FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES FIRST LOOK DEAL WITH LIQUID COMICS

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) announced today they’ve signed a first look deal with Liquid Comics, the company formerly known as Virgin Comics. The deal gives FME first look rights on new IP created by Liquid Comics for development through FME’s international business operations including television distribution, home entertainment and licensing, the latter of which comprises consumer products, online and mobile content, sponsorship and live events.

Liquid Comics uses the medium of graphic novel publishing to develop properties for television, theatrical live-action films, animation and video games, and has previously created original stories with acclaimed creators including John Woo, Shekhar Kapur, Deepak Chopra, Guy Ritchie, Dave Stewart, Jonathan Mostow, Edward Burns, Nicolas Cage and others, with a successful track record of setting up a number of their properties in development as feature films, television properties and games.

FME has a successful track record in multi-platform brand development which includes spearheading the partnership between American Idol and Apple/iTunes; developing The Price is Right live events in the US and Australia; creating the online property Secret Girlfriend which launched on FME’s comedy portal Atomic Wedgie and has been picked up by Comedy Central; and has a reputation as one of the leading television distribution companies in the world.

Jeff Tahler, Vice President of Acquisitions and Development, FME, brokered the deal and commented, “Liquid Comics is a hugely creative company who are developing projects that will have worldwide appeal and lots of potential for development on various platforms. Combined with our expertise and international network of companies, we are confident this will be a very fruitful relationship.”

FME has had remarkable success in developing their own brands (American Idol, American’s Got Talent, The Price is Right, Family Feud and more), as well as with third party brands and franchises including: Spike TV programs such as DEA and Deadliest Warrior; The Travel Channel library which includes Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches; Original Productions’ ‘blue collar’ series of programs including Black Gold, Verminators and 1,000 Ways to Die; and the Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse franchises.
Gotham Chopra and Sharad Devarajan, Co-Founders and Managing Partners of Liquid Comics, commented in a joint statement, “As we continue to expand our initiatives beyond the printed page into television, gaming and animation, we’re thrilled to be partnering with FremantleMedia Enterprises. With FME’s global reach and extensive experience in brand building, they are the perfect partner to bring Liquid’s innovative stories to audiences worldwide on numerous media platforms.”

FME has already selected original properties created by Chopra and Devarajan which will be the first projects the companies will work together on for multi-platform media. The property, tentatively entitled First Family, will be developed as a scripted drama and focuses on the teenage children of a newly elected American President as they navigate a place where power peddling, exerting influence and political manoeuvring reign supreme – High School.