Fremantle taps net vet Tao
Exec will serve as senior VP of scripted series for co.
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Tao will serve as senior VP of scripted series for the company, which earlier this month said it was making a serious effort to bring the telenovela format to the States (Daily Variety, Nov. 2). He'll report to FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz.
"Steve's mission is to take the formats we have from abroad and adapt them for the U.S. market and develop new (projects)," Frot-Coutaz told Daily Variety.
While Tao will focus first on dramas, Fremantle is looking at some hybrid comedy ideas that Tao also will oversee. Frot-Coutaz said that the blending of scripted and reality filmmaking styles may well be "the next big thing" in U.S. programming.
"Whoever cracks it will be in a real good place," she said. "The time is right for us to turn this into a business."
Frot-Coutaz cited Tao's understanding of the biz and contacts in the industry as reasons for his hiring. "His experience with successful dramas will be a tremendous asset to us as we continue to expand our production slate in that genre," she said.
Tao spent four years at ABC during the latter part of the 1990s, developing shows such as "The Practice," "Once and Again" and "Cupid." He had previously been a film exec at Touchstone.
Most recently, Tao has headed up producer Gale Ann Hurd's Valhalla Television unit. He's also served as senior VP of programming at VH1 and New Line Television.
