Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin.
Eureka Productions has acquired the exclusive rights to develop, sell and produce powerhouse US studio Lionsgate’s entertainment formats and non-scripted series in Australia.
The partnership may also see the two companies develop new formats to produce and distribute..
Lionsgate’s unscripted slate includes Kevin Hart: What the Fit for YouTube, Music City on CMT, Norm MacDonald Has A Show, which launches on Netflix later this month, and You Kiddin’ Me, a prank show executive produced by Kim Kardashian West for Facebook Watch.
Launched in 2016 by former Endemol Shine producers Paul Franklin and Chris Culvenor with backing from FremantleMedia, Eureka Productions has produced more than 160 hours of programming including The Voice for the Nine Network, The Chefs’ Line and The Employables for SBS and Behave Yourself!, Australian Spartan and The Single Wives for Seven.
Drunk History, its half-hour comedy starring Rhys Darby, Stephen Curry, Gyton Grantley, Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald, Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann and Greta Lee Jackson, was among the pilots that screened last month during Pilot Week on Network Ten.
Eureka, which has offices in Sydney and Los Angeles, will work alongside Lionsgate’s executive VP and head of worldwide alternative programming Jennifer O’Connell and president of international television and digital distribution Peter Iacono and their creative and distribution teams.
Franklin and Culvenor said: “We’re delighted to be working with Lionsgate, a visionary leader in the development of creative ideas, for a broad range of networks and platforms. When it comes to unscripted content, US and Australian audiences share very similar sensibilities and we’re looking forward to bringing Lionsgate’s growing catalogue of formats to Australia.”
Iacono added: “Paul and Chris have exemplary track records and key relationships in the development, production, and distribution of highly successful, non-scripted television in Australia. Our new affiliation will enable us to extend our existing formats and create new formats to bring back to the US and other international territories.”
Franklin has executive produced numerous hit franchises in Australia and the US including MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, The Biggest Loser, The Voice and The Apprentice.
Culvenor created and produced a raft of shows including Restaurant Startup (CNBC), Fake Off (TruTV), Going Wild (National Geographic), The Chefs’ Line, The Employables and The Single Wives.