Andreae forms new indie with FremantleMedia

Former Fox programming chief Simon Andreae has formed Naked Entertainment, a new indie prodco that has backing form FremantleMedia.

Production and distribution group FremantleMedia has bought a 25% stake in the new company, which will make factual and fact-ent formats.

The new company will be based in London with Andreae relocating to the UK having been executive VP, alternative entertainment, at Fox Broadcasting, replacing Mike Darnell.

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia said: “Simon is one of the industry’s preeminent factual entertainment producers with a long history of delivering hits with global appeal. He already has a strong development slate and I’m really pleased to be partnering with him to bring his projects to audiences around the world.”

Andreae said: “Naked, as the name suggests, aims to be provocative and risk-taking – but also kind of simple and straightforward – producing content designed to attract, surprise, and I hope delight audiences both in the UK and overseas.”

Andreae left Fox earlier this year after some of his major commissions failed to ignite the ratings. Utopia was cancelled and a US version of Release the Hounds was filmed but never aired. When his departure was announced, he said he was returning to production and he is understood to have a production deal in place with Fox.

In 2013 Andreae left a programming role at Discovery to set up Scarlet Media with backing from Sony Pictures Television, but the prodco plans were scuppered when he took the Fox role.

Andreae has a wealth of experience in the UK and US, having moved from the UK to the States in 2005 to set up indie prodco The Incubator.

Prior to that he was at UK broadcater Channel 4 and was also one of the founders of UK indie Optomen Television.