Most prominently, FremantleMedia’s slate features the brand new game show Push The Button. This new format, acquired from Gallowgate, revitalises the traditional family game show. The concept is simple: Two families battle it out in a series of challenges to win money from an ever-decreasing cash pot. The prize fund counts down as the families struggle to complete each challenge before they “push the button” to preserve the remaining money. Presented by the popular presenter duo Ant and Dec, an audience of 7.3 million tuned in for the show on ITV1 making it the number one show of the day. The next big format on the slate is a talent competition that showcases real workers called Young Professionals of the Year. Each week, unsung workplace heroes from around the country compete against peers in their profession. In the UK, Young Professionals of the Year was prime time hit for BBC3, gaining audience shares up to 88 per cent higher than the broadcaster’s average in the target group of adults aged 16 to 34.

Also on 12 April, Fuji Television, Japan’s leading commercial broadcaster, and FremantleMedia announced that they will enter into a Creative Exchange Alliance which aims to co-develop and co-produce new television formats for the international market place. The Exchange will see highly experienced creative staff from Fuji TV and FremantleMedia undertake placements in each other’s businesses, enabling the two companies to work closely together to share ideas and insights, in order to plan, develop and produce new television programmes for audiences around the world.

“I am delighted to have this chance to partner with Fuji TV on such an interesting collaboration,” says Tony Cohen, CEO of FremantleMedia. “It will create a unique opportunity for two highly creative and respected individuals to work together and I am very excited about the possibility of new ideas for both our companies coming from the exchange.” The first exchange will take place in May 2010 and will see So Fujinuma, a Producer in the Variety Production Center of Fuji Television’s Programming and Production Department undertake a three month secondment at FremantleMedia’s offices in various territories. Henrik Nielsen, an Executive Producer at FremantleMedia North America, will then work at Fuji TV’s headquarters in Tokyo. During their creative secondments, the professionals will be involved in numerous activities from planning and development to production.