Simon Fuller - TV Production and Formats

TV Production and Formats

Fuller's first venture into TV took place in 1999, when he became creator and executive producer of S Club 7, a No. 1 pop group as well as a BBC and Fox Kids television show, which was seen in over 100 territories around the world. Fuller also created an offspring of the show 'S Club Juniors', 'S Club 8', a spinoff TV drama series 'I Dream', and a magazine show in 2000 starring 7 TV hosts called 'S Club TV'. S Club has been named as the inspiration for more recent teen-oriented musical television shows such as Glee and High School Musical. The S Club project produced several stars including Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee, Holly Willoughby, Ben Barnes, as well as Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Wiseman of The Saturdays.

In 2001, Fuller created the British television show Pop Idol. The show broke TV records when it was broadcasted over two series in the UK, as well as uncovering Will Young whose single Evergreen became the ‘biggest selling single of the century’ in the UK. Fuller sold the show to the Fox network in the US, and American Idol quickly became a No.1 rated show. The show has made stars of its presenter Ryan Seacrest as well as judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, as well as many of its performers. And later the show has featured many more high profiled judges including Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.

American Idol has since won many awards, it remains the most popular entertainment show on US network TV and has been credited with originating a new form of reality TV. It is claimed to be the most valuable TV format in the world with a value of over $8 billion, made up of revenue from sponsors, merchandising, telephone, music sales, broadcast and advertising sources. Over 30 million viewers saw David Cook win the seventh season of American Idol in May 2008 and when Fuller re-launched the show in 2011 for its 10th season ratings climbed 20% for the finale event. 122.4 million votes were cast, a record for a reality TV show. In 2005 Fuller, along with co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, launched So You Think You Can Dance on the Fox network in the USA. The show has grown over four seasons to become a regular summer hit. In 2007 Fuller has signed a deal to represent comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams with regard to developing their award winning BBC TV show Little Britain for the United States, called Little Britain USA. In 2012 Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment created a new international format with Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Jamie King named Q'Viva! The Chosen, and described as a celebration of Latin culture that screened in 21 territories reaching over 30 million Spanish speaking TV viewers. That year Fuller also announced that he would partner with Lions Gate Entertainment in order to produce a contemporary television musical drama chronicling the lives and loves of a young California rock-and-roll band.

Read more about this topic:  Simon Fuller

Famous quotes containing the word production:

    Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.
    W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)