We got him..!

Even een berichtje uit Vegas:
We hebben -voordat de Eyeworks dagen in Los angeles los barsten eerst nog even de televisie-beurs in Vegas.
Voor degenen die weten wat de MIP in Cannes is: Dit is hetzelfde, maar dan met vooral buyers uit Amerika- en Latijns Amerikaanse markten
Voor mij was het de eerste keer op http://www.natpe.org/.
Eerst Ronald en Robert opgehaald van LAX en meteen door (in de auto!!) naar Las Vegas.
Op zich lekker, want op de heenweg alleen al meer dan 4 uur om bij te praten.
'S avonds ging ik meteen door naar een dinertje wat Ben Silverman (co chairman NBC) organiseerde in de Palazzo.
Was alleraardigst; samen met de baas van MTV Amerika, de nieuwe CEO van Endemol (Ynon Kreiz), de directie van NBC, 2 van de meest invloedrijke agents van Holllywood, de CEO van Granada aan tafel. Jolly good.
trouwens, was op zich apart, er waren in het begin van het diner nog 3 lege plekken.
Toen we net aan tafel zaten, ging de deur van de private room open; in come een drieling.
Bloedmooi. 3 identieke zusjes, blond en in de 20. Uit Polen.
Alle 3 concertviolistes (!!) Echt waar.
Het blijft showbizz...
Vegas was goed, iedereen gezien en gesproken, maar ook LEEG.
Vegas heeft echt te lijden onder de crisis, zo veel is duidelijk.
Voor het eerst ben ik tijdens een beurs naar 1 van de key note speakers gaan luisteren; mr Jon Feltheimer- CEO van Lionsgate gaf zijn visie op de entertainment wereld in relatie tot de economie. Inspirerend!
was trouwens erg leuk om Robert en Sander E, een beetje rond te touren, ze waren er nog nooit geweest en dan gaan de nagebouwde grachten van Venetie in The Venetian erin als koek..Rare jongens die Romeinen...

Voor ons was de belangrijkste focus om het contract te tekenen met onze nieuwe eerste man in Engeland; Paul Jackson.
Heavweight in de industry, een grote aanwinst voor ons bdrijf in the UK.
Is ook nodig.
We (Ronald) hebben intens onderhandeld (Dank Luc, dank AJ!) en we hebben afgesproken het contract in Vegas te ondertekenen, wat ook gebeurd is!
We got him!; zo'n beetje de hele internationale tv wereld zat achter hem aan. Op naar LA voor de creative days...
Las Vegas, 28 January 2009

British Television Icon Paul Jackson becomes
CEO of Eyeworks United Kingdom

Today in Las Vegas, at NATPE, international television production company Eyeworks announces that Paul Jackson will become CEO of Eyeworks’ United Kingdom based television operations. Starting this Spring, Jackson will be responsible for all Eyeworks UK based operations, including its existing company, Eyeworks At It. Eyeworks is proud that Paul Jackson has chosen to join Eyeworks because his announcement to leave ITV set off a frenzy of suitors in the international television market. Paul leading Eyeworks is a result of Eyeworks’ investment in Paul Jackson’s Company, Byron Bay Productions Ltd.

This partnership represents an enormous step for Eyeworks’ UK operations. Through Jackson’s leadership and experience, both from a broadcaster perspective as well as from a format and program development and production perspective, Eyeworks looks forward to building its UK operation into a major creative player in the UK marketplace, benefiting the Eyeworks Group as a whole.

Reinout Oerlemans CEO Eyeworks group: “I am thrilled that Paul is joining the Eyeworks Group. His worldwide reputation as a creative talent, in both scripted and non-scripted television needs no further explanation. I cannot wait to begin working together with Paul along with our internal creative network, to truly advance the Eyeworks Group both in the UK and Internationally. This is a huge opportunity for both parties, and I could not be happier.”

Paul Jackson: “I am excited to get started. Having met Reinout, the Board and the MD’s of many of Eyeworks Affiliates, I believe that there is not a better collection of creative talent around. I look forward to working very closely with Eyeworks At It led by Chris Fouracre and Martin Cunning as we look to create winning television together.”

In his newly appointed role as CEO of Eyeworks UK, Paul Jackson will work closely with Eyeworks At It’s Managing Directors, Chris Fouracre and Martin Cunning, in controlling the exploitation of Eyeworks formats in the United Kingdom. Chris Fouracre: “We think Paul’s vast experience and expertise, both here in the UK and Internationally, will prove a fantastic asset moving forward in 2009. Both Martin and I are delighted to work with Paul and look forward to building a stronger, more successful Eyeworks together in the UK.”

Prior to joining Eyeworks, Jackson worked at BBC where he was responsible for many successes such as comedy sensation The Young Ones. In 1997 Paul became BBC’s Head of Entertainment where he was soon after promoted to Controller of Entertainment. In 1999 Jackson left the BBC to work for Granada Television as the managing director of Granada Media Australia. Two years later he was recalled to the UK to become Granada's director of international formats and entertainment. In summer 2003, Jackson was appointed president of Granada Entertainment USA, becoming chief executive of Granada America in early 2004, where he oversaw US reality television shows such as Nanny 911 and Hell's Kitchen. Jackson returned to the UK in February 2006, to take on the role of Director of Entertainment and Comedy at ITV where he was responsible for such shows as Britain’s Got Talent, Benidorm, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away and X-Factor.

About Eyeworks
Eyeworks was founded in The Netherlands in 2001 by Reinout Oerlemans. Eyeworks is a creative, independent and all round television production company that develops, produces and distributes television programs in different genres including sport, fiction and entertainment. Nowadays Eyeworks has a production presence in 15 countries on 4 different continents: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia and the US. Television formats of Eyeworks are broadcast in more than 50 countries worldwide. Eyeworks Sport produces major sport events for multiple broadcasters in the Netherlands, including the football matches for the Dutch Premier League and the National team. Eyeworks Fiction titles include Oscar winning Antonia’s Line and The Alzheimer Case. Recent feature film productions such as Storm Force, Duska, BEN X, Vermist and The Tattooist have premiered in different markets around the world. The Letter for the King, the biggest Dutch family film in history, has been released in Dutch and Belgian theatres Summer 2008 and the Belgian film Cut Loose was released this Fall. Eyeworks’ police series Cops is one of the best rated TV series, with over 100 episodes aired in the Benelux. Eyeworks Distribution is dedicated to the worldwide licensing of formats and finished programming from the combined catalogues of all Eyeworks affiliates as well as third party formats. Internationally successful formats include Test The Nation, The Chair, The 10, Miss Popularity, So You Wannabe A Popstar, CQC (Caiga Quien Caiga), Ticket to the Tribes, Win my Wage, Who Wants to Marry my Son, Beat The Blondes and The Italian Dream.


Note to editor, for more information:


In the United States: Jeff Goldman
T: + 1 310 278 5825
E: jeff.goldman@eyeworks.tv

Rest of the World: Xandra van der Meer
T: + 31 20 346 3705
E: xandra@eyeworks.tv