Grundy TV, the Australian arm of FremantleMedia, and South Pacific Pictures have renewed their New Zealand production joint venture until at least 2006.

FremantleMedia is one of the world's leading television production and distribution entities. Its Australian subsidiary, Grundy TV, produces a range of programmes and holds all production and distribution rights for Australia and New Zealand for the Fremantle catalogue. This includes the entertainment phenomenon Australian Idol and NZ Idol.

South Pacific Pictures is New Zealand's leading television production company. Well known for its film and television drama, in 2003 the company entered into a joint venture with Grundy to represent its production catalogue in New Zealand. This year South Pacific Pictures produced the highly successful NZ Idol for TV2.

Grundy CEO Andrew Brooke and John Barnett, Managing Director of South Pacific Pictures, have announced that their successful relationship will continue at least until 2006.

Andrew Brooke said the joint venture would unveil a number of commissions covering a range of Fremantle titles in the next 18 months.

"The cross-Tasman joint venture proved its worth with South Pacific's successful production of NZ Idol, which pulled huge audiences. Australian and New Zealand viewers have a similar sensibility, and that's part of why this relationship works so well. We're delighted the relationship has been extended."

John Barnett said South Pacific Pictures had a long relationship with Grundy going back to the creation of Shortland Street which Grundy's had distributed internationally for the past 13 years.

He said the joint venture enabled two experienced companies to mutually benefit.

He said that an announcement would be made shortly about the next series of NZ Idol.

For more information please contact:

Andrew Brooke
Grundy TV (Australia)
Ph: +61 2 9434 0666
OR
John Barnett
South Pacific Pictures
Ph: +64 9 839 0930