Twentieth Century Fox Television and British commercial network ITV have reached
an agreement to set up a joint development fund to produce original series that could
air in either the U.S. or Britain -- or both. The deal appeared to have been masterminded by
Lee Bartlett,a former Fox exec who was recently appointed head of global content
at ITV. In an interview with the London Financial Times, Bartlett said, ""From
this development fund, we could actually create scripted formats that could be produ
ced in both countries at the same time. ... There could be differences -- the cast
for the British version could be more British than for the American version -- but
you could be making two series on top of each other, if I can put it like that. That
could get you some pretty good production synergies." Analysts observed that the deal
could be especially advantageous for Fox, given the fact that it allows each company
to use the other's facilities and hire each other's talent. Production costs are
said to be lower in the U.K. than they are in the U.S., and the ability to produce
shows employing British writing and acting talent would give Fox considerable leverage
when it comes time to renew existing labor pacts.
19/06/2008
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