of Telewest, the broadband communications and media group. Its core business is the supply of entertainment, information and interactive content and services to the UK multi-channel television and online markets. Flextech is the BBC's partner in UKTV. Together they are the largest supplier of basic channels to the UK pay-TV market with a portfolio that combines wholly owned and managed channels, including the eleven joint venture channels with the BBC.
Flextech Television launched its latest TV channel Ftn, on 15 January 2003, on Freeview, gaining the potential for national reach for the first time. Ftn is available across all platforms, giving it the largest distribution of any Flextech channel with around 21 million viewers*.
Flextech's branded content, coupled with Telewest's broadband network, allows the combined group to capture the expanding market for broadband products, including voice, video and interactive services, across multiple platforms.
NBC Enterprises
NBC Enterprises is responsible for the global distribution and exploitation of NBC owned product, which includes foreign and domestic program syndication, strategic marketing and ancillary exploitation of owned product in home video, merchandising, licensing, music and publishing as well as strategic production and co-production alliances and co-ventures. NBC Enterprises distributes all NBC-owned programming worldwide. This programming includes all shows produced by NBC Studios, NBC News, CNBC and MSNBC output.
Scout Productions
As an independent film and television production company, SCOUT is dedicated to pushing the envelope of creativity and imagination while committed to the highest possible production values. The management team translates the seasoned experience of SCOUT into a premiere creator of content for television, film and new media markets. Highlighting SCOUT’S television slate are shows such as Queer Eye For The Straight Guy (BRAVO/NBC), Knock First (ABC Family), and 24/w (Trio). On the feature film front, SCOUT has produced a number of critically acclaimed works such as Brad Anderson’s suspense thriller SESSION 9, which stars internationally acclaimed actor Peter Mullan and Errol Morris’ brilliant documentary MR. DEATH. Challenging audiences with what they see and how they see it, SCOUT has become, quite simply, the evolution of media. For more information visit www.scoutvision.com
VIADIGITAL
VIAdigital is one of the fastest growing television production companies in the UK with offices and production facilities within NBC in London, producing a wide range of must see programmes for major UK broadcasters including a UK version of the major NBC Entertainment brand "Access Hollywood."
The company was formed by David Hedges,a business graduate and former BBC journalist. Hedges was an Entertainment Correspondent for Sky News and Sky One before joining Granada Television in London, England as Producer of ITV1's This Morning.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Suzy Lambert, Flextech LivingTV, on 020 7299 5364
Joe Schlosser, NBC Enterprises Publicity, (818) 526-6905
Joe.Schlosser@NBC.com
NBC ENTERPRISES AND LIVINGTV APPOINT VIADIGITAL TO PRODUCE QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY IN THE UK
Published: November 17, 2003
PRODUCERS ALSO BEHIND FLEXTECH’S NEW UK ACCESS HOLLYWOOD
LONDON, England -- November 17, 2003 -- Flextech-owned entertainment channel LivingTV, NBC Enterprises and Scout Productions (US) have appointed UK independent production company ViaDigital to produce a British version of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. ViaDigital is also producing NBC Enterprises and LivingTV’s new weekly version of U.S. hit newsmagazine Access Hollywood.
Via Digital will immediately start production on ten one-hour episodes for LivingTV. Queer Eye is expected to debut in the UK on LivingTV in the first quarter of 2004. Executive Producers for LivingTV are Richard Woolfe, Director of Programming, and Clare Hollywood, Commissioning Editor. Executive Producers for ViaDigital are David Hall and David Hedges.
The Queer Eye format centres around a group of five gay consultants who embark on a mission during each show to improve a straight man’s lifestyle. The “makebetter” experts each cover a different area: personal grooming, fashion, etiquette and culture, food and wine, and interior design. Viewers witness the transformation of a typical straight `uncultured and crude guy’ into a `polished and stylish Renaissance man’.
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has re-written U.S. cable network Bravo’s record books and has become a ratings hit for NBC network as well. This past summer, Queer Eye achieved all-time record levels and boosted Bravo to its most successful ratings in the network’s 22-year history. Following Bravo’s strong performances and capitalizing on the incredible American media attention surrounding the series, the NBC network added it to its primetime schedule.
Flextech Television
Flextech is the content division of Telewest, the broadband communications and media group. Its core business is the supply of entertainment, information and interactive content and services to the UK multi-channel television and online markets. Flextech is the BBC's partner in UKTV. Together they are the largest supplier of basic channels to the UK pay-TV market with a portfolio that combines wholly owned and managed channels, including the eleven joint venture channels with the BBC.
Flextech Television launched its latest TV channel Ftn, on 15 January 2003, on Freeview, gaining the potential for national reach for the first time. Ftn is available across all platforms, giving it the largest distribution of any Flextech channel with around 21 million viewers*.
Flextech's branded content, coupled with Telewest's broadband network, allows the combined group to capture the expanding market for broadband products, including voice, video and interactive services, across multiple platforms.
NBC Enterprises
NBC Enterprises is responsible for the global distribution and exploitation of NBC owned product, which includes foreign and domestic program syndication, strategic marketing and ancillary exploitation of owned product in home video, merchandising, licensing, music and publishing as well as strategic production and co-production alliances and co-ventures. NBC Enterprises distributes all NBC-owned programming worldwide. This programming includes all shows produced by NBC Studios, NBC News, CNBC and MSNBC output.
Scout Productions
As an independent film and television production company, SCOUT is dedicated to pushing the envelope of creativity and imagination while committed to the highest possible production values. The management team translates the seasoned experience of SCOUT into a premiere creator of content for television, film and new media markets. Highlighting SCOUT’S television slate are shows such as Queer Eye For The Straight Guy (BRAVO/NBC), Knock First (ABC Family), and 24/w (Trio). On the feature film front, SCOUT has produced a number of critically acclaimed works such as Brad Anderson’s suspense thriller SESSION 9, which stars internationally acclaimed actor Peter Mullan and Errol Morris’ brilliant documentary MR. DEATH. Challenging audiences with what they see and how they see it, SCOUT has become, quite simply, the evolution of media. For more information visit www.scoutvision.com
VIADIGITAL
VIAdigital is one of the fastest growing television production companies in the UK with offices and production facilities within NBC in London, producing a wide range of must see programmes for major UK broadcasters including a UK version of the major NBC Entertainment brand "Access Hollywood."
The company was formed by David Hedges,a business graduate and former BBC journalist. Hedges was an Entertainment Correspondent for Sky News and Sky One before joining Granada Television in London, England as Producer of ITV1's This Morning.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Suzy Lambert, Flextech LivingTV, on 020 7299 5364
Joe Schlosser, NBC Enterprises Publicity, (818) 526-6905
Joe.Schlosser@NBC.com
