History
After success in radio, Grundy's first TV production was Wheel of Fortune, which launched on Nine Network in 1959. Another show with this title celebrated its 25th anniversary in Australia, a week before its cancellation in July 2006.
In the late 1980s Reg Grundy established Grundy World Wide Limited. He created and operated local, independent television production and distribution companies in Europe, Asia and North and South America.
FremantleMedia (then Pearson Television) acquired the Grundy group of companies in 1995. On 30 August 2006, FremantleMedia announced they would merge Grundy Television with their other Australian production company, Crackerjack Productions, to form a single 'super' production company called "FremantleMedia Australia". The new company is now managed by the management team from Crackerjack, with Mark Fennessy as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his brother Carl Fennessy as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Simon Spalding (FremantleMedia Director of Asia Pacific Operations) said in an interview that Grundy Television's premises in Sydney are to be refurbished and that once complete, all Sydney based staff will be located there. He claims that this will help to create a 'deeper' production facility and is not a cost-cutting exercise. Spalding also said that although the Grundy name would be disappearing, he was looking at how FremantleMedia could retain the Grundy name and the heritage associated with it. One compromise re-brand mooted by die-hard Grundy nostalgics is "FremantleGrundles Australia".
Read more about this topic: Reg Grundy Organisation
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