CTV Acquires THE X FACTOR for Fall 2011

Simon Cowell to Serve as Executive Producer and Judge of US Version

TORONTO, June 3 /CNW/ - CTV has acquired the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights to the U.S. version of THE X FACTOR, premiering in North America on FOX and CTV in Fall, 2011, it was announced today by Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.. Simon Cowell, who created and launched THE X FACTOR in the U.K. in 2004, will serve as both executive producer and judge on the series, which will be produced by Cowell's Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America.

Multi BAFTA-award winning THE X FACTOR searches the country to find the next singing individual artist or group superstar. Sold to 18 countries worldwide with a global audience of over 500 million, it is one of the top television formats in Europe, featuring guest performers such Beyonce, Lady GaGa and Paul McCartney, while discovering and launching the recording careers of singing artists such as Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke. Attracting more and more viewers, THE X FACTOR has increased its Season 1 audience in the UK by 80% over the past six years.

THE X FACTOR format is owned by Syco, a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. CTV acquired the show from its global distributor, FremantleMedia Enterprises.

"Simon Cowell is The X Factor," said Boyce. "He's a No.1 brand and a natural fit for our network. THE X FACTOR is one of the most successful series in the world right now and we're excited to bring it to Canadians on CTV."

Media Note (xx) Download photos from THE X FACTOR at www.ctvmedia.ca.

    
    About Syco/Simon Cowell
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Syco, with offices in London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Topping the charts in the UK, Syco Television co-produces the BAFTA Award-winning THE X FACTOR with FremantleMedia's UK production arm talkbackThames where Cowell continues to serve as both executive producer and judge. Syco Television is also the co-owner of the GOT TALENT television format with FremantleMedia. Versions of both THE X FACTOR and GOT TALENT are shown in more than 40 countries. THE X FACTOR Season 6 in the U.K. reached audiences of 16.3 million (50% audience share), and in Denmark, the audience share reached a record high of 77%.

Cowell also executive produces AMERICA'S GOT TALENT and judges and produces BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT, which in 2009 launched the global singing career of Susan Boyle. Her debut Syco album sold over eight million units in six weeks, making it the world's biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling album in history.

Syco is also the record label home for such diverse international recording stars as Leona Lewis, Il Divo and Paul Potts. Cowell has worked with artists selling more than 180 million albums and delivering more than 150 No. 1 records. In 2009, Cowell was named No. 1 in Hollywood Reporter's Top 50 Most Powerful in Reality TV and one of Entertainment Weekly's Top Entertainers of the Year.

    
    About CTV
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CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country and owns or has interests in leading national specialty channels, featuring news, sports, factual, arts, entertainment, music, youth and fashion programming. Official broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and London 2012 Games of the Olympiad, CTV Inc. is owned by CTVglobemedia Inc., Canada's premier multi-media company, which also owns Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. More information about CTV may be found on the network's website at www.ctv.ca.

    
    About FremantleMedia North America
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FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "What Chilli Wants" (VH1), "Kirstie Alley's BIG LIFE" (A&E), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Downfall" (ABC), "Family Feud" (syndicated), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS). In the U.K., THE X FACTOR is produced by talkbackThames, a division of FremantleMedia, and Syco Television.

    
    About FremantleMedia and FremantleMedia Enterprises
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FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes talkbackTHAMES, UFA and Grundy amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 14,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Neighbours, The Bill, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife and Hole In The Wall.

For further information: Jim Quan, CTV Inc., [phone] or [email protected]