Engine Sells MMA Fare

Engine Sells MMA Fare

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: September 28, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment has notched up new deals for the mixed martial arts Bellator Fighting Championships with broadcasters in Australia, Mexico, France, Finland, Southeast Asia and Africa.

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Bellator is a style of MMA that allows fighters to control their own destiny by eliminating the subjectivity of matchmaking, and replicating the objectivity of virtually every other professional sport. The fighting program has been licensed to Foxtel Main Event in Australia, MVS Multi Vision channels in Mexico, AB Media channels in France, Channel 4/Nelonen in Finland, KIX and THRILL in Southeast Asia, and to Setanta for its channels in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Bellator is also available to Internet viewers in Japan, and Engine is in discussions with free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters, pay-per-view and VOD platforms and mobile services worldwide. Bellator, currently in its third season, airs on Fox Sports Net in the U.S. and The Score in Canada.

“Bellator’s popularity and impressive ratings in the U.S. are being noticed on a global scale, its demand from the MMA purists is traveling fast, and the production quality, along with the added value in each event, is attracting broadcasters worldwide,” said Engine Entertainment’s CEO, Chris Philip.

Tribune Picks Up 'Pt. Dume' For Weekends

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/457411-Tribune_Picks_Up_Pt_Dume_For_Weekends.php

First-run weekly hour to premiere fall 2011

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/21/2010 3:20:19 PM

Tribune Television has picked up Pt. Dume, a new weekly hour from Twentieth Television, to premiere on Saturday nights on its stations next fall. With the Tribune sale, the series is sold in 30% of the country.

"Now that our CW stations are offering five nights per week of original programming, we are looking to add a 6^th night. Pt. Dume is the perfect complement to our existing prime line-up," said Sean Compton, Tribune's president of programming, in a statement.

Pt. Dume, about a group of troubled teenagers who are involved in a unique and intense detention program, is created and will be executive produced by Gregory Bonann, who created Baywatch, one of the most successful hours in syndication history. Twentieth Television, Engine Entertainment and QED have partnered on the series, with Twentieth Television handling domestic distribution and Engine handling international distribution. The project was packaged by Paradigm, with Michael Gendler brokering the deal.

Pt. Dume is the first first-run weekly hour to be produced for syndication since Disney-ABC introduced Legend of the Seeker in 2008. The Tribune stations also first cleared that show, which Tribune declined to renew in March.

Engine Launches New U.S. Action Series from Baywatch Creator

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/27017

Engine Launches New U.S. Action Series from Baywatch Creator

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: September 21, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment has entered into a partnership with Twentieth Television and QED International for the new U.S. syndicated seriesPt Dume, from Baywatch creator Gregory Bonann.

Engine will handle the worldwide distribution outside of the U.S., and will be looking for presales for the series at MIPCOM. Bonann will also attend of behalf of the series. Twentieth Television is handling the U.S. distribution, and has sold the series Tribune Broadcasting Stations in the top ten markets.

Co-created by Bonann, who also serves as executive producer, the series is set at Pt Dume, a secluded beach on Malibu's shoreline. The show follows a group of teenagers who, for varying reasons, are now facing expulsion at their school for their potentially life-changing mistake. Three heroes—a lifeguard, a firefighter and a U.S. coastguard—have created a unique detention program in attempt to turn their lives around.

“Pt Dume marks the return of a significant winning formula for which there is always a demand internationally,” commented Chris Philip, the chief executive of Engine Entertainment. “It’s the perfect team to ensure a successful global rollout and we are thrilled to be part of it.”

“I could not be more excited about my return to the beach to tell stories with life and death stakes,” commented Bonann. “The show is about young reluctant heroes at a crossroads—their next steps will change their lives…one way or the other.”