CANNES: US independent distribution company International Broadcast Communications (IBC) has sold its "Famous" series to A&E Network's Biography channel in the US and the UK. The announcement was made today at the Mip-TV 2004 market by IBC founder and president Jon Helmrich.
Helmrich also announced a firm production commitment for a second season of "Famous," which features in-depth celebrity profiles that explores the careers of superstars in their own words and in the words of their collaborators. Popular Arts Entertainment will produce a second season of 26 half-hour episodes to feature such superstars as Halle Berry, Kurt Russell, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and Meg Ryan.
In the deal concluded at Mip-TV, A&E Network's Biography Channel in the US and the UK have picked up both seasons of "Famous" or a total of 52 half-hour episodes. "Famous" is about the careers of numerous celebrities including Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson and Sandra Bullock and the choices made that influenced them.
"Famous" is produced by Popular Arts Entertainment, which continues to operate the only independent entertainment news and feature business in the television industry. It is also a part of the Entertainment News output, which was created 14 years ago as a division of Popular Arts.
Addressing business at this year's Mip-TV, Helmrich says, "Channels are starting to buy programming again. It's like everyone took off the last year, but now they are back and ready to fill their schedules with fresh programming. This has been a very good market for us."
International Broadcast Communications, Inc. (IBC) was formed in January 2002 by former E! Entertainment executive Jon Helmrich as a company dedicated to global programming distribution and channel development. Representing the programming of Entertainment News Service (ENS), The Tennis Channel, CHUM Television International, KCW Productions, and others, IBC offers international broadcast, cable and satellite services the latest in Hollywood news, features, profiles, interviews and celebrity gossip.
