Fremantle brings 'Idol' to Brazil

'Idolos' will air on primetime midyear

By ANNA MARIE DE LA FUENTE

FremantleMedia has inked a deal with No. 2 Brazilian broadcaster Rede Record to produce a local adaptation of "American Idol" in Brazil.

To be known as "Idolos," competish will air on Rede Record's primetime midyear. Program will be produced by FremantleMedia's regional operation FremantleMedia Brasil Producao de Televisao, which Fremantle recently opened in Brazil. Last year, Fremantle produced gameshow "Poker Face" for Rede Record, although it has no exclusivity deal with the web.

In the rest of Latin America, Fremantle produces "Latin American Idol" exclusively with panregional Sony Entertainment TV, which broadcasts the singing competish across Latin America. Now entering its third season, auditions have expanded to Panama/Central America in addition to those ongoing in Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala, Colombia and Venezuela.

"We had to answer to the growing clamor from Central America, especially since a Guatemalan won the second season" of the pan-regional version, says Carole Bardasano, VP sales & marketing, Fremantle Media Prods., Latin America and U.S. Hispanic.

Production of "Idolos" begins in a month with applications being accepted now.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983101.html

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