Warner Bros poaches BBCWW’s Blot for France

Warner Bros. has hired French TV veteran Jean-Louis Blot to run a new production business in France.

Blot (pictured), a well-known producer, comes to the studio from the BBC, where he was head of BBC Worldwide Productions France.

He will set up and run a new WB division, Warner Bros. International Television Production France, based in Paris.

Blot is charged with taking Warner Bros. formats into the French market, and with getting original shows away in France.

The studio has a sizable distribution arm that could then, potentially, launch these formats internationally.

The exec has a strong track record in producing international shows for the French market having adapted BBC formats Dancing with the Stars for TF1, Bake Off for M6 and Top Gear for DTT channel RMC Découverte.

Prior to his eight years at the commercial arm of the BBC he was in production and development at Air Productions, now part of Banijay Group, and API Productions, Endemol and FremantleMedia.

At Warner Bros. he will report to Ronald Goes, executive VP and head of WBITVP, who said: “This is an exciting time for Warner Bros. International Television Production, as we begin building our own local television production operations in this key market.

“Jean-Louis brings with him an exceptional track record of successful television production in France, and an unrivalled passion for creating exciting, innovative content.”

Blot, who joins the company at the start of September, added: “I am thrilled to be taking on this role within a company that is synonymous with world-class entertainment, and I look forward to playing my part in building a successful television production business here in France, alongside our existing and future partners, and to creating great content, both new and based on Warner Bros.’ hugely successful existing formats.”

Worldwide said it is too early to announce Blot’s replacement.