MUMBAI: Twelevision format creator and distributor FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has further expanded its drama development portfolio with the announcement of a new first-look deal with Hollywood film and TV producer Barry Josephson?s production company, Josephson Entertainment.

As part of the deal, Josephson Entertainment has hired a new VP for Television, Tia Maggini, who will work alongside FME senior VP of global content Jeff Tahler and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) senior VP of scripted programming Tony Optican to develop new drama projects for the US cable and global TV market. A number of projects are already underway, including thriller ?The Dover Agenda?, for which a pilot script is currently being developed for Syfy in the US.

Josephson is a film and television producer, who has established mainstream success through numerous motion pictures, television series and specials across a variety of genres. Josephson?s film credits include ?Enchanted?, ?Life As We Know It? and ?Hide and Seek?. He is also at the helm of the television drama ?Bones?, which is entering its eighth season on Fox. In addition Josephson currently has projects in development at TNT and AMC.

Fremantleedia Enterprises Global CEO David Ellender said, ?US cable drama is now the most consistently compelling content anywhere on television. Having identified the opportunities that exist on these networks, FME is partnering with the industry?s most prominent talent in order to help create high quality dramas that not only work for US audiences but which also have worldwide appeal. With several exciting projects already in the pipeline, our deal with Josephson is off to a flying start.?

Josephson said, ?I am very excited to work with Tony Optican, Jeff Tahler and their entire team at FremantleMedia. They have been very aggressive about securing rights for new material and strengthening our network relationships.?

Maggini joins from Disney Channel Original Movies where she was responsible for acquiring new projects for the channel, working directly with writers to develop original ideas. Prior to this she held the role of Senior Executive at Marc Platt Productions for five years.

Since the launch of the company?s global drama initiative three years? ago, FME has signed first look deals with producers. These have resulted in a number of series commissions from broadcasters across the world, with recent examples including ?Wedding Band?, produced by FMNA for TBS in the US, and ?Hit And Miss? for Sky Atlantic in the UK, created by Paul Abbott?s production and development company AbbottVision.

MUMBAI: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) is creating a programme commissions and content hub in the UK.

NGCI is in the process of recruiting a commissioning team who will report to Hamish Mykura and be based in the
London office. Earlier in March, NGCI had appointed Mykura as executive VP, head of international content.

The move is aimed at NGCI?s strategy of boosting international production to suit audiences across the globe.

Said NGCI CEO Hernan Lopez, "Moving our international programming to London under the leadership of Hamish Mykura is part of our continuing expansion and commitment to increasing international production of high-quality
programming that resonates with audiences across the globe".

The London office will now be the main hub for the commissioning of series and single shows, which are for broadcast primarily on National Geographic Channel (NGC) outside of the US in 172 countries and to over 335 million homes.

Mykura said, ?NGCI?s London commissioning hub is a massive vote of confidence in the UK production sector. The independent production community in the UK is a world leader in factual television and locating our commissioning and programming here is the ideal way to capitalise on it?.

Mykura?s programming vision includes a balance of topics with a combination of epic specials and strong series that leverage the strength and breadth of the brand as well as focusing on character-led series with a factual-entertainment sensibility.

?If we generate international hits they will also play on the channel in the US. We are ambitious to make bigger series and more entertaining programmes and we want producers to bring their best ideas to National Geographic Channel as the first port of call,? said Mykura.

The creation of the UK hub follows on the heels of the recent announcement by National Geographic Channels US extending development teams in New York and Los Angeles alongside Washington, DC.

The new London team will also have an important role in feeding new ideas and information back to the team in the US under both NGC US CEO David Lyle and NGC president Howard Owens.